Kartchner Caverns State Park
Reviewed and updated by AZ Leisure Staff Writers on .
Big Room in Kartchner Caverns. Creative Commons LicenseUnearthing A Natural Wonder
© Brooke Bessesen
Kartchner Caverns State Park near Benson, Arizona protects a remarkable living limestone cave filled with actively growing stalactites, stalagmites, columns, soda straws and other mineral formations. Discovered in 1974 and carefully protected before opening for public tours in 1999, the caverns are now explored through guided tours designed to preserve their warm, humid underground environment. Above ground, visitors can also explore the Discovery Center, hiking trails, picnic areas, campground and cabins in the foothills of the Whetstone Mountains.
- Kartchner Caverns Quick Facts
- Cave Tours
- Cave Formations & Geology
- Discovery & Preservation History
- Big Room Bats & Seasonal Closure
- Cave Tour Rules & What To Know
- Things To Do Above Ground
- Hours, Fees & Reservations
- Directions To Kartchner Caverns
- Kartchner Caverns FAQ
Kartchner Caverns State Park Quick Facts
- Location: Near Benson in southeastern Arizona
- Discovered: November 1974 by Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts
- Opened to public tours: 1999
- Cave type: Living limestone cave with actively growing formations
- Cave passages: Approximately 2.5 miles
- Cave temperature: About 68 degrees Fahrenheit
- Relative humidity: Approximately 99 percent
- Primary tour: Rotunda/Throne Tour
- Big Room: Seasonally closed for the cave's bat nursery colony
- Above-ground facilities: Discovery Center, hiking trails, picnic areas, camping and cabins
Kartchner Caverns Cave Tours
Kartchner Caverns can be entered only on authorized guided tours. Reservations are strongly recommended because tour capacity is limited and popular dates can sell out.
The Rotunda/Throne Tour is approximately one-half mile long and takes about 1½ hours, including roughly 50 minutes underground. Highlights include the discoverers' original route, ancient bat guano, delicate cave formations and Kubla Khan, the largest known column formation in Arizona.
The Big Room is offered seasonally because the chamber serves as a nursery roost for cave myotis bats during the warmer months. Tour availability varies by season, so visitors should check the current Arizona State Parks reservation calendar before planning a trip.
Kartchner Caverns Formations & Geology
Kartchner Caverns formed within Escabrosa Limestone deposited when a shallow inland sea covered the region approximately 330 million years ago. Over millions of years, uplift and faulting helped shape the Whetstone Mountains while slightly acidic groundwater slowly dissolved passages and chambers in the limestone beneath them.
After groundwater levels dropped, mineral-rich water continued to seep through the rock. As each drop released carbon dioxide inside the cave, tiny amounts of dissolved minerals were deposited. Over hundreds of thousands of years, those deposits created stalactites, stalagmites, columns, soda straws, flowstone, draperies and other formations known collectively as speleothems.
Kartchner is considered a living cave because water continues to enter the cavern and many formations are still growing today.
Kubla Khan & Famous Kartchner Caverns Formations
One of Kartchner Caverns' best-known features is Kubla Khan, a massive column in the Throne Room formed where a stalactite and stalagmite joined. The Rotunda/Throne Tour also passes delicate soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites and other calcite formations created by the slow movement of mineral-rich water through the cave.
These formations are extremely fragile. Even brief contact can damage surfaces that have taken thousands of years to develop, which is why visitors must remain on the developed tour route and never touch cave features.
Discovery & Preservation Of Kartchner Caverns
Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts discovered Kartchner Caverns in November 1974 while exploring limestone hills at the eastern base of the Whetstone Mountains. Recognizing that an unprotected cave could quickly be damaged, they kept its location secret.
In February 1978, they informed property owners James and Lois Kartchner about the discovery. The Kartchner family and the discoverers eventually approached Arizona State Parks about protecting the cave and developing controlled public access.
The years that followed focused heavily on conservation, scientific study and careful development. Kartchner Caverns eventually opened for public tours in 1999 with systems designed to limit changes in temperature, humidity and other environmental conditions inside the cave.
Environmental monitoring continues today, allowing park managers and scientists to compare current cave conditions with measurements collected before and after public tours began.
Big Room Bats & Seasonal Closure
The Big Room serves as a summer nursery roost for more than 1,000 female cave myotis bats. Pregnant females typically return in spring, give birth during early summer and remain with their young until the colony leaves for winter habitat.
To protect this important nursery colony, Big Room tours are normally suspended from approximately May through October. Other cave-tour options may remain available during that period.
Visitors who have recently entered another cave or mine may also be asked about their footwear so park staff can help reduce the risk of spreading the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome.
