More than 100 caves formed over millions of years. Beautiful yet delicate formations of stalactites and stalagmites, all set below an amazing desert with some of the most unique wildlife in the park system. And the bats. Even if you’re not a fan of them, you’ll rarely get a chance to see them the way you can see them here. All of this is in Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Situated in southern New Mexico and established in 1930, Carlsbad Caverns provides a unique opportunity to see the results of some of the most relentless forces of nature, played out over millennia. You can take in the wonders of the Big Room or explore many of the other off-the-beaten path caves. And regardless of the summer heat, you’ll find the caves holding steady at a brisk but humid 56 degrees Fahrenheit. On summer nights, you can marvel as hundreds of thousands of bats exit the caverns in search of food.

And you’ll also have a chance to explore another park while you’re in the area. Many visitors choose to combine their visit to the park with a visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, a short distance away. It’s a park with its own unique and interesting experiences as well. Either way, you’re sure to find an experience like no other at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.