Very cool and well worth the trip! Our guide was incredibly nice and knowledgeable. The ticketing process was a little confusing.

I came here yesterday because I've been wanting to come here for a few years now. I was not disappointed at all! If you read through some of the horrible comments, they claim it is overpriced for what you get. I believe that is false. Sure, you do pay some money just for a cave tour. But the cave is very expansive, and the tour guide really goes into detail about all of the formations and rocks. My tour was about an hour and 15 minutes long. I was very amazed at just how the 2 guys found this wondrous cave back in the 1970's. This cave is truly God's work on Earth. Some say this is a tourist trap, but I'd have to disagree. This was such a cool place to visit and see. (I did the tour of the Rotunda/Throne room, not the Big Room). read more

What a beautiful state park! Make reservations - we did so the day before we went- it's an amazing experience!! Not to be missed!!

We enjoyed our tour so much! Such an amazing Cavern. I could stay there all day and just enjoy the sounds of dripping water. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. You gotta find the "sink hole" on the way to the cavern :) We loved the light show finale in Rotunda room! It is pretty safe and has room for wheelchairs and strollers. But you have to watch your small children, it is pretty dark and the walkway can be wet. It's a must see if you're in town! read more

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We toured the rotunda and throne room, reserved our tickets in advance (highly recommend doing so). The tour was super informative and our tour guide was spectacular. I wish I could remember her name, an older woman with short gray hair, because I would recommend her to everyone! She was attentive to everyone on the tour and made tour even more special. You are not allowed to take anything in, so no pictures were taken. The images will stay with us forever tho. AZ has taken great care to keep these caves pristine and natural and it shows; it's why you can't take anything in. Don't miss this place, you won't regret visiting! We'll be coming back to see the big room once our youngest is old enough (7yrs). He woke up today asking to go back to the "bat caves" read more

We had spot 33, which I wouldn't recommend unless you're a social camper. The fire pit is very close to the neighboring cabins and their fire pits. The campground was spotless and the staff extremely friendly. The bathrooms were clean and well stocked. We did a short hike, Foothills Loop. We will be back to check out the Caverns. Outside lights off at 8:30 so people can stargaze. For a January, it was warm during the day and comfortable at night with the heater running. During the day, 67 gets warm. read more

It was unbelievably beautiful. Honestly I would be back. The problem was in the size of the tour group and the speed of the tour. The group was so big that unless you were at the front you could not see what the guide was talking about and by the time you made it to that spot the group guide is rushing you to move on to the next spot. No time to pause and admire what you saw while walking to the next spot. Also the guide couldn't answer basic questions such as approximately how long does it take to form a straw or stalactite? I had to google it. read more

Very well kept, easy access for all, interesting information and history provided at the tour. Reservations are needed.

We were close by going back to Tuscon so we tried this caverns. I would give it 3.the caverns had no water. We tried the bat section has a unique feel to the surrounding desert scenary. You take a little train takes you inside the guides were saying it is going to be humid blah blah was actually almost same as outside. The guide was a bit angry when you asked any q from him. Been to few that had more different corners and water. One big room was great with all the hanging. The fee wasn't that cheap about $25 for a ticket.there was a theater and usual store a tiny garden(cactus)outside. read more

First off, the facilities and grounds are very nice; top notch. The Rangers are excellent at their jobs and great guides. Very knowledgeable. The tour and orientation before the tour of the caverns was a nice easy hike, about 90 minutes in duration. We've visited Carlsbad Caverns previously and honestly this is a much smaller version of that. That said, I am impressed with the dedication of the staff to the preservation of the caverns. The fact that the system is sustained and paid by the fees paid by visitors is laudable. The $23 cost of a tour. My only complaints are the cost, which is high in my opinion and that visitors aren't allowed to take any pictures UNLESS they're willing to pay a fee of $125. That's isn't acceptable in my opinion. I deducted two stars from my rating because of this. Between the fees for the tour and not being able to take pics without paying an exorbitant fee, I'm not a huge fan. read more

We finally to see the cave over the July 4th weekend after talking about it for years. We did the night tour of the cave. We loved it! We had recently been to Carlsbad Caverns, and no, it's not as big as that, but each cave is different, and this one is cool and unique in all of it's own ways. There is a museum and gift shop to check out while you wait for your tour time with some fun things to explore. Our tour guide Jessica was so engaging and fun. You could tell she truly enjoyed showing off the caves to everyone and giving fun facts along the way. She was very enthusiastic. We did the Rotunda/Throne Room tour. It was a very cool experience at night wearing helmets with headlights, hearing the stories of how the cave was discovered, seeing the cool formations and "ribbons" that adorned the cave. My favorite was at the end, when we all sat down and turned off our lights and sat in silence for a few minutes so that we could experience "cave darkness", it was an experience of a lifetime! Absolutely loved it!! read more

Kartchner Caverns State Park - Parks Near Me - Benson, Arizona

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Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We had a nice time in the caverns. They are not currently offering the tour with headlamps, but I think we will return some time to check that out. Overall this is a great stop for tourists as well as locals. read more

Awesome! The cabins are great and the park is nice and quiet. Well continue to visit.