Kartchner Caverns Cave Tour Rules & Visitor Tips
- Advance cave-tour reservations are strongly recommended
- Arrive early enough to check in before your scheduled tour
- Cell phones and cameras are not allowed on regular cave tours
- Purses, backpacks and other bags must be left outside the cave
- Food, candy, gum and bottled water are not permitted inside the cave
- Flashlights and binoculars are not permitted
- Strollers are not allowed inside the cave
- Do not touch cave formations
- The cave is warm and extremely humid, so heavy jackets usually are not necessary underground
- Ask park staff in advance about wheelchairs or medical-device accommodations
Photography: Cameras and cell phones are prohibited during regular cave tours. Arizona State Parks currently offers separate scheduled photography tours for adults on selected dates; check the official reservation calendar for availability and current requirements.
Things To Do Above Ground At Kartchner Caverns
The cave tour is the centerpiece of a visit, but Kartchner Caverns State Park also offers several above-ground activities and facilities.
- Discovery Center: Learn about cave geology, conservation, bats and the history of the cavern's discovery
- Hiking Trails: Explore the desert foothills and surrounding Whetstone Mountain scenery
- Hummingbird Garden: Walk through a landscaped area designed to attract hummingbirds and other wildlife
- Camping: Stay overnight at the park's developed campground
- Cabins: Reserve climate-controlled camping cabins for a more comfortable overnight stay
- Picnic Areas: Use shaded areas for meals and breaks before or after a cave tour
- Programs & Events: Seasonal activities can include bat walks, conservation programs and other educational events
Kartchner Caverns Video Overview
Kartchner Caverns Hours, Fees & Reservations
The Discovery Center is currently open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Cave tours require separate tickets and have their own scheduled departure times.
- Discovery Center: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Park entrance - one person per vehicle: $10
- Park entrance - two to four people per vehicle: $20
- Individual or bicycle: $5
- Cave tours: Additional ticket required
The park entrance fee is currently waived for visitors with cave-tour or campsite reservations. Tour schedules, ticket prices, entrance fees and seasonal availability can change, so confirm current information directly with Arizona State Parks before traveling.
Directions To Kartchner Caverns State Park
Kartchner Caverns State Park is located in southeastern Arizona near Benson, at the eastern base of the Whetstone Mountains. From Tucson, travel east on Interstate 10 toward Benson, take Exit 302, and follow State Route 90 south toward the park.
The park is convenient to Benson, Sierra Vista and other southern Arizona destinations, making it easy to include in a longer southeastern Arizona road trip.
Things To Do Near Kartchner Caverns
- Tombstone: Explore Old West history and the historic district
- Sierra Vista: Visit southeastern Arizona's largest nearby community and gateway to the Huachuca Mountains
- Benson: Find lodging, restaurants and travel services close to Kartchner Caverns
- Colossal Cave: Compare another major southern Arizona cave attraction
- Tucson: Combine Kartchner with museums, desert attractions and cultural sites
- Mission San Xavier del Bac: Visit one of southern Arizona's best-known historic missions
Official Kartchner Caverns Visitor Information
- Kartchner Caverns State Park - Official Website
- Kartchner Caverns Cave Tour Reservations
- Kartchner Caverns Programs & Events
Kartchner Caverns State Park FAQ
Where is Kartchner Caverns State Park?
Kartchner Caverns State Park is located near Benson in southeastern Arizona at the eastern base of the Whetstone Mountains.
When was Kartchner Caverns discovered?
Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts discovered Kartchner Caverns in November 1974 while exploring limestone hills in the Whetstone Mountains.
When did Kartchner Caverns open to the public?
Kartchner Caverns opened for public cave tours in 1999 after years of conservation planning, scientific study and carefully controlled development.
Do you need reservations for Kartchner Caverns?
Advance cave-tour reservations are strongly recommended because tour capacity is limited and popular dates may sell out.
How long is the Rotunda/Throne Tour?
The Rotunda/Throne Tour is approximately one-half mile long and takes about 1½ hours, including roughly 50 minutes underground.
How warm is Kartchner Caverns?
The cave averages about 68 degrees Fahrenheit and has very high humidity, generally around 99 percent.
Can you take pictures inside Kartchner Caverns?
Cameras and cell phones are not allowed on regular cave tours. Arizona State Parks currently offers separate photography tours on selected dates for adults.
Why is the Big Room closed part of the year?
The Big Room serves as a nursery roost for more than 1,000 female cave myotis bats, so Big Room tours are normally suspended during the warmer months while the bats raise their young.
Can you touch the formations in Kartchner Caverns?
No. Cave formations are extremely fragile, and touching or damaging them is prohibited.
Is Kartchner Caverns wheelchair accessible?
Arizona State Parks has designed cave access with accessibility in mind, and wheelchairs are available. Visitors with specific mobility or medical needs should contact the park before booking a tour.
Is there camping at Kartchner Caverns?
Yes. Kartchner Caverns State Park offers developed campsites as well as camping cabins.
What else can you do at Kartchner Caverns State Park?
Visitors can explore the Discovery Center, hiking trails, Hummingbird Garden, picnic areas, campground, cabins and seasonal educational programs in addition to taking a cave tour.
*Kartchner Caverns State Park is a Registered Trademark of AZ State Parks
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