Whether you walk down through the Natural Entrance, or take the quick trip aboard the elevator, your next destination is the “Big Room”. Along this route you’ll find some of the caverns’ most impressive stalactites and stalagmites. The loop route takes about an hour, and is wheelchair accessible (except for one section–you’ll need to backtrack to get around it).
Every turn along the trail through the Big Room reveals another amazing scene.
These are known as the “Lion’s Tails”.
You’ll truly be amazed by the “Hall of Giants”. On the left are two stalagmites, known as the “twin domes” (which almost reach the ceiling) and on the right is a 62 foot tall column (no longer a stalagmite, since it now connects with the ceiling).
This cluster of stalactites is near the Hall of Giants, and almost directly overhead.
Do I even need to comment on this one?
Although the Big Room is more than 700 feet below the surface, there are other, even deeper, chambers below it. The deepest of which is the “Lower Cave”. In the early days of cave exploration, spelunkers would use this rickety wooden ladder to climb down, and hopefully, back up again. Now, there’s a 50 foot steel ladder, and visitors who arrange a special tour can more safely see the lowest chamber of the caverns.
When you reach the far end of the big room, you’re treated to this view down into the Lower Cave. It’s lit almost entirely with green lights, making it appear much greener than it really is.
A little further, and you reach the “Top of the Cross”–named as a result of the room’s shape, resembling a lower-case “t”. There’s one mighty stalagmite acting as a centerpiece for a small amphitheater there.
After that stop, I began to realize that I had seen my limit of cavern sights for the day. The entire tour had lasted 4 hours at this point (although I went slower than the average visitor, taking long-exposure pictures). Since I needed to hit the road, I power-walked past the rest of the sights and headed for the elevators.
If you didn’t take the opportunity to appreciate beautiful Walnut Canyon on the drive into the caverns, now’s a good time for a stop. There’s an overlook that gives you this view, in exchange for a short walk. Also, there’s a 9 1/2 mile scenic loop road that brings you closer to nature. I skipped the scenic drive and headed back to Carlsbad.
Note: This trip was first published in 2006.
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