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Kartchner Caverns State Park
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
29 reviews for Kartchner Caverns State Park
29 reviews in English
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Review from Julie T.
Washington, DC
1/22/2012
Pros: Park rangers make great tour guides - 1.5 hours of pure humor and educational enlightment. Big Room Tour allows visitors to get up close & personal with the formations and the bat colony's roosting spots. Most protected cave in the USA so prepare to leave your cameras, water bottles, mobile phones, etc. in the car. 50% military discount.
Cons: Emergency response system isn't up to par, but you'll get a nice light show if an emergency does happen during your tour. -
Review from Andy S.
4/5/2011
First off, I wish I'd read here more carefully before we made our reservations, as we would have bought the Tucson Attractions Passport for $15 (http://www.visittucson...), which as others have noted gives you a 2-for-1 discount on Kartchner Caverns (spend $15 to save $22) and a ton of other attractions. [Nov 2011: It looks like there's no discount on Kartchner Caverns this season.]
As for the caverns, they're as impressive as everyone says. We did the Rotunda/Throne Tour and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our guide was knowledgeable and personable, and it was a good amount of time to see everything (about 1.5 hours total, roughly 50 minutes of which is underground).
A few things we read said to prepare for significant moisture due to the humidity, but we didn't get dripped on once. And the paths are all paved, so tennis shoes are more than sufficient. It's also pretty warm in the caverns, so jackets or sweaters won't be needed inside. However, it was quite windy and cool outside when we were there (although I don't think that weather is typical for late March).
The Discovery Center for the caverns is OK, but nothing special. We spent most of the time before the tour getting a bite to eat at the Bat Cave Cafe, and the pre-made sandwiches were surprisingly good. Note however that there aren't many seats indoors. If the weather had been nicer, we might have walked around some after the tour -- there are a couple of trails in the area that might have been fun to check out.
Reservations are *essential* for March visiters; last year we waited too long and they were sold out. This year we bought tickets well in advance, which is a good thing, because when we got there they were sold out again. -
Review from Jolly M.
1/6/2011
Kartchner Caverns in Tucson is approximately 50 miles from the Loews Hotel Resort in Tucson where I stayed. A highly recommended resort.
The travel commute was well worth it! Kartchner Caverns is a MUST SEE! Absolutely breathe taking and a different world. It's a utopian world throughout it. Make sure to dress warmly and have great walking shoes. Great for everyone incl. kids and those who are in wheel chair accessible. The outside premises is gorgeous too and I was in awwww and the story of how it was discovered is incredible. I wish I was there now. -
Review from Russell S.
Tempe, AZ
12/13/2010
This place is a must go for a day/weekend/family trip. The caverns is just a few miles off the freeway and very accessible..
I would suggest making a reservation before going, especially during the peak season. Make sure to tour the museum before heading on the tour that last a little over an hour.
The ticket might be a bit expensive (over $20) but is worth seeing this living cave and goes to help keep this treasure for everyone to see for years to come.
Our guide was alright, but seemed to try a bit too much and kept repeating the same thing several times.
Inside the cave, you see some amazing things. I wouldn't even know how to describe all the formations stalagtites/stalagmites etc. I left amazed at everything inside. WOW!
Cameras, food, water are not allowed inside the cave. The cave is humid and a jacket should not be required during the 1 hour tour. There is a tram that will take you up can down to the museum.
Make sure to hit the restroom before leaving on the tour! -
Review from Albie F.
6/6/2010
I've been to most of the major caves in California, Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, Mammoth Caves in Kentucky, and after visiting Kartchner Caverns in Benson, I think I have a pretty good cave playing field to compare these various caves (and every one has its own little difference as no two caves are really the same). But I will say that if you're staying west of Carlsbad Caverns and looking for something specifically in California or Arizona, Kartchner is going to be your best bet!! It really does blow all the California caves out of the water.
