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Carlsbad Caverns National ParkTemple of the Sun in the Big Room of Carlsbad Cavern.
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Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Kings Palace Tour
 
The Queen's Draperies in the Kings Palace area of Carlsbad Cavern.
NPS Photo by Peter Jones.
The Queen’s Draperies in the Kings Palace area of Carlsbad Cavern.
 
The Kings Palace tour, a 1.5-hour ranger-guided tour through four highly decorated chambers, departs from the underground rest area. You will descend to the deepest portion of the cavern open to the public, 830 feet beneath the desert surface. Although not as difficult as the Natural Entrance route, this 1-mile tour does require descending, and later climbing, an 8-story hill. Look forward to viewing a variety of cave formations including helictites, draperies, columns, and soda straws. Rangers frequently conduct black-outs during this tour, briefly turning off all artificial lights to reveal the natural darkness of the cave.

Reservations are required for the Kings Palace tour. To make reservations call 1.877.444.6777 or visit Recreation.gov.

Duration: 1½ hours

When: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend—10 and 11 a.m.; 2 and 3 p.m.

Off-season (spring, fall and winter)—10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Where: Tour departs from the underground rest area.

Cost: $8 for adults and $4 for children, Senior and Access Pass holders. Tour participants must also purchase an entrance fee ticket.

Note: Children under 4 years old are not permitted on the Kings Palace Tour. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Crawl around on the Spider Cave tour!
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Click here for guided tour reservations.
Make reservations online or call 1.877.444.6777.
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Permian ocean bottom.  

Did You Know?
The limestone rock that holds Carlsbad Cavern is full of ocean fossil plants and animals from a time before the dinosaurs when the southeastern corner of New Mexico was a coastline similar to the Florida Keys.

Last Updated: February 09, 2007 at 12:27 EST