Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness
With 116 documented caves including the world-famous Carlsbad Cavern and Lechuguilla Cave at over 125 miles in length, Carlsbad Caverns National Park deserves its international reputation. Approximately 250 million years ago, a reef grew on the edge of an ancient sea. Much later this area was raised up through mountain-building processes, and the limestones and dolomites in the now-uplifted reef fractured, allowing rainwater from above to begin the process of forming caves. At the same time, hydrogen sulfide from oil and gas deposits below the area began moving upward, intersecting the water table and forming a mild sulfuric acid that carved out the large rooms and passages we see today.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | New Mexico |
| Size | 33,125 acres |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 32.13° N, 104.57° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 24) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
1 named Forest Service trail enters this wilderness, 2 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Ussery | 2.4 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 6.8 miPratt, Wallace, Lodge ↗Gaudalupe Mountain National Park, TX
- 8.2 mi
- 8.2 miDam--Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area ↗Carlsbad, NM
- 8.3 mi
- 11.3 miGuadalupe Ranch ↗Salt Flat, TX
- 12.7 miPinery Station ↗Gaudalupe Mountain National Park, TX
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for New Mexico
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness?
33,125 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness in?
New Mexico.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 32.132° N, 104.573° W. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness?
Carlsbad Caverns National Park (adjacent) and Guadalupe Mountains National Park (14 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness?
The National Register has 6 listings within 15 miles, including Pratt, Wallace, Lodge and Picnic Shelter--Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.