Carlsbad Caverns had been on our list for a while, so when we finally returned to New Mexico, we made it a priority. Getting there was relatively easy while camping at Brantley Lake State Park. The park itself was relatively nice, although quite a few trees have been cut down so if you’re looking at satellite images, there aren’t as many as you’d expect. However, we did have nice views of the lake, and there are several adjacent walking paths, so all in all a decent place to stay, especially if you’re heading to the caverns.

You’ll need a timed ticket to enter the caverns. Staggering access keeps the underground from feeling crowded. Also, the Park Service spent some time adjusting directional light and replacing ancient tungsten bulbs with LEDs, and the effort really paid off from a visitor perspective. Incredibly dramatic and awe-inspiring.

When you visit, you’ll be doing a lot of downhill walking at first, so wear sturdy shoes and bring water. But wow when you start to get deeper, past where all the birds and bats nest, every next turn you make draws a new gasp of amazement.

At the “end” of the caverns, where the elevators stand by to lift visitors 750 feet back up to the surface in a little over a minute, there’s a concession stand, although it was (literally) dark when we visited on a weekday. We add quotes to “end” because there is so much more volume that’s (a) explored but not yet safe for general visitors, and (b) not even yet explored. The caverns remain an ever-growing, ever-changing ecosystem.

For us, this is a must-visit National Park for its unique nature—no other American caverns are designated as NPs. You generally won’t need more than a day unless you’re lucky enough to snag a guided tour, in which case you may want to set aside 2-3 days. We’ll be first in line when we return.