Kartchner Caverns

Kartchner Caverns

A few months ago my family and I went to tour the Kartchner Caverns, South of Tucson, AZ. We had a wonderful day trip and explored Tombstone on an extended loop back home. There are several points of interest there... but that's another blog.

Kartchner Cavern is a living cave, meaning it is still an ecologically and geologically active cave environment. The cave has an average temperature of 72° Fahrenheit (22° Celsius) and 99% humidity year-round. There are a series of doors used to control access and keep the cave environment stable. Most areas are dimly lit and some passages may pass through narrow or enclosed areas. The cave has been carefully developed to provide a stunning tour highlighting the various geologic formations within the cave system and yet preserve the fragile cave environment. Our tour included the Throne Room which included a dramatic light show highlighting the various features of the cave throughout. 

There are several options for tours. The tour we chose has been open since 1999 and is half of a mile in length and takes approximately an hour and a half to complete, 50 minutes of which is underground. The park guide was very knowledgeable as to the history of the cave from current state, to its discovery in the 1970s, and its geologic history.  Be sure to check your Arizona forecast though - the day we went we were unprepared for snow and while it may be warm in the cave the outside park was quite chilly. 

Sadly pictures are not allowed inside cavern except for special photography tours. The visitor center includes a lot of exhibits to make up for the lack of pictures in the cave. 

Enjoy the adventure!

http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/tour_info.html