Caves | Visit Tucson (2024)

Giant crystal formations and bandit hideouts.

Delve deep and explore two spectacular limestone caverns made by nature over eons:Colossal Cave Mountain Park(below the Rincon Mountains near Vail) andKartchner Caverns State Park®(beneath the Whetstone Mountains near Benson) are both surrounded by scenic wilderness, southeast of central Tucson. Besides tours of their massive underground labyrinths, both offer interpretive science exhibits and above-ground park areas with trail systems for hiking, wildlife watching, stargazing, and picnicking.

A much smaller, man-made cave in the Earth Sciences Center atArizona-Sonora Desert Museumis integral to a gemstone-and-geology experience that especially delights young visitors.

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"2016: Kartchner Caverns State Park was voted 'Best Cave in the USA' by USA Today's Readers' Choice Awards & Colossal Cave Mountain Park received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence."

Video: A Tale of Two Cavemen

Going Underground

If you’ve ever wondered about the earth below your feet, satisfy your curiosity by visiting the two show caves in southern Arizona: the living, underground oasis ofKartchner Caverns State Park®and the dry, crystal-filled maze atColossal Cave Mountain Park. These amazing attractions have very different experiences so you’ll want to explore both. Each offer guided tours that make it easy for novice cavers who want to discover spectacular natural wonders. Here is a glimpse of what you’ll see down below:

Kartchner Caverns State Park®

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It was good fortune that the two young spelunkers who discovered the 200,000-year-old cave in 1974 appreciated this pristine treasure and initiated conservation efforts that led to the creation of the state park in 1999. The footprints of Randy Tufts and Gary Tenen can be seen preserved in a small lake of mud. Their early explorations can be replicated by visitors who go on the all-new Helmet & Headlamp Tour, a half-mile specialty tour available on limited basis.

Kartchner is a rare cavern that offers visitors a look at the entire family of colorful cave formations: stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, cave popcorn, shields, columns, totems, drapery, bacon and the massive 58-foot-tall Kublai Khan column in the Rotunda Room.

If you wonder what it means for a cavern to still be in its virgin state, just check out the soda straws. They are not much thicker than kite string as they dangle from the ceiling for one, two, three, up to nine feet as seen on the tour. Another soda straw not within public view in Kartchner measures 21 feet. Hundreds of them precariously extend downward, many beaded with a drop of water at the tip that will only make them longer.

These caverns are extremely protected, thanks to delicate lighting and minimal human disturbance upheld by park staff. At the entrance, visitors must pass through four tightly sealed steel doors and be missed to remove lint and any other human particles that might harm the cavern. Inside, the temperature stays around 70-72 degrees with 98 percent humidity to foster the growth of new formations.

Kartchner Caverns State Park® is located about 55 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona. Tours are offered frequently by guide only. The trails inside are paved and wheelchair-accessible. Tickets can be reserved online and by telephone. A Discovery Center, with interactive exhibits and a video explaining many aspects of the cave, including its important role as a nursery roost for cave bats, and picnic areas are available on site.

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"Tiny drops of water seeping through the cave’s limestone ceiling are constantly creating the dazzling mineral formations in this delicate ecosystem."

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

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A maze of winding passageways makes up the subterranean landscape of Colossal Cave, located on the grounds of 2,400-acre Colossal Cave Mountain Park. As its name implies, Colossal Cave is massive. There are about 3.5 miles of mapped passageways and many miles of natural tunnels yet to be fully explored. Inside, the temperature is always 70 degrees.

Colossal Cave is an ancient “karst” cave system forged out of limestone rock by water erosion over hundreds of thousands of years. The water source has disappeared and the formations are not growing so it’s now called a “dry” cave. There are many geological gems to see in this crystal-filled underworld, including formations like stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, boxwork, and helictites. The cave bacon and popcorn are popular with kids.

For outdoor adventurer-seekers willing to navigate some tight spaces, a variety of tours and advanced caving treks offer a relatively safe introduction to cave exploring and spelunking. All the tours are guided and most have age restrictions.

The Ladder Tour, offered by day and by night, ventures into mysterious, off-route areas of the cave that harbor exquisite geologic specimens. Participants don hard hats with lights and climb up ladders, slide through narrow passages, scramble across bridges and see cave formations (and possibly a dozing cave bat) up-close. Participants must be physically fit, agile and able to scale obstacles and negotiate tight squeezes (the equivalent of a “cave hug”).

Advance notice is required for the Candlelight Tour, a re-creation of how the first recorded modern explorers saw the cave in 1879. The Wild Cave Tours for advanced and intermediate cavers follow the footsteps of outlaws and early inhabitants through unlit, unmarked, and rarely seen passageways that extend a quarter mile into the depths of the Earth.

For the curious but less adventurous, the Regular Tour takes about an hour to complete. The tour guide relates the cave’s history, geology, and legends (is the cave haunted?) as visitors walk down and back up a route that is about a half-mile long.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park is located about 22 miles southeast of downtown Tucson, Arizona. Cave tours are given daily, on the hour, year-round. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a historic ranch, a gift shop, hiking and biking trails, horseback riding and picnicking and camping sites.

