OffBeat Pathfinder Basecamp

The Big Room at Carlsbad Caverns? It’s like walking onto the set of a sci-fi movie, but with more bats and less Wi-Fi.


I got there way too early, ended up on a ranger tour where someone asked if the caves were “haunted.” (Short answer: Maybe? Long answer: Bat ghosts everywhere.)


The elevator ride down = weirdest ear pop of my life.


Cave popcorn is NOT actual popcorn.


Who else has bat flight stories? Or got stuck behind a group with a million flash photos?

Bring a jacket, even in July—seriously, it’s colder than my ex’s voicemail down there. The bats at sunset are wild, but the parking lot fills up fast. I got boxed in by an RV.

Accidentally joined the wrong tour group, wound up halfway to the King’s Palace before I realized. GPS useless. Cave selfies: 0, cave confusion: 100.


? + ? = me.

I swear I heard music echoing, but maybe it was just wind? If you’re not afraid of stairs, do the Natural Entrance trail at least once. Legs = jelly, but worth it.


p.s. Why do the bats come out right when you finally get hungry??