Ranger-Guided Tours

Photo of ranger and visitors on a King's Palace Tour.
Visitors enjoy the Queen's Chamber on the ranger-guided King's Palace Tour.

NPS / Eymard Bangcoro

The King's Palace and Lower Cave tours are now available.

All other tours remain temporarily suspended until further notice.


Whether it's walking among beautiful cave formations in King's Palace or challenging yourself in Hall of the White Giant, taking a ranger-guided cave tour can be an exciting experience. Carlsbad Caverns National Park offers numerous ranger-guided cave tours into areas other than exploring on your own along the Big Room and Natural Entrance trails. Find out which tour is right for you by clicking on the tour name below.

Availability on all ranger-guided tours is limited. It's recommended that you plan ahead and reserve early. Make tour reservations by calling 877-444-6777 or visiting www.recreation.gov.

All tour tickets must be picked up at the visitor center at least 30 minutes prior to the tour. A cavern entrance ticket must also be purchased.

If you make a reservation for the Slaughter Canyon Cave Tour, you must caravan in your own vehicle to the trailhead after meeting at the visitor center.

For Lower Cave, Hall of the White Giant, and Slaughter Canyon Cave tours, hiking boots or hiking shoes with good aggressive tread are required. Hiking boots with ankle support are recommended. No sandals, flip flops, tennis shoes, or similar. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear—no exceptions. Learn more about footwear requirements for Lower Cave, Hall of the White Giant, and Slaughter Canyon Cave tours.

For Slaughter Canyon Tours: In an effort to keep the fungus that causes deadly White-Nose Syndrome in bats out of these caves, all participants are required to wear freshly laundered (clean) clothing on the tour. Even if the clothing has only been worn on another tour at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the clothes must be freshly laundered. There will be no exceptions. Participants must also decontaminate their footwear before the tour. Tour leaders will provide the needed supplies.

Gloves, knee and elbow pads will be provided if crawling is required on a tour. We provide required equipment to minimize the risk of transferring White-Nose Syndrome from another cave.

Children younger than four years are not permitted on any ranger-guided cave tours. Additional age limits differ for each tour.


Tour Schedule

King's Palace Tour

  • 10:30 am and Noon / Daily

Lower Cave Tour

Until February 29

  • 1:30 pm / Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Beginning March 1

  • 8:30 am / Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

Last updated: February 24, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

3225 National Parks Highway
Carlsbad, NM 88220

Phone:

575 785-2232

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