Carlsbad Caverns Nat’l Park

[CycleTex87 2,991]

Didn’t see a thread on this topic.  Made it by this week for the first time. Spectacular.  Unbelievable.  It’s an easy day to see the cavern by itself.  Wife and I walked down through the natural entrance.  We did the King’s Room guided tour which is awesome.  December is a good time to go, as the crowds are way down, maybe 20% capacity (or less). Some of the amenities are not available however, like the food area in the cavern.  Just wow. 
 

[Carl Spackler 3,522]

The wife (no pics) went there several years ago with her daughter (also no pics), and loved it.  Someday I will make it there.  Your pics are only fueling the fire.

[Telegraph_it 3,370]

Great cavern and good photos.
 

Carlsbad might be the shittiest town in the country though. I spent a few nights there during field camp back in college and haven’t been back. 

[CycleTex87 2,991]

Carlsbad is certainly a smaller, crappier version of Midland/Odessa. I frequent both places for work stuff. It’s why I had sort of avoided CCNP as it is associated with Carlsbad the town.  But it’s really apart from the town.  
 

The Park Service ranger who guided our tour told us it was his last tour at CCNP. He’s moving on to Crater Lake.  As a long haired philosophy major working as a NP Ranger, I expect he was somewhat in a minority in Carlsbad.  Probably slays the chicks around the Park though. 

[Wiler77 1,584]

1 hour ago, CycleTex87 said:

As a long haired philosophy major working as a NP Ranger, I expect he was somewhat in a minority in Carlsbad.  Probably slays the chicks around the Park though. 

This made me LOL.  I think it's  because 95% of Surly would have made a similar observation

[Steel Shank 9,439]

CC kicks ass. The view from the parking lot west (I believe), is a spectacular panorama.

[CoachTex 2,634]

Heading to Carlsbad tomorrow with the family.   Anyone have cool restaurant suggestions that won't break the bank there and in Las Cruces?

[thrillhammer 684]

1 hour ago, CoachTex said:

Heading to Carlsbad tomorrow with the family.   Anyone have cool restaurant suggestions that won't break the bank there and in Las Cruces?

i dont think you have to worry about the bank.  santa fe might be the only town in the state where that fear comes into play.  pretty affordable, lowkey, casual comfort food state otherwise.  cycletex nailed it though, carlsbad is a smaller, crappier version of odessa.  a low bar and they failed to pass that.  

[conVINCEd 21,474]

The bbq joint in Cloudcroft is pretty good.

[VirginiaLonghorn 4,808]

On 12/9/2022 at 7:08 PM, CycleTex87 said:

Didn’t see a thread on this topic.  Made it by this week for the first time. Spectacular.  Unbelievable.  It’s an easy day to see the cavern by itself.  Wife and I walked down through the natural entrance.  We did the King’s Room guided tour which is awesome.  December is a good time to go, as the crowds are way down, maybe 20% capacity (or less). Some of the amenities are not available however, like the food area in the cavern.  Just wow. 

Did you do the evening bat flight?

[CycleTex87 2,991]

We were there in early December and the bats have moved on to their winter digs in Mexico. 

[StassneyHorn 6,692]

Carlsbad Caverns was a staple every Spring Break visit in middle school. Always enjoyed it, but can’t remember anything about food/other places.

[Biff Tannen 45,763]

On 11/18/2023 at 1:09 PM, conVINCEd said:

The bbq joint in Cloudcroft is pretty good.

Tried to go there in July, but the line looked like Franklin back in the day.

[Steel Shank 9,439]

Be sure and lay some pipe while you're there.

[CoachTex 2,634]

On 11/18/2023 at 1:09 PM, conVINCEd said:

The bbq joint in Cloudcroft is pretty good.

Unfortunately it was only open Fri-Sun. We were there on a Monday.