I went in mid May so the Rotunda/Throne Room tour was the only tour available due to bats occupying areas in the Big Room tour during the months of April to October. An $18.95 admission price will get you a 1.5 mile adventure that includes a tram ride up to the entrance of Kartchner Caverns, an educational session in a group of about 15, and a wonderful tour of this pristine cave that features Kubla Kahn, the largest column in the state of Arizona. The guided path isn't incredibly long but the people who found the cave were very respectful of the natural state of the cave and somehow managed to preserve the cave without human neglect. We were also very lucky due to the unexpected wet season that Arizona experienced this year to see a large pool of water in one of the large rooms where there has never been such a pool of water observed before.
Much "high tech" thought has been put into Kartchner Caverns. These enhancements range from having the only wheelchair accessible cave trail in the US, air tight doors, a demisting area to reduce lint from clothes spreading throughout the caverns, and a curved pathway built to accommodate nightly washing without disrupting the cave formations. With this being their 10 year anniversary, it is still a relatively new cave. And with the kind of care and maintenance that has been put into Kartchner Caverns, it should be around in a similar state for generations to come. -
Review from Shane J.
Sacramento, CA
7/7/2011
if you are any where near benson arizona and do not visit kartchner cavers, you will W-I-L-L be making a huge mistake.
when i fist saw the price, for the tour, i was a little surprised. kinda high i thought. however, the second we stepped foot into the cavern i realized we may have not paid enough!
the amount of thought, work and preservation the original discovers/property owners/state have put into the preservation of this site is unbelievable (be sure to watch the short film in the discovery center prior to the tour).
the cavern itself . . . well words can not describe . . . you'll have to experience it for yourself!
we stayed in the campground in a 36' with a toad. great layout, beautiful scenery and some shade. very clean.
the knowledgeable/courteous staff and the snack bar open for breakfast and lunch were added bonuses.
be sure to take the full 2.5mile hike up and around the cavern entrance. the views are stunning! -
Review from Stephanie S.
Burbank, CA
3/18/2010
UNbelievable. this was seriously great, and i love how preserved they have managed to keep it without destroying the integrity of the natural environment of the caverns. frizzy hair beware - humidity is HIGH.
we toured the big room which was spectacular. the colors, the vibrancy, the dark crevices. our tour guide was really informative and funny when she made fun of splunkers vs. cavers. beware of the piles of guano, and keep an eye out for the fossilized bat in a dormant stalagmite. i even scored a "cave kiss" which is when the active stalactites drip on your head.
about an hours drive from tuscon, and reservations highly recommended, if not necessary.Listed in: Son's of Tucson
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Review from V C.
Copperas Cove, TX
5/2/2011
I haven't been to a cave since I was a little kid so I was really looking forward to visiting one again. The friends we were visiting were eager to babysit my twins while the hubster and I go through the tour. It was amazing! I just love how we can go in and see what happens inside something and the fact that 2 men just happen to stumble upon this once upon a time. I am disappointed on not being able to take any pictures at all. They warned us multiple times not to touch anything to preserve the natural cave and the devil inside me really really wanted to but didn't. It is well worth the trip and I must say I am looking forward to vising other caverns from now on.
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Review from Jesse J.
10/19/2010
My Dad and I made a trip down to Kartchner Caverns for his bday. It was a very easy drive down from Phoenix it took about 3 hours. We arrived about an hour before our pre-booked tour (which is highly recommended as walk-ins are very tough to get). When arriving since we booked already we didn't have to pay the $6 fee to park.
We toured the museum and gift shop before and since no pictures are allowed inside I bought a book that had photos and some history of the cave along with a fridge magnet (I have an obsession with collecting these).
So off to the tour we go at 1:30 and it was very informative and I saw too many cool things. Our guide was great cracking jokes and telling us lot's of informative things. I really enjoyed the cave it was amazing and since it is taken such good care of it is still functioning like it should. It's still living and will be enjoyed for many years to come.
