We visited Carlsbad Caverns a second time, this time to do the Natural Entrance and Big Room trails.

On the way, passing the Apache Canyon Trading Post:

And White’s City:

The Carlsbad Caverns sign:

Entrance road:

Again we had a picnic lunch by the visitor center:

The visitor center sign:

The path to the natural entrance:

We were stopped for the pre-entrance instructions from the ranger:

The bat amphitheater, where people can watch the bats leaving the cave in the evenings:

Heading down into the natural entrance:

An info sign; 1.25 miles, 750 feet of elevation change:

The natural entrance:

Reaching the junction with the Rest Stop and Big Room:

The Big Room trail:

Back to the Underground Rest Stop:

We bought a snack at the shop; the attendant was very chatty with info about the cave, visitors, bats, etc:

Back up the elevator:

The gift shop:

Jenn bought a bunch of postcards; she collects the WPA-style postcards, and this gift shop had an excellent collection, so she was able to get some missing and future ones:

A selfie by the sign, with a stuffed toy bat from the gift shop: