In more youthful days, we talked about going to Carlsbad Caverns. We have a choice to go there the end of April (as we travel from Phoenix to Ft Worth/Dallas) but we don't know if we have the stamina to enjoy a 3 hour (or longer) walk underground.
Maybe I'll be feeling better by the time we get there... I know different tours are available and some are booked way in advance. I have not tried to go online to pursue that. Is it like Yosemite? Do you book six months ahead or can you just arrive (end of April) and have no problems getting tickets and a campsite??
We need some input. For those that have been there, if you had limited endurance, would you go see it ? We don't require wheel chairs but walking 200 steps up or down has no lure for us right now. I've heard that Carlsbad has an elevator and that it is mostly a flat walk. Is that true?
Which campgrounds are better than others? Price is important.
I did a search for "Carlsbad" on the forum and read through the first 4 pages without getting an answer to my question. Hope you can.
We were there in 2003 there is a elevator that takes you down to the main cave area or you can walk down if you please. We were not then what we would call physically fit but we had no problems negotiating through the cave. There were some places with maybe three or four steps. Any area and they were limited that had alot more than that we did not bother with. We went through on our own at our own pace.We took no guided tours but I assume they do have them.It's like a little city of it's own. You will enjoy it.
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Carlsbad is worth seeing if you like caves.
It's 700 feet down (and up), on an elevator, and cool, temp wise.
There's bathrooms and a snack bar and "lobby" down there.
We did the "do it yourself" tour.
The walk is fairly easy, much of it made for wheelchairs if needbe.
Some steps or ramp coming back.
When we went, parking for rvs was limited but there was some.
Try to avoid weekends when the kids are out of school.
The rv park nearest the caves was very seedy a few years ago, and I don't think it has improved.
you could stay overnight at Guadalupe National Park, some miles west of the caves, and then move on to the town of Carlsbad for better rv parks. There is a KOA there that gets good reviews on this forum.
Pecos, TX doesn't have any that I know of. We usually stay at the Flying J truck stop there.
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louiskathy wrote: In more youthful days, we talked about going to Carlsbad Caverns. We have a choice to go there the end of April (as we travel from Phoenix to Ft Worth/Dallas) but we don't know if we have the stamina to enjoy a 3 hour (or longer) walk underground.
Maybe I'll be feeling better by the time we get there... I know different tours are available and some are booked way in advance. I have not tried to go online to pursue that. Is it like Yosemite? Do you book six months ahead or can you just arrive (end of April) and have no problems getting tickets and a campsite??
We need some input. For those that have been there, if you had limited endurance, would you go see it ? We don't require wheel chairs but walking 200 steps up or down has no lure for us right now. I've heard that Carlsbad has an elevator and that it is mostly a flat walk. Is that true?
Which campgrounds are better than others? Price is important.
I did a search for "Carlsbad" on the forum and read through the first 4 pages without getting an answer to my question. Hope you can.
My wife and I were there in May of 2009. Carlsbad Caverns have elevators for those who can't walk far or just don't want to make the walk down. There are two inter-connecting walking, self guided tours paths(highy suggest this) that are fairly flat, hand rails are along most of the way. You can't take a wheelchair or even a walker down there, Like many caverns its a bit on the cool side so bring along a sweater or jacket.There is a snack bar down there ,you can get hot drinks and sandwiches, we just packed a few things in our backpacks to eat. No reservations are needed for the tours and there is plently of parking.Go with the self guided tour, your own paceleave when you want to.
Carlsbad RV Park is were we stayed,as far as RV parks go it's about average.I have a posted trip report at this LINK that covers Carlsbad Caverns and have many more photos posted at my Travelingman2 site (May 2009 part6)
Carlsbad RV
Photo video click on pic
If you have any further questions for me just PM me, enjoy your trip.
And at the bottom of the elevator ride there is an area where you can sit and rest, they even have a store down there. If you get tired you can just go back there and take a break.
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Very good and helpful info. Thanks for the pics... it stirred the flames a little to get motivated to just go and do it. I didn't know about the SKP's campground. Did not even think of checking SKP's campgrounds...and we are a member. Have been for years... just have never used their campgrounds before.
Thanks, again everyone!
I'll check back for more info if anyone else posts. We have a month yet until we get there.
We have been to Carlsbad Caverns twice. First time in 2005 just DW and I and then back again in 2009 with DS. The Caverns are amazing! We have walked down from the natural entrance on each trip to get the full experience. It is a pretty strenuous walk down. The elevator takes you down the the Big Room, which lives up to its name. You can walk the entire Big Room as a self guided tour. There are also ranger led guided tours to other areas of the cavern. Everyone takes the elevator back up to the surface. We stayed to see the evening bat flight which was also neat. I doubt that the bats will be back from their wintering grounds in Mexico by April.
Both times we stayed at the KOA north of Carlsbad. Nice place, but about a 45 minute drive to the Caverns. We were there both times during the second week of May and had no problem getting a campsite or parking the RV in the lot at the Caverns. I do remember it being hot, especially after coming up from the cool cave.
I did a blog of the first part of our trip in 2009. The page for Carlsbad is here. Lots of pictures.
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