I will be back for the Thrown room tour when it is offered again. -
Review from MiYong E.
Ewa Beach, HI
11/21/2008
If you head out this way, you MUST MUST MUST plan a visit, but be sure to make reservations. They sell out quickly! It is absolutely beautiful and such an educational experience.
I would say go even more than once. This is def a gem. The staff are so informative and knowledgeable. They answer all questions (and you know I ask a ton). It's great for kids and adults.
I cannot rave enough about this place. When you leave, you'll want to go exploring looking for undiscovered caves, but leave that to the pros. Still....I'm ready to go again! -
Review from Ryan C.
Scottsdale, AZ
9/24/2008
Kartchner Caverns are simply amazing, the interior is bespectacled with rarely seen colorful and intricate cave formations that took hundreds of thousands if not millions of years to form. Many of these formations have amusing dinner table common names like cave bacon, cave popcorn, fried eggs, or even the bizarre gravity defying soda straws that leave little to the imagination regarding the favorite food of spelunkers.
While the caverns obviously have a certain inherent amount of geek appeal due to the associated science content, there is much to be said for the staff and facilities. The interior cavern lighting was painstakingly planned and quite stunning and when coupled with an excellent tour guide created a memorable experience. A minor word of caution, the Park Service is going to great lengths to ensure the preservation of the caverns as such I recommend making reservations and remember that the precautions are in place to avoid the fate of most of the caves you have visited which were unwittingly destroyed long ago. -
Review from Lorena L.
Mesa, AZ
1/7/2009
I've visited both rooms and thought the Big Room was better. I think it's closed from mid April to mid October when the bats are there. The light show in the Throne/Rotunda was was just a little cheesy to me. Both rooms are impressive. I didn't think it was chilly due to the high humidity and was fine in jeans and a sleeveless shirt.
I wish we could take pictures because the beauty and colors of a wet cave is amazing. The guides are very knowledgeable. John was our favorite!
Make reservations online since the tours book up quickly and then you don't have to pay to get into the park.
P.S. They have great specials on the Throne/Rotunda room in the late summer just before the Big Room reopens.Listed in: Places to Visit in AZ
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Review from Jennette B.
Pittsburg, CA
2/20/2010
Breath taking!
Okay the rehearsed lines from the tour guide was a little sad the cave was so awesome you could just ignore his silly comments. -
Review from Sandra S.
Paradise Valley, AZ
9/11/2011
This place was incredible. You'll needed an appt to visit - so be patient with the wait on the phone. We show up (me, my husband and almost 4 year old boy, for our 12:40 appt). He was the only child his age - and was amazing - really into it. It gets really humid inside which was a nice change from the dry heat outside -don't bring a jacket! My poor husband was sweating like a whore in church! The power had gone out just as well arrived -which only made our tour more of an adventure. We toured the incredible caverns with two guides and flash lights - it was a little long and you have to stay with the group - which was a little challenging for me as I like to go off on my own (and maybe I have ADD and get bored) - but it was really a spectacular adventure. I told my husband it was up there with the Grand Canyon. On the way back to PHX we stopped of at an Ostrich Farm in the pouring rain - it was awesome as well! We fed Deer, Goats, Ostrich and went into a bird place where they landed all over us as we fed them - this is a great place for kids! This was a really neat, different way to spend a day!
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Review from nalinee m.
Tucson, AZ
6/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
this was our second visit to kartchner caverns in one month.
the first trip didn't go as planned. we brought our 19 month old daughter along with us. we didn't count on her being fussy that day, but the fact that they don't allow anything into the cave (we had to leave our baby-hiking-backpack in the car) was kind of inconvenient, but i do understand why. they also wouldn't let her walk by herself because they have very strict rules about touching a living cave. anyway, as soon as we entered the first part of the caverns, lanna wasn't too happy.
