Beneath the Desert
The park is home to over 119 caves, a testament to the incredible natural processes that formed them from dissolved limestone. These caves began forming approximately 4 to 6 million years ago when sulfuric acid, created by the interaction of hydrogen sulfide gas with oxygen-rich groundwater, aggressively dissolved the limestone, carving out vast underground caverns. Inside the caves, visitors can witness an awe-inspiring sight: a multitude of bats emerging as a whole in the evening and returning at dawn. But the park isn’t just about its remarkable caves. Above ground, the Chihuahuan Desert awaits, offering stunning high desert canyons and a rich diversity of desert wildlife to explore. Don’t forget to visit the park's Visitor Center, where you can enjoy an engaging park film, browse the bookstore, and learn more about this unique environment.
nps.gov
Fun Fact
Despite its name, the "Bottomless Pit" inside the caverns isn't truly bottomless—it measures about 140 feet deep. It earned its intriguing name because the bottom is invisible to the naked eye, and visitors who tossed rocks into the pit couldn't hear them land due to the sand at the bottom, which muffles sound. Today, with modern flashlights, the once-mysterious bottom of the pit can finally be seen.
nationalparkstraveler.org
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