Well, it had been thirteen years since I last visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park as part of my year long road trip around the USA. My first visit was in haste because I wasn’t sure I was allowed to leave my dog Petey in VANilla and didn’t want to break the rules on Federal property.
My second visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park came after spending three days in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Without my crazy dog Annie in tow, I had a more leisurely visit.
I stopped in the Visitors Center in the late afternoon as the tours were ending to find out about the bats and the following day tour options. I learned in late April, I didn’t need a reservation for bat viewing or a cave tour if I came first thing in the morning. That said, I should have purchased the tickets the prior afternoon when there was hardly a line!
DESCEND INTO DARKNESS!