the way i see it, since they allow children on the tour, this kind of thing should be expected from time to time. instead of having 20 angry people come off of the tour because someone's kid (our kid) was screaming the entire time, they should have been grateful to us that we decided to walk off the tour. the customer service we received from the volunteer guide (they follow behind the tour) and even the management staff was less than whelming. at first, they suggested that one parent stay on the tour while the other waits with the child back at the discovery center. then the other parent could go after the first parent was done. the whole reason we came out was to do something together as a family. why would we want to split up? my husband asked for a refund, and the volunteer kept insisting that they would not honor a refund. first of all, why would you, as a volunteer even begin to tell me that? you're not staff.
when we were brought back to the discovery center, my husband spoke with a manager that gave him a really hard time about getting a refund. they really wouldn't budge. my husband had to resort to saying that if they wouldn't give a refund, we'd go on the next tour, baby in tow. lanna's crying was music to our ears. would you like to deal with 20 angry visitors? in the end they finally gave in. but why did it have to resort to that?
we left with a really bitter taste in our mouth, but were determined to see the caves another time.
well, this past weekend we had an opportunity to visit the caverns again (without baby this time!!). everything from start to finish was excellent. our guide, joyce, was very knowledgeable and great to listen to. she was very animated throughout the tour and didn't have any dull moments. the caverns are truly an arizona treasure. it's amazing to see them and to hear how they were formed and all of the history of the discoverers. -
Review from Pierre Trudeau I.
Phoenix, AZ
1/6/2008 1 photo
Unlike most cave parks in the world, the Kartchner caverns weren't discovered by humans until relatively recently, in 1974. They were then kept a secret by the discoverers until 14 years later, when they and the caverns' private landowners carefully approached the State of Arizona to come up with a plan to convert it into a park for public viewing. The park opened only in 1999.
Older parks in the world suffered from a lack of technology and knowledge. Rather than preserving the pristine and fragile environment within, people did all kinds of audacious things to supposedly draw the public's interest, like shoving an elevator shaft directly into the caverns (destroying the carefully balanced humidity and temperature levels upon which the caverns' elements depended for future growth), or doing stupid human tricks like tossing flame-sticks across the massive "rooms" for the cool effects. Such activities slowly wore down and destroyed the original, naturally most spectacular aspects of the cavern.
Benefiting from our mistakes in the past, the stewards of the Kartchner caverns have preserved them so that today, you can view them in exactly the same state they were in 1974. The cave is a "wet" one, which in caving terminology apparently means its various formations are still growing from the flow or dripping of water, which you can see by observing the glistening nature of the various structures. What you see today is the gradual result of 200,000 years of dripping water.
The only other review of this place complains about a lack of freedom to bring water bottles and cameras. As you walk through the caverns (it is a guided tour), you often walk very close to some of the delicate formations. Formations that would break with just a single human touch. The environment is highly dependent on a very specific humidity level and temperature. The price of viewing such a sensitive and previously untouched-by-human natural phenomenon is that you have to leave your human crap outside, to avoid accidents and cut down on stupid human behavior. If you can't understand that, why would you come here in the first place? Are you interested in seeing nature in its natural state or not?
The caverns and their formations are simply amazing to see. The gigantic Kubla Khan Column (in what is known as "the Throne Room") looks like a 58 foot massive caramel sundae. During the tour I also learned of the existence of, and saw, moonmilk, bacon strips, soda straws (Kartchner has a 21-foot one, among the largest in the world), and a 40,000 year old pile of bat poop.
The distance is 49 miles from Tucson, barely an hour by car. It should definitely be a part of any weekend itinerary covering Tombstone and Bisbee, as it was for me and the relatives I came here with.
NOTE: The park is not in Benson and the Yelp map is totally off. Check the website for directions and the correct map location. -
Review from P J.
San Mateo, CA
2/12/2008
Wonderful experience! We saw the Big Room, which is the largest of the complexes in Kartchner. It's only open 6 months of the year because bats still come home to roost in this complex during the summer.
