About this campground
Lost Cave is a limestone cave near the city of Carlsbad. It was the site of an isolation study in 1989 and contains two main rooms, filled with breakdown, and various side passages. The cave is horizontal, but the entrance is negotiated by a 15 foot ladder. It is co-managed by the BLM and the Pecos Valley Grotto, an internal organization of the National Speleological Society. Due to sensitive historic and biological resources in the cave, all trips must have a trip leader from this grotto. What to Bring Helmet with headlamp for safety and hands-free movement. Gloves for hand protection. Elbow pads to help in tight climbs. Kneepads for protection in crawls. Sturdy boots to provide good support and traction.
Getting there
Contact the Pecos Valley Grotto to arrange a trip.
Activities
- CAVING
- WILDLIFE VIEWING
Nearby federal campgrounds
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Lost Cave doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby New Mexico campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse New Mexico camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.