Definitely worth checking out if you are the Tucson area. The tour is great, informative, and our tour guide was funny. We were able to get same day reservations on Labor Day weekend by calling first thing in the morning. read more

One of the finest state parks I have visited. Hats off to Arizona. The natural beauty of this place will astound you and the Master Gardeners of the area have done a wonderful job building and maintaining the Butterfly Garden. Be sure to take in a cave tour. Worth every penny of the admission fee. If you have been in caves before don't make the mistake of passing this one by, all caves are different. They have a great campground although some sites are not level so be prepared for that. Be sure to make reservations in advance or you may miss out on a wonderful experience. read more

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This is a great park. If you are a fan of caves there are many beautiful and unique formations. If you live in the Phoenix area, it's just a2 1/2 hour drive. I strongly advise visiting their website and getting a reservation. Get there an hour before your tour. You might get to on an earlier tour. There is a nice restaurant at the main building and a good gift shop. Don't forget to enjoy the humming bird garden. read more

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I have been to the caverns many times. The wonder of the cave never diminishes. I am the widow of Randy Tufts, PhD, the Co-Founder of Kartchner Caverns. His dedication to the cave never wavered, even when he was profoundly ill with cancer, he continued to advocate for protection and care. It is my wish that the caverns will continue to receive the level of protection and care that it received during his life time. Randy Tufts was an amazing human being, good, kind, and generous. I am honored to have been his wife. Ericha Scott Tufts read more

I don't usually consider myself an outdoorsy person and when my daughter asked my husband and I if we wanted to go along, I agreed because I knew he would enjoy it. Well now I want to go back and do the other tour! We did the big room tour since it is only allowed a small part of the year to protect the bats that occupy it the rest of the year. The tour was perfect. Our tour guide was very animated and clearly loved her job. The tour starts with the story of how the caves were discovered and it is truly remarkable how well they have preserved the caves and the extent they went through to make sure they do not get destroyed like many others. The visitor center has a nice video and some interesting items and a nice gift shop. They have fossils that they found including a very large ancient sloth which was neat to see. The tour itself takes an hour and a half. They go at a reasonable pace so most people would be able to keep up. It is pretty easy walking and only a half mile total. There are some slightly smaller areas you go through but not difficult to navigate. They show you all the different types of structures, stalactites, fried egg pools, etc. It was very interesting to learn about and our ranger knew a lot about the bats which made it even more interesting. It is very beautiful and I will be back to tour the other half of the cave. The other tour is open year round. It is warm and humid in the cave but not so much so that you won't enjoy it. read more

We took the Big Room tour. It was led by a cool and flexible park ranger who was very professional but not boring. They are serious about preserving the caves and will spray alcohol on the bottom of your shoes if you have been in another cave system within 20 years or so (it might harm the bats.) They are working on a system where they clean your shoes off as you walk in. We were honestly beat when we started this tour, but we all made it through the 1 1/2 hour tour in good humor, but tired from all the standing and walking. Maybe do like I did and don't tell them it's an hour and a half! We heard a lot about the guys who found the cave, how they found it and we got to walk through all the rooms and see all the different colors and formations. I loved the strawberry room! We have been into other caves in other states, but this was the best so far. There was a little tram up to the entrance of the caves which was nice, a friendly driver for that one and good views. The bathrooms were clean and nice. There was an indoors museum-like part which was very professionally done and just enough to educate/entertain if you arrive early as suggested. Well done! read more

Rey nicely done. Our guide, Pauline was very passionate about her job. Great tour. The caverns are awesome. Really worth the drive from Tucson. Highly recommend. read more

This was our second time taking the Rotunda tour. The first time we came was a few years ago, pre-kids. This time we came with our 2.5yr old and 6 month old. Even though this tour is open to kids younger than 7, I think it was still a bit too long for a toddler and half way through our toddler was bored and starting to get very antsy and over us telling her she couldn't touch anything. Our infant was ok, he slept through most of it but before falling a sleep he got fussy and if he had fussed more than he did it would have definitely been disturbing for the tour. So, I would not recommend bringing small children if you really want to enjoy yourself. That said - the cave is amazing and a great experience. read more

Visited here while on a short trip to Tucson. I am so glad we made it to the this site! It was truly amazing! This was my first time to any type of cavern. I had really looked forward to seeing bats, but they were in hibernation, so that portion was closed off to the public. I was bummed that pictures were not allowed but in all honesty, no picture would have done it justice. This is a must see! There were a lot of rules so I recommend checking the website before hand. And, I had overlooked the part that reservations were required. Fortunately, they were able to get us in on a tour that was happening in 40 minutes. In the meantime, we checked out the gift shop and the museum on site. read more