What's really impressive about this place is the dedication to keep the Caverns as pristine and preserved as possible. They let in only a very limited number of people a day, and as is mentioned in other reviews, they send you through a series of airlocks to prevent undesirable spores, etc from getting in. Our guide, John, was funny and informative. Told the requisite guide jokes, and clearly had a passion for his job.
The caverns were beautiful and inspiring. I'd recommend a visit to anyone - there's lots to learn and see there. -
Review from tina p.
San Ramon, CA
1/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
awesome caverns! again, totally recommend you get the southern arizona passport first, as the $15 passport gets you a two-for-one tour ($22 saving).
We did the rotunda tour, and since we arrived late in the afternoon, we scored the last tour of the day. The volunteers guides were great, they were very knowledgeable, and their passion and love for the caverns was clear. One of the nice things about the being the last tour on a Thursday in January is that there was no group ahead or behind us, so our small group of about 12 was alone in the cave.
The photographer in me was annoyed with not being able to take any photos, but sometimes just being present in the experience has a special magic of its own. Fear not, the lovely little gift store has nice postcards and books at reasonable prices, and I'm sure a google image search will find some great photos for you to reminisce with later.
In my youth my family used to take these epic 6-8 week cross-country motor-home trips during the summer, so I've seen a handful of caverns, and this is one of my top two ever... definitely worth the 40-45 minute drive from Tuscon. -
Review from Jessica E.
Potrero, CA
8/21/2011
Stayed at the campground and visited the cavern. Beautiful grounds, clean restroom and friendly camp host. Visitor center awesome for kids and adults. Tour volunteers were nice and the cavern was very cool, a completely different experience from carlsbad caverns (also cool). Bonus is short drive to tombstone. Call about gate closure times as it was not as quoted on website.
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Review from Douglas P.
Phoenix, AZ
1/8/2011
Maybe good for kids. Our guide was a little troll on loan from Tucson's Circus of Public Servants and she felt a cheesy, geriatric form of humor should brighten up everyone's day. The beauty of the caverns, such as it is, was ruined for our party of three. Bad guide aside, the discount light show with 1980s era new age music at the end was a let down. I'd say stop by if you are driving by (but you can't, they are ALWAYS sold out) and that it is not worth the 3 hour drive from Phoenix. Call ahead for tickets.
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Review from Pranjal S.
Beverly Hills, CA
7/26/2011
this is probably the most well lit cave I have been in and the tour is excellent for a pretty moderate price.
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Review from Brian B.
10/12/2007
Over priced, far from Tucson, No cameras allowed, no water bottles, we decided to go to the Colossal Cave instead. Was kinda disappointed, never been to a hole in the ground that you are not allowed to take pictures of.
Listed in: Spelunking
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Review from Brian S.
Camarillo, CA
1/4/2009
RV camping is so easy here. The campground is clean and there are even some trails to hike on. The cave tours were great and everything was very clean and tidy. Very well done. The girls at the cafe even had water for our dogs. The staff and volunteers were very friendly and always helpful. My advice: wear a t-shirt for the tours since it's hot and humid in the caves. Also, drink a lot of water when you leave the cave. If you have kids, they need to be older than 6 for one of the tours, but my 5 year old had no problem with the other tour. Finally, please respect the cave, I want to take my grandchildren here. Thanks.
Listed in: Tucson Happenings
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Review from DinerGirl P.
Phoenix, AZ
3/7/2010
The fact that this state park exists at all is simply a miracle. Everyone should visit, if only to learn the incredible story of how the cave was discovered and how alliances were formed - all in secret - to preserve this beautiful living, breathing cave for today and for future generations. It is one of the most inspiring stories of "possibility" that i have ever heard.
