Quite the Camping Experience
If you and your family really like a nature-filled vacation, then you might want to consider camping at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. What better way is there to really get in touch with nature and enjoy the great outdoors than to sleep under the stars among all of the wildlife of the park? Camping at Carlsbad Caverns is one of those experiences that you and your family will remember for the rest of your lives.
If you think that you might want to pursue a camping trip at Carlsbad Caverns, then there are few rules that you will need to follow. It is extremely important that the human impact on the land is as low as possible, so following the rules to the letter will allow the park to welcome campers for years to come. First of all, you will need to get a permit from the Visitor Center. These permits are free, and must be returned to the Visitor Center or delivered to a Park Ranger when you are ready to leave. This is the best way for the park to ensure your safety. After all, if the Park Rangers are not aware of your presence in the park, then they cannot help you if you experience an emergency.
Campsites should be set up out of sight from any roads, but within a quarter of a mile from them. This is definitely for your safety. Venturing further could put you and your family in danger. Also, if you happen upon a spot that appears to have been recently occupied, it is a good idea to find somewhere else to reduce the impact that your presence has on the environment.
Remember, you must camp in a tent. There are no RV’s allowed in the park, and you are not allowed to sleep in your car. In fact, you will need to park your car and hike to your camping site, so be sure that you take everything with you when you head to your campsite. Don’t build any campfires, either, because of the risk of forest fire. Be sure to pack a small electric or gas-powered camping stove if you plan to eat.
It really is an amazing experience to camp at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but if the rules are a bit too restrictive, you can find other campgrounds nearby. White’s City and Carlsbad both have campgrounds that allow many of the things that the park just cannot.
