Kartchner Caverns: History and Preservation
Kartchner Caverns State Park is home to one of the best preserved, publicly accessible caves in the world. The cave system lies beneath the foothills of the Whetstone Mountains near Benson, Arizona, just south of Tucson and along the route to the historic towns of Bisbee and Tombstone. The caverns remain active thanks to the efforts of Arizona State Parks and Trails to control the climate and limit what visitors bring inside. They are also designed to be accessible and ADA compliant. Discovered in 1974 by two cavers who kept their find a secret for years, the site was eventually protected through careful planning to ensure it would remain pristine for generations.
To protect the cave, no cell phones, bags, or personal items are allowed inside. We had special permission from Kartchner Caverns State Park to film, but the park does offer photography tours on select dates with a special permit.
Visiting Kartchner Caverns State Park
After learning about the park’s fascinating history and why it is so carefully protected, we were excited to experience it for ourselves. Kartchner Caverns State Park is located in Benson, Arizona, about two and a half hours (170 miles) from Phoenix and one hour (50 miles) from Tucson. After work on a Friday, we drove to the park and camped in December 2023. Benson has gas stations and small stores, while Sierra Vista, a larger town with more options, is about 30 minutes south.
Cave Tours
Two cave tours are available, both led by an Arizona State Parks ranger:
- Rotunda/Throne Tour – Offered year round, this tour is half a mile long and takes about an hour and a half to complete, with 50 minutes spent underground.
- Big Room Tour – Offered from October 15 to April 15, this half mile tour takes about an hour and 45 minutes, with one hour underground. This tour is not available for children under age 7.
We highly recommend booking your tour in advance through the Kartchner Caverns website.
Park Entrance Fees
- Vehicle (1 to 4 adults): $7.00
- Individual or bicycle: $3.00
- Entrance fee is waived if you have a cave tour or campsite reservation.
Good to Know Before You Go
- The cave temperature is around 70°F (21°C) with 99% humidity year round.
- Most areas are dimly lit, and some passages may be narrow or enclosed.
- It may be cold outside, but it will still feel warm inside the cave.
- Pets are not allowed on tours, and should never be left in vehicles.
- No items (bags, cameras, cell phones, water bottles, strollers, etc.) are allowed inside the cave. Lockers are available to store belongings.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Late arrivals may forfeit their spot.
camping at Kartchner Caverns State Park
We spent two nights camping at Karchner Caverns State in a PinDrop travel trailer. The temps at night dropped pretty low so we were happy to not be tent camping! Kartchner Caverns State Park has many campsites, and a large section of them are RV and trailer friendly with water and electrical hookups. Additionally, the park campground has flush toilets and showers with a dish washing station. And if tent camping or trailer camping isn’t quite your thing, there are four state park cabins available for rent. Like the campsites, the cabins have a picnic table bench and fire ring.
the big room cave tour
Our photos below are from the Big Room Tour at Kartchner Caverns State Park. In partnership with Arizona State Parks we had a private tour and special permission to film and take photos inside the cave. This was our first time touring The Big Room cave and it is incredible! The ranger led tour goes over the geology and the history of the cave.
Explore Nearby Sierra Vista
We love the natural beauty of Southeastern Arizona! The sky islands dotting the landscape amongst valleys and grasslands are stunning. Because the area is where so many ecosystems meet, there is so much life. In the area, the Sierra Madres of Mexico, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts all come together. This unique mix of landscapes makes Southeastern Arizona a paradise for nature lovers, offering endless opportunities to explore different environments in a short distance. One of our favorite places to experience this diversity is the Huachuca Mountains (sounds like wha-chew-ka), and tucked into the mountainside is Ramsey Canyon. In the canyon, the ecosystem and biodiversity changes as the elevation changes. As a result, plants and animals found at the bottom would not be able to survive at the top.
Ramsey Canyon
Since it was December we knew there was potential to see fall colors in Ramsey Canyon, which had been on our list for some time! Ramsey Canyon is in Sierra Vista about 30 minutes south of Kartchner Caverns State Park. The Canyon is owned by The Nature Conservancy and there is a fee to enter. Luckily, there were still some fall colors hanging on and we got some great pictures! The viewpoint has an incredible view of Ramsey Canyon, Carr Peak, and Miller Peak in the distance.
After coming back down we continued along The Nature Conservancy loop with our map in hand so we could stop at the numbered callouts. Arguably, one of our top moments of the year, we saw a couple Elegant Trogon birds along the creek. Because it was so late in the year, we were not expecting to see one, but were ecstatic to have our first in-person spotting! The visitor center provides the map and a brief description at each number. It was very educational! Here is the link to AllTrails for the hike we did. Although, we only went up to a viewpoint and didn’t do this full hike, recording about 5 miles. The hike up Hamburg Trail to the viewpoint is STEEP and enters Miller Peak Wilderness!
Good to know:
- Hours: Closed Tuesdays/Wednesdays year-round. March 1 through October 31: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; November 1 through February 28: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- General Public: $8 per person
- Preserve parking is limited to 27 spaces. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no parking along the road below the preserve
- The preserve Visitor Center includes visitor parking, restrooms and hummingbird viewing
- Pets are prohibited in the preserve