The tour lasts about an hour and a half with only part of that time spent inside the cave - but what you see during that short visit will fill you full of wonder and give you memories to last a lifteime. Fortunately for those of us who live in Arizona, return visits are possible. On every tour, there seem to be many locals who have brought out of town guests to visit for the first time - but it is apparent that the experienced hosts enjoy the cave visit as much as their first time guests. I agree with the other reviewers' comments that the tour guides' commentary is somewhat uneven - the upside of that is that you are likely to learn something new about the cave (and have different things pointed out to you) on every trip through. Our latest tour guide was a feisty 70 year old volunteer named Joyce who i hope you are lucky enough to get as a tour guide. her enthusiasm about the cave was contagious ("Let's go caving!" she exclaimed at the entrance to the cave...), and she clearly continues to learn as much as she can about it so she can share her ample knowledge with us. What a great ambassador.
When you visit the cave, one of the biggest challenges you'll face is extending your timeframe of reference out 200,000 years. (yes, that's two hundred thousand years.) That's how long it took mother nature to create the incredible formations you're going to see. It is difficult to comprehend, especially since you get to see living examples of formations growing one drop of water at a time. The science behind what they have done to preserve the cave will also fascinate you. Rock hounds will get an ear full of geology and those with a sense of adventure will love the telling of how the original cavers squeezed through infinitely tiny spaces on their slow path to discovery of the most beautiful chambers of the cave.
if you have an opportunity to read the fascinating Neil Miller book on Kartchner Caverns before your visit, it will be well worth your time. It is a real page turner and very well written and researched. If you can't get ahold of it before you visit, definitely stop by the Kartchner caverns souvenir shop and pick up a copy to go before you depart. I guarantee you'll be tempted to crack it open and start reading on the drive home.
The interpretive center onsite is one of Arizona's best. Great exhibits, a 15 minute narrated slide show and a beautiful garden and picnic area featuring native Arizona plants complement the requisite gift shop and cafe. (heed their advice and leave your jacket in the car as it will only be cumbersome to carry once you get inside the warm cave.)
Advance reservations are a must to make sure you have tour tickets and are not disappointed on the day of your planned visit. Tickets are quick and easy to obtain by phone.
Accessibility: If i could give Kartchner ten stars on this one, i would. Amazingly, the trails inside of the cave are wheelchair accessible. On a past visit I took a guest who needed assistance and was able to reserve a wheelchair in advance. It was waiting behind the counter when we arrived and all of the staff took great care to make sure that we were well situated when the tour began. there is a little electric tram that takes everyone up to the cave entrance and there is a special section of the tram where the wheelchair can fit right in. Once inside the cave, keep in mind that some portions are a bit steep so you will want to have a very able bodied person available to help push the chair as it is a little bit of a workout. There are plenty of places to maneuver the chair to turn it around and the other people on the tour were quick to point out where the best viewing spots are for someone in a wheelchair. We really appreciated that and are so glad that the accessibility provisions give everyone an opportunity to see this cave. -
Review from Dan E.
Flagstaff, AZ
11/8/2010
Kartchner Caverns State Park is very impressively & expensively planned to respect the cave for future generations to view and for the creatures who inhabit this live limestone cave. This park has the cave's best interests at heart and everywhere you look that is very evident. This is easily one of the best public cave tours in the nation. I was blown away by the engineered thoughtful care that the builders went to provide a substantively educational, entertaining and yet protective view into this most fragile environment. The entire cave's interior tour walkway is highly curbed, sloped and drained in such a way to allow caretakers to rinse away human traces nightly. Touring guests must go through a host of sealed chambers leading into the cave each with increasing humidity and are even lightly misted with water to help prevent dander and lint from transferring to the cave's sensitive interior. Our park tour guide was imaginative and animated in her educational yet entertaining interactive discussion as we ventured through the Big Room tour which was approximately 1.5 hours long. Arizona spent some serious cash to develop this park and the expenditure was money well spent! Touring guests ride an electric tram to the cave entrance from the visitor's center across an expansive concrete overpass across the mesquite laden dry wash next to the visitor's center. The spacious visitor's center has a gift shop, educational museum, theater and snack bar as well as camping facilities for those who would want to overnight on site in beautiful southern Arizona. Be forewarned that no photography is permitted within the cave but colorful professional grade photos/postcards are available for purchase at modest pricing in the gift shop.
