Kartchner Caverns Big Room

We were so fascinated by the geological formations of big room that we returned a few days later and took the throne rotunda tour and hiked on guindani trail.

Kartchner caverns big room. 231 reviews of kartchner caverns state park unlike most cave parks in the world the kartchner caverns weren t discovered by humans until relatively recently in 1974. Kartchner caverns state park is a state park of arizona united states featuring a show cave with 2 4 miles 3 9 km of passages. Select a tour. About kartchner caverns state park.

It is half of a mile long and takes an hour and 45 minutes to complete one hour of which is underground. They were looking for a cave no one had ever found and found it. 21 feet 3 inches throne room the tallest and most massive column in arizona kubla khan. 58 feet tall throne room the world s most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk big room the first reported occurrence of turnip shields big room.

One of the world s longest soda straw stalactites. The park is located 9 miles 14 km south of the town of benson and west of the north flowing san pedro river long hidden from view the caverns were discovered in 1974 by local cavers assisted by a state biologist who helped in its preservation. This tour is available from mid october to mid april and is scheduled throughout the day. Do at least the rotunda tour but the big room is good too if you have the time.

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. See 1 722 traveler reviews 337 candid photos and great deals for benson az at tripadvisor. Kartchner caverns state park benson. Willsey said he believes the myotis velifer colony that lives in the big room section of kartchner caverns during the summer months may be among the hibernating bats they found in the cold cave but because there were more than 1 000 the average size of the kartchner colony that bats from other colonies may be sharing that cave.

Of the three tours. Kartchner caverns state park. Explore arizona s hidden treasure. Rotunda throne room big room check out answers plus see 1 722 reviews articles and 337 photos of kartchner caverns state park ranked no 2 on tripadvisor among 20 attractions in benson.

Voted best arizona attraction by usa today 2017 reader s choice awards. Kartchner caverns big room tours are not available for children under 7 years of age. Change date quantity show available tours. In november 1974 gary tenen and randy tufts were exploring the limestone hills at the eastern base of the whetstone mountains.