The cave system at Carlsbad Caverns National Park attracts 200,000 to 1 million Mexican freetail bats during the summer. During summertime, these mammals fly to the cave to feed on insects. You can watch them swooping past you through stadium-style seating. A tour guide will tell you about their habits and roosting habits. You may even catch a glimpse of some in flight.
Visitors to Carlsbad Caverns can explore the cave’s history by taking the self-guided tour. The cave is located on top of an oil and natural gas field, which means it receives high amounts of natural gas and oil from the ground. Because of this, the caves have calcium sulfate formations. These minerals are produced by the migration of sulfur-bearing water.
To experience the cave’s wildlife up close, you can camp at White’s City campground. It’s the closest to the caves and is within walking distance of White’s City shopping center. The campground offers coin-operated laundry, showers, and BBQ grills. Each tent has its own soft grassy area for its pitch. You can also enjoy the beautiful sunsets and starry skies during your stay.
The cave’s wildlife is abundant, and you might even spot some animals. Cougars, wolves, coyotes, and bobcats live in the cave. In the winter, they migrate back to Mexico. This secluded area is also home to a large number of skunks and shrews. During the summer months, the bats will stay in the cavern.
The climate is moderate throughout the year. It averages 60 degrees in winter. Hot summers are temperate with little precipitation. The caves stay cool throughout the year, with temperatures hovering around 56 degrees. It’s not recommended to camp outside, but if you do decide to go camping, you can enjoy the natural beauty of the area. If you’re camping near Sitting Bull Falls, just make sure to consider the weather before deciding where to pitch your tent.
The cave’s 30 miles of passages are a great way to spend a day. It is the largest subterranean chamber in the US, and features a colossal stalagmite and the infamous Bottomless Pit. The 400,000-plus bats that live in the caves roost there from mid-May to October. You can even see their cyclones escaping the cave’s mouth at sunset.
The caves are a maze of underground chambers. Part of the cavern is open to the public, but the cave is more than 48 kilometers long. You can explore three miles of it, but only a small part of it is accessible. The deepest level of the cavern is 1,027 feet below ground. You can walk to a 755-foot level from there. The Big Room is the largest room at Carlsbad Caverns, measuring over 2,000 feet long, 260 metres wide, and 255 feet high.