I would love to return to tour the Rotunda or even repeat the tour we experienced! This is definitely a must-do when in the area. They also take reservations using a credit card over the phone so you are sure to get the tour you desire on your schedule which, since tour space is limited, can at times be tight. This place is AWESOME! -
Review from rebecca s.
Phoenix, AZ
1/19/2010
1.12.10 - so far so good. tour reservation agent was kind and quickly made my reservation. i am slightly peeved i have to pay in advance - credit card only - and changes/cancellations are not accepted. this is a state park, not a concert for goodness sake!
1.16.10 - we arrive at 9 am, an hour and 20 minutes early for our 10:20 am tour. the ranger is happy to move our tour of the rotunda/throne room up. i'm relieved. the tour itself is kind of annoying. there's a basic history lesson, a basic science lesson and basic geology lesson. it seemed somewhat "dumbed down" - perfect for school groups, but there were 14 adults and one 8 year old on this tour. i would have enjoyed more of an unrehearsed setting. our guide told us that photography is not allowed because people were dropping cameras over the railings onto/near the formations. really people?!
the rotunda and throne room were breathtaking. the formations are absolutely beautiful and seeing it was a good use of an hour and 15 minutes. if the place wasn't so beautiful, i would have been extremely angry that i had to tolerate the tour. the "grand finale" was a bit hokey for us. i really would have preferred to do a self guided walk through the cave, but i understand that this place is so fragile that really isn't an option. overall, i'm glad i went, but the experience could have been improved. -
Review from Vince G.
Scottsdale, AZ
2/17/2010
We make this 3 hour drive from Scottsdale and back and it was worth every minute. An experience unlike any other we have had. We saw both rooms and either one would be worth the trip but if you only had to choose one we would choose the rotunda/throne room tour. I applaud them for being so anal about touching things, taking pictures, and what you can wear because it is protecting this incredible treasure. Everyone, especially Arizonans should do this at least once in their lives.
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Review from Chuck B.
Wilmington, NC
1/20/2008
This is one of the few wet caves in the US. Many caves, such as New Mexico Carlsbad Caverns, have long dried out or have a small wet section. This is one of the few places you might get a cave kiss (a drop of water hitting you while in the cave) if you are lucky. This cave is still forming. What is unique is how this cave is preserved. There are twin air locks that one passes through and you are never without a guide. This is to prevent damage to the cave and to prevent those knuckle heads from breaking a formation and talking a souvenir home (much of Carlsbad and others have been damaged by this type of stupidity). These precautions are the reason for the cost and I think well worth it if it is to be preserved. Several portions were not open when I went - I went within a year of its first opening, but the formations I saw were marvelous. Well worth the detour. Print a map before going and bring an extra layer of clothing even if it is hot outside, it is very cool in the cave. I strongly suggest buying tickets online before going, when they sell out that is it. They limit the number of people each day that can visit the cave. Also keep an eye on the little ones, Arizonians do not take kindly to those who would damage their unique heritage. If you haven't heard the story, let me tell you... An Ohio man (I believe it was Ohio) came to the desert and decided it would be cool to blow out the base of a Saguaro cactus (it takes a hundred years for the first branch to form) and the cactus promptly got its revenge by falling on the hapless gunman and killing him. When the wife was interviewed by the press she lamented on how awful people were treating her on hearing about how her husband met his demise. I doubt she will ever be welcome in Arizona again,and it amazing that stupid people like that breed.
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Review from Crystal H.
Phoenix, AZ
10/27/2008
Amazing! They are beautiful and well worth the trip. Our tour guide was interesting, full of good information, and worth the price of admission. It is clear that they are really trying to preserve the park for future generations, which is not always the case with other parks.
