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COLOSSAL CAVE TOURS HOW TO
COLOSSAL CAVE TOURS FULL

Those in search of an adventure may want to book the 90-minute Ladder Tour, which requires participants to navigate narrow passages and walk across rock bridges to access areas of the cave that have been restricted to most visitors since the 1950s. The 40-minute Classic Cave Tour requires participants to descend six stories (via approximately 360 stairs) for a half-mile guided walk that features stories of the cave's history and lore (including tales of ghosts and robbers) and geological wonders like stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors interested in touring the cave have two options: the Classic Cave Tour and the Ladder Tour. Today, the cave, which is now equipped with stairs and lights, is a tourist attraction that's featured on the National Register of Historic Places. The Colossal Cave was discovered in 1879 by Solomon Lick, a local rancher.

COLOSSAL CAVE TOURS FULL

Phillip barely had time to snap photos, and I had my hands full with Quijote.Take a hint from the desert animals and head underground during the heat of the day. Moments later, we saw a young coati atop the hill above the cave entrance! He started sniffing along the edge, and then scampered down its sheer face and into the cave. Apparently, though, they’re a common sight, going in and out of the cave and hunting around the park for trash (which, of course, is on-brand for the raccoon family). We had no idea there’d be a chance to see one that day.

Phillip and I have been on the lookout for one ever since we went to Chiricahua for the first time and didn’t see any there. We were looking around the terrace when I overheard one of the staff tell the group waiting for their tour time that they often see coatimundis going in and out of the cave.Ī coatimundi (or “coati”) is a long-nosed member of the raccoon family that mostly lives in Central America, but has also found its way into higher elevations of the Southwestern U.S. There are also nice hiking trails outside the cave – I’m sure they’ll be even nicer when it’s not summery hot. Because the CCC were so instrumental in developing Colossal Cave Mountain Park, there’s a statue in honor of the CCC workers at the entrance to the terrace.Under the roof of this cool rock structure built by the CCC is the cave entrance, Terrace Cafe, and gift shop.Face coverings and social distancing (six feet apart) are required during tours.(Adult $18 / child $9 / military or first responder $14) You can only enter the cave on a tour. You can choose your tour time and book tickets online.

Cave tours have restarted on a limited basis – currently only the Classic Cave Tour is available.

You just pay fees if you’re going on a cave tour or camping.)

The park around the cave is open for hiking, camping, and taking in the views.

Before being developed into a tourist attraction by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, the cave had served a variety of functions, including a shelter for the Hohokam people, train robber hideout, and guano mine. But it was Phillip’s birthday, and he voted to go see what we could find.Ĭolossal Cave is a dry cave system under the Rincon Mountains in the Tucson-adjacent community of Vail. And we certainly weren’t planning on going into any caves since Quijote was with us. We weren’t even sure if we’d be able to get into the park or if it was still closed due to the coronavirus.

COLOSSAL CAVE TOURS HOW TO

So, instead of doubling back and trying to find the entrance for the nature preserve we had probably just driven through but weren’t sure how to access, we kept going! We had heard about the cave but hadn’t ever been there. We were already on the road to Colossal Cave Mountain Park, when we realized we’d overshot our original destination.