We did both main cave tours (Rotunda/Throne Room and Big Room) today and had a blast! The caves are crazy beautiful and amazingly well-preserved. The tour guides were maybe a little over the top, but hey, they love caves and were having fun sharing their knowledge! The "finale" of the Rotunda/Throne tour with lights and music is a bit cheesy, but I get that some people like that sort of thing. You can't take pictures, but I find it very refreshing to not have people taking selfies in front of every rock formation. Indeed I wish MORE places outlawed photography (yes, I'm old and cranky). It's a long drive to get here, so if you are really into nature I highly recommend doing both tours in the same day with a bit of time for lunch in between (pro tip: bring a cooler and leave it in your car) and exploring the visitor center - in other words, plan on a full day. The two tours are definitely different enough to both be worthwhile! Also, I know that $23 per person per tour sounds pricey, but really, once you see the facility and the impeccable care put into keeping the caves pristine and hear the story of the park, you'll feel like it's money well spent. Oh, and MAKE RESERVATIONS! read more

Wow what a hidden gem! Great campground and great facility! The location is close to other attractions and there are miles of trails!

I went here this past weekend, it was such an awesome experience. The cavern is super cool and my 13-year-old son loved it. We had a great tour guide, she was very informative. Inside the cave the temperature is about 70° and the humidity is pretty high up in the 90%, but it was not bad at all it wasn't hot and you do have to wear your mask and that was fine too. I think everyone would enjoy coming to the caverns, definitely a bucket list item. They do not allow cameras or phones or purses or anything while you're taking the tour. They do have lockers that you could put your stuff in for four quarters. read more

First off, I wish I'd read here more carefully before we made our reservations, as we would have bought the Tucson Attractions Passport for $15 (http://www.visittucson.org/visitor/attractions/passport/), which as others have noted gives you a 2-for-1 discount on Kartchner Caverns (spend $15 to save $22) and a ton of other attractions. [Nov 2011: It looks like there's no discount on Kartchner Caverns this season.] As for the caverns, they're as impressive as everyone says. We did the Rotunda/Throne Tour and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our guide was knowledgeable and personable, and it was a good amount of time to see everything (about 1.5 hours total, roughly 50 minutes of which is underground). A few things we read said to prepare for significant moisture due to the humidity, but we didn't get dripped on once. And the paths are all paved, so tennis shoes are more than sufficient. It's also pretty warm in the caverns, so jackets or sweaters won't be needed inside. However, it was quite windy and cool outside when we were there (although I don't think that weather is typical for late March). The Discovery Center for the caverns is OK, but nothing special. We spent most of the time before the tour getting a bite to eat at the Bat Cave Cafe, and the pre-made sandwiches were surprisingly good. Note however that there aren't many seats indoors. If the weather had been nicer, we might have walked around some after the tour -- there are a couple of trails in the area that might have been fun to check out. Reservations are *essential* for March visiters; last year we waited too long and they were sold out. This year we bought tickets well in advance, which is a good thing, because when we got there they were sold out again. read more

The most important tip: DO make a reservation in advance and arrive at least 45 minutes early so you can catch the 15 minute video before your tour. Do NOT bother wearing a jacket and you cannot bring purses or backpacks, though lockers are available for $1 (in quarters). That said, I have done both tours and I think my favorite is actually the one that is open year round because I thought the discoverer's tracks were really cool. I think the light show is cheesy and unnecessary; although, having the opportunity to see how dark the cave is when we're not there is great and the kubla khan formation is remarkable. My plan is to continue to alternate on visits, though, because both tours are worth seeing! The seasonal tour has some beautiful "bacon" and you get quite a sense for how disorienting it is to be underground. This is where the mama bats have their babies but they aren't there when the tours are available. The whole thing is paved and accessible. read more

We took tour of Throne Room. It was a cold day, so tour guide thought fast on her feet and took us inside to give the 10 minute introduction. We then went to the cavern. OMG. This place is so amazing. I could have spent hours inside this cavern just looking and taking it all in. It should be a natural wonder of the world. It is breathtaking. This is a must!! read more

I didn't explore the park. A group of 4 of us went on the cave tour. It was wonderful. Wheelchair accessible and easy to walk through. Our guide was knowledgeable and funny. The light show at the end was simply mind-blowing. Out of the 3 caves I've been to, this 1 is by far the coolest. Worth the money and the drive. read more

Kartchner Caverns State Park - Can't take pictures inside the cave. But you'll be too busy looking around to care. - Parks Near Me - Benson, Arizona

Billed as the best cavern in the US, Kartchner's is just 2.5 hours from town, and features a massive cavern with multiple rooms full of fascinating features. If you like caverns, you'll love this one! They don't allow photos to be taken inside and every effort is made to preserve this beautiful natural wonder, but there are tons of photos on the website. There's a short film about the terrific story of its discovery at the visitor's center, along with a cool exhibit on everything that's been found inside (including fossils of an huge ancient sloth!). There's a beautiful visitor's center, great camping facilities, and some spectacular views, especially at