National Cave and Karst Research Institute

Carlsbad, New Mexico | Conduct, support, facilitate, and promote programs in cave and karst research, education, environmental management, and data acquisition and sharing.

Karst Info Portal
Join the mailing list
grants
CAVE WEEK
Open Positions

Cave Discovery Zone

NCKRI is developing the Cave Exploratorium, a cave-focused science center offering fun ways to learn about caves and karst.

DropZone

Immerse yourself in vertical cave exploration at the Cave Exploratorium’s DropZone, our first permanent exhibit. Through hands-on and interactive exhibits, you can learn about how theories developed by Newton and Galileo are applied to cave exploration and rope work. The use of vertical skills helps cavers explore our subterranean world. For the very brave, you can experience what it is like to be a vertical cave explorer by climbing and descending 9 m on a simulated cave wall.

The opening of the DropZone is postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch this page for more information as pandemic conditions become safe to welcome you into this fun and exciting exhibit.