Main Highlights
Kartchner Caverns is a stunning limestone cave in Southeastern Arizona and boasts many world-class features that have been protected since the cave was discovered in 1974. The cavern has been surveyed at 2.4 miles long. Kartchner is a wet, "live" cave. Water percolates from the surface and calcium carbonate features continue to grow in the darkness. The park offers two cave tours where you'll see dynamic structures such as stalactites dripping down like icicles and giant stalagmites reaching up from the ground, sometimes meeting to form a massive column. The caverns are host to a wide variety of unique minerals and formations.
The park includes a Discovery Center which houses world-class exhibits, a large gift shop, regional displays, and educational information about the caverns and the surrounding landscape. There are also campgrounds, hiking trails, shaded picnic areas, a vending area, and an amphitheater.
Allow at least three hours for the entire park experience, which includes a cave tour, a walk through the visitor center exhibits, gift shop, and enjoyment of the outdoor scenery.
When taking a cave tour, one adult must accompany every seven children on the tour for school groups. All tours are guided by a trained tour guide. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling: (520) 586-CAVE. The cave averages 68°F and 98% humidity year round. All cave trails are barrier-free. Due to wet surfaces and changes in grades, strollers and walkers are not allowed on the tours. Children age 6 and under are not allowed on the Big Room Tour.
Arizona State Parks has developed an entire school curriculum on CD for teachers Kindergarten through Sixth grade. Please call the Phoenix office at (602) 542-4174 to order a curriculum or for more information, or e-mail a request with your name and address.
Reservations are strongly recommended to guarantee a tour. Reservations can be made by calling the reservation number at (520) 586-CAVE (2283). School group planners have the opportunity to make arrangements with a specialized phone reservation attendant. A group cannot make more than 6 tour reservations per phone call and can have no more than 12 tours per day (in Rotunda/Throne Room tour) or 4 tours per day (in Big Room tour). Reservations are taken from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., (MST), (Reservation office is closed Christmas Day).
Reservations can be made up to a year in advance. There are no pre-scheduled tours on Saturday or Sunday. There are 12 group tours set aside Monday through Friday for the Rotunda/Throne Room tours. Those times are 10:00 AM, 10:20 AM, 10:40 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:20 AM, 11:40 AM, 2:00 PM, 2:20 PM, 2:40 PM, 3:00 PM, 3:20 PM, and 3:40 PM. There are 4 group tours set aside Monday through Friday for the Big Room tours. Those times are 11:45 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:45 PM, and 2:15 PM.
When taking a cave tour, one adult must accompany every seven children on the tour for school groups. Children age 6 and under are not allowed on the Big Room Tour.
A tour confirmation letter will be mailed and tickets can be picked up at the park's "will call counter" one hour prior to the tour time. It is recommended that visitors arrive approximately one hour prior to tour time. If a group fails to show, reservations may be canceled 15 minutes prior to tour time.
Group tours can load and unload in front of the Discovery Center. The driver is welcome to visit the Discovery Center and any other above ground park facilities, including the restrooms, food concessions, and picnic areas. The park has adequate restroom facilities to accommodate a tour group.
Payment and Rescheduling Policies
Payment is due either in full when the reservation is made using a credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or with a company purchase order. The purchase order number is required at the time the reservation is made. A copy of the purchase order must then be sent within 24 hours of the time the reservation is secured. There will be no billing or invoice for any tours. Payment must be received one month prior to the tour date or the park will cancel the reservation (cashiers check or school direct check must be made payable to Kartchner Caverns State Park).
Reservations are non-refundable. The entire block of tickets may be rescheduled within one year of the of the original tour date, subject to availability. Changes must be made 72 hours prior to the scheduled tour. Group tickets may not be divided and rescheduled for separate times or dates. To reschedule a tour, please call (520) 586-CAVE (2283). If a group fails to show or reschedule a tour 72 hours prior to the original tour date, the group will not be allowed to reschedule and payment will not be refunded.
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