Carlsbad Caverns National Park

June 12 2009 by Sam Lowe

Cavern.jpgThere are two ways to reach the bottom at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in southeastern New Mexico. The more venturesome may choose to walk the Natural Entrance Route. This option is not recommended for the pot-of-belly or the weak-of-knee because it's about a mile long and it's all downhill getting there and all uphill getting back.

But people my age can take the elevator, an experience unto itself. It's old (installed in 1931), it goes deep (750 feet one way which makes it the longest elevator ride in the state), and it travels at the rate of 9 miles per hour (definitely not express speed but considerably faster than hiking the Natural Entrance Route).



After a one-minute ride to the bottom, visitors will find what may be the world's most subterranean snack bar dispensing munchies more than one-sixth of a mile below the surface. Once tummies are filled, there's another pressing option - take the guided tour of Kings Palace or go it alone. Either way, the sights are spectacular so be ready to take photos of the stalactites and stalagmites, once you figure out which is which. (Hint: Stalactites hang down from above and are spelled with a "c" which stands for "ceiling" and stalagmites rise from below and are spelled with a "g" which stands for "ground".)

Each formation is hundreds of thousands of years old, created over the centuries by single drops of water that leave mineral deposits upon making contact with a hard surface. Even today, visitors will occasionally feel a drop plop down on them because the caverns are still growing. But there's no need to worry about being turned into a stalagmite because it takes about 500,000 years to build a new one. It's doubtful that any of us could stand still that long.

The tour of the Kings Palace takes about an hour, depending on your pace, and wanders through small caves dotted with sparkling mineral deposits and huge amphitheaters that could hold entire towns. In a word, breathtaking.

For information and directions, log on to www.nps.gov/cav or call 505-785-2232.

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