Carlsbad Caverns National Park is closing early, at 4:30 p.m., on
Wednesday, July 17, because of flooding along the Walnut Canyon Park
Road. All visitors and employees are being evacuated from the cave and
visitor center and escorted down Walnut Canyon to Highway 62/180. The
park road is passable at this time, but more heavy rains are expected
this evening.
The park gate will remain closed tonight, and all programs, including
the Bat Flight Program, are cancelled for July 17.
The potential for flooding has been higher than usual in Carlsbad
Caverns National Park after a large fire that burned much of the
vegetation along the park road in June of 2011. Since 6:00 a.m. the
park had received more than 2.5 inches of rain as of 4 p.m. today.