Self-guided walking audio tour of the Carlsbad Caverns

-What you can expect-
Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which acts as your personal tour guide, audio guide and map all in one. Your adventure begins near the Natural Entrance Trail, where you'll start your descent into the caverns. You'll pause briefly to observe the cave swallows darting in and out of the entrance. During your 750-foot journey into the heart of the cave system, you'll learn all about Jim White: the boy who discovered these caves and explored them alone for many years. As you gaze in awe at the spectacular views and vast chambers of ancient rock, his story will unfold before you.

You'll learn how various formations come into being, from stalactites and stalagmites to more intricate shapes like curtains and straws. You'll also catch a glimpse of the enormous Iceberg Rock, which fell from the ceiling hundreds of thousands of years ago. At the base of the Natural Entrance Trail, you'll find an unexpectedly located lunch room deep underground where you can rest before setting off on the Big Room Trail, the park's main attraction.

As you walk along the trail, you'll learn more about how the caves were formed and how this remarkable location earned its status as a national park. You'll encounter astonishing landmarks such as the Mirror Pool and the Bottomless Pit as you navigate this incredibly expansive cavern. Eventually, you'll circle back to the lunch room, where lifts will take you back to the surface. Your exploration concludes here.