Carlsbad Caverns switchbacks in New Mexico: a 20 degree grade
Tucked beneath the scenic Chihuahuan Desert, in Eddy County in the U.S. state of New Mexico, near the base of the Guadalupe Mountains, the switchbacks are the natural entrance to the Big Room, in Carlsbad Caverns. Pedestrians only.
Where are Carlsbad Caverns?
The caverns are located in the southeastern part of New Mexico, in the rocky slopes and deep canyons of Guadalupe Mountain range. The road to the caverns is the scenic Carlsbad Cavern Highway (New Mexico Highway 7).
Why are Carlsbad Caverns famous?
The caverns were formed over millions of years by the dissolution of limestone by sulfuric acid, creating an intricate network of caves, passageways, and chambers. It is one of the most famous cave systems in the world and is known for its incredible size, geological formations, and biodiversity. Carlsbad Cavern is a labyrinth of more than 300 limestone caves, carved over 250 million years ago and includes a large cave chamber, the Big Room, a natural limestone chamber which is almost 4,000 feet (1,220 m) long, 625 feet (191 m) wide, and 255 feet (78 m) high at the highest point. It is the third-largest chamber in North America. The caverns also contain a variety of underground features such as pools, lakes, and gypsum formations.
How to get into Carlsbad Caverns?
Located within the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a curvy trail leads by switchbacks into the mouth of the cave. These switchbacks are steep, and with each step the ambient light grows dimmer. It’s a very good walkway with about a 20 degree grade and is a mile and a quarter of switchbacks leading 750 feet below the surface. The paved trail is a 1.25-mile (2.01km) descent, pretty narrow and very steep. This switchback trail into the Big Room is closed to vehicles and patrolled by park rangers often.
Pic: By Daniel Mayer - Taken by uploader, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1404826