In addition to the cave tour, a variety of recreational opportunities are available to visitors at Kartchner Caverns. Hiking in the Whetstone Mountains above the cave will be popular. Picnicking,walking on the Humming garden around the Discovery Center, and eating under the ramada area additional day-use activities.

The 23,000-square-foot Discovery Center features a multi-screen video tells the history of the cave and gives the explorer's perspective of cave preservation. The exhibits include the geology, a tabletop model of the cave, huge pictures of the cave features, an explanation of the bat population, explanations of other cave creatures and the cave's paleontology (including a ground sloth exhibit).

A recreation of features inside the cave with an interactive exhibit on the "underground journey" as a prelude to the cave tour itself.

Cave Tours

From the visitor center to the cave's entrance, you will ride in an electric tram. The rest of the trip is walking on concrete walkways. In the cave, rangers will lead the tour on 40" wide walkways with handrails. The paths wind through two major chambers in the cave, the Rotunda and Throne rooms.

Each cave tour is guided by a State Park Ranger. The tour is about 1/2 mile long underground and encompasses two big football field sized rooms called the Rotunda and Throne rooms and an exquisite passage called the Imaginary room. Because this is an environmental cave, it has been protected to educate and teach "cave ethics." Arizona State Parks does not encourage exploring caves but rather experiencing the beauty of the natural, pristine setting that has been protected.

Visitors may see native animals, such as deer, in the park. Inside the cave, however, most of the animal life is confined to the "Big Room" portion of the cave that will not yet be ready for tours. The bats are only in the "Big Room" during the summer months and must not be disturbed in their maternity nursery. Both sound and light may affect the 1,000 Myotis velifer bats from coming back to the cave each year. An exhibit in the Discovery Center describes the maternity roosting area and the habits of the bats.

Precautions, Rules, Regulations

Arizona State Parks does not recommend that the public arrive at the park without making a guaranteed reservation. If you do not have a reservation, the chances will be very slim that you will be able to schedule a tour.

Reservations are taken 7:30 to 6:00 pm MST through August 13, and then 8 to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Reservations may be canceled 15 minutes before tour time. Reservations are non-refundable, however, you may reschedule your tour within the year through the reservation system, subject to availability. All tickets are will call. It is recommended that visitors pick up their tickets at least one hour before tour time. They usually have 100 walk-up tickets for those arriving at 7:30 am. There are 4 tickets per tour during the day available.

The reservation number for KCSP is (520)586-CAVE.

Photos are not allowed. Video cameras are not allowed inside the cave. No photographs can be taken for commercial purposes without a special use permit from Arizona State Parks.

Touching or breaking formations in the cave is punishable by law, no coin tossing, no photography or tripods, no video cameras, no food, drink, gun, tobacco products, strollers, walkers, backpacks, pets (except assist dogs) and no littering.

Pictures copyright 1999 Arizona State Parks.