Our trip to Carlsbad Caverns!

Carlsbad Caverns is located in Carlsbad, New Mexico about 150 miles North East of El Paso, TX. We traveled all the way across Texas to see this cave system. Through the West Texas plains and oil fields, miles upon miles of rural pastureland interspersed with wheat and cotton fields. As we got closer to our destination we started looking for lodging that could accommodate my need for wheelchair accessibility. We were shocked to discover that lodging in West Texas and the New Mexico oil country is exorbitant. We stopped at multiple name Hotel chains to inquire about a room only to walk away dumbfounded at the price they were asking. We were told this was due to the oil boom in recent years causing a lack of housing for all of the oil workers who had resorted to taking up residence in local Hotels. We had hoped to get a hotel, drop off our luggage and then drive down to the Caverns in time to see the Bats exiting the cave on their nightly flight. Since we had no luck finding adequate lodging we decided to go ahead and enter the park before sunset so as not to lose our opportunity to see the Caverns and the Bat show. The country encompassing the park is very rugged with a high desert feel. It is in fact located within the Chihuahuan Desert. The park itself is managed by the National Park Service and offers numerous hiking trails as well as guided and unguided tours of the Caverns. There is even an elevator down into the main section of the cave that is totally wheelchair accessible. We chose a trail that was designated suitable for handicapped visitors including those unable to walk long distances. It was very eery to think about how far down below the surface of the earth we were. The trails were well marked with descriptive signs that explained the different geological sights we were seeing. There were even rest areas along the way with benches for those that needed to rest their feet for a few minutes. At the end of the trail which actually made a big loop through the cave, we ended back where we had started. Thankfully by the fully handicap accessible bathrooms. Which were much needed by the time we had circumnavigated the trail. The last stop before heading back into the elevator and up onto the surface was to visit the gift shop where they had lots of books about the history, geology and Native Americans who once lived in the Cave. There were also hundreds of adorable stuffed bats to commemorate your visit. After viewing the Cave from down under we headed over to the Bat viewing area where every night from late-May through October you can enjoy a ranger program about the Brazilian free-tailed bats that live in Carlsbad Cavern and watch as they emerge nightly to go hunting for insects to survive. The daily pre-dawn return is said to be just as spectacular if you are an early morning riser who doesn’t mind being there between 4 and 6 a.m. It’s worth knowing that there is an excellent informative visitors center with static displays open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The remaining part of the year it closes two hours earlier. There is a nice food court attached where you can purchase a light meal such as sandwiches, chips, and drinks. Once we left Carlsbad we ended up driving on to Deming, New Mexico. Home of the Hatch Chile Pepper plant, the US Border Patrol training facility and the location where they filmed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Lodging in Deming was plentiful on Interstate 10 and off the interstate in the older section of the town. We found an older Hotel/Motor Lodge that had all of the handicap accessibility I needed including a roll-in shower. The best part was the Cafe attached to the Hotel had the friendliest service and some of the best food that we had experienced on our trip. After getting a good night’s rest and tanking up on coffee and breakfast we headed off for our next adventure!

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