Wednesday, May 18, 2022
We left the Oswald Vineyard about 9:30, stopped for diesel fuel along the way, and arrived at the Carlsbad KOA Campground (about 12 miles north of Carlsbad) around 11:30. We entered both a new state, New Mexico, and a new time zone, Mountain Daylight Time. At this campground we’re back in luxury with full hookups, cable and a patio with a table, chairs and a bench glider
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| Campground Entrance |
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| Approaching the National Park Visitor Center |
After setting up the RV, we drove into Carlsbad and ate a quick lunch at the Yellow Brix Restaurant then headed south to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, about a half-hour drive. After we turned off of the main road into the park, we began climbing through the Chihuahuan Desert of the Guadalupe Mountains to the visitor center. The twisted road afforded some beautiful views of the rugged countryside. The visitor center is perched along a ridge about 4400 ft. above sea level.
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| Visitor Center Entrance Sign |
We checked-in for our reservation (free with Senior NP pass) and proceeded to the elevator for our self-guided tour of the Big Room, 600-700 ft. below the building. (We later regretted not taking the 1.25 mile natural entrance route which was billed as steep and strenuous.) Jane and I were ready for the cave’s 56 F constant temperature with light jackets. Tourists are allowed to free-range along a paved cave trail in the Big Room with handrails and spotlights directed at specific cave features. The path in this 8.2 acre chamber is 1.25 miles long winding along its perimeter with views of beautiful formations, steep drop-offs, and pools of water. We were mesmerized as we proceeded and took endless photos that always failed to capture the natural beauty we were experiencing. We wondered at the marvelous ornamentation: stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, draperies, flowstones, columns, lily pads, cave pearls, popcorn, snotites and more. At the end of our more than two hour underground hike, we considered repeating it but instead took the elevator with fellow spelunkers and emerged in the bright and bustling gift shop (one of two). Outside the sunlight was dazzling and the dry heat (over 100 F) was stifling, starkly contrasting with our dark cool and humid subterranean adventure.
