Shaft of light illuminates park visitor near natural entrance of Carlsbad Cavern

In summer the late afternoon sun lines up with the natural entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. A ray of sunlight pans slowly across the cave floor, briefly illuminating the formations along the trail and heralding the end of another day. Cool, moist air from deep inside the cavern, meets the heated air of the dry desert above, creating a swirling cloud of mist at the confluence. A visitor pauses along the trail and gazes up at the spectacle.