Hiking

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Caves | Visit Tucson (2024)

FAQs

What should I wear to Colossal Cave? ›

six and a half stories and see beautiful cave formations like stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, boxwork, and helictites. Tours are given daily, on the hour, year-round. You need no special clothing in the Cave, which is always 70 degrees and dry and you are welcome to take pictures inside.

How long is the colossal cave tour? ›

Classic Cave Tour

This half-mile long guided walk takes about 40 minutes to complete. It's the perfect family-friendly introduction to the Cave. You'll learn about the Cave's history, its legends (like train robbers and ghosts), and its unique geology.

What is the famous cave in Tucson? ›

Kartchner Caverns is home to: One of the world's longest soda straw stalactites: 21 feet 3 inches (Throne Room) The tallest and most massive column in Arizona, Kubla Khan: 58 feet tall (Throne Room)

What to do in Colossal Cave? ›

Cave tours, hiking & biking, horseback and wagon trail rides, camping & picnicking, Terrace Café, & gift shop...we have it all! Stop in for a Classic Cave Tour, a Lights Out Tour, a Ladder Tour, or a Wild Cave Tour!

What is the temperature inside the Colossal Cave? ›

The temperature in the Cave is always a cool 70°F.

What movies were filmed in Colossal Cave? ›

  • Sesame Street. 1969– TV-Y. 8.1 (16K) Rate. ...
  • Death Valley Days. 1952–1970TV-PG. ...
  • Journey to the Center of the Earth. 19592h 9mApproved. ...
  • Wanted: Dead or Alive. 1958–1961Approved. ...
  • The Magical World of Disney. 1954–1997TV-G. ...
  • Night of the Lepus. 19721h 28mPG. ...
  • The Legend of 5 Mile Cave. 20191h 30mTV-PG. ...
  • The Spider. 19581h 13mApproved.

Who owns Colossal Cave? ›

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

It is owned by Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation.

Is Colossal Cave a live cave? ›

After eons of water erosion, the Cave reached a dry state, and today Colossal Cave is one of the largest dry caves in north America — a snapshot of the formations as they were created millennia ago.

What is the largest cave you can visit? ›

Son Doong is considered to be the largest cave in the world, based on volume and also the biggest cave in Vietnam, found by Ho Khanh – a Phong Nha jungle man in 1990.

Can you go to Kartchner Caverns without a tour? ›

You have to be on a tour to go inside the Caverns.

How much does it cost to get into Kartchner Caverns? ›

Kartchner Caverns State Park
Fee TypePrice in US $
Daily Entrance: Per Vehicle (1-4 Adults)7.00 *
Daily Entrance: Individual/Bicycle3.00
Camping: Electric & Water Sites30.00
Camping: Electric, Water & Sewer Sites35.00
6 more rows

What is the most sacred cave in the world? ›

Actun Tunichil Muknal (the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre), also known locally as ATM, is a cave in Belize, near San Ignacio, Cayo District, notable as a Maya archaeological site that includes skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware.

What animals live in colossal cave? ›

Among the mammals, Pack Rats, Deer Mice, Spotted Skunks, Striped Skunks, Ringtails, Foxes, Badgers, Raccoons, Javelina, Bobcats, and Mountain Lions all call Colossal Cave Mountain Park home. And, of course, bats.

How do you catch the bird in colossal cave? ›

Clicking on the bird with the Wicker Cage, while the Black Rod is not in our inventory, will capture the bird. In order to complete the game, we must use the bird on the snake in the Hall of the Mountain King (either clicking on the snake with the bird-in-cage cursor, or by dropping it in front of the snake).

What is the colossal cave adventure about? ›

Colossal Cave Adventure is a text-based adventure game wherein the player explores a mysterious cave that is rumored to be filled with treasure and gold. The player must explore the cave system and solve puzzles by using items that they find to obtain the treasures and leave the cave.

What do you wear to cave tubing? ›

What to Wear
  • Swimwear or comfortable lightweight clothing that can get wet.
  • Sneakers that you don't mind getting wet or water shoes. Water shoes are available for rent at the park.

What should I wear to the Oregon caves? ›

The cave temperature is a constant 41 degrees F (5 degrees C), so warm clothing is recommended. Wear good walking shoes, as the trail surface is uneven and slippery. Per the NPS, no flash lights should be brought on the tours. Cameras are ok.

What should I wear to The Caverns? ›

The temperature inside The Caverns is around 59 degrees year-round. It's a comfortable temperature for most, but you are in a cave, so please bring a jacket or a sweater in case you get chilly.

Can you wear flip flops at Mammoth cave? ›

Mammoth Cave Adventures provides all of the equipment needed to participate in the tours including custom-designed harnesses and helmets. Required – Closed-toe hiking or athletic type footwear – No Crocs or flip-flops allowed. Be advised that the weather can change quickly so layered clothing is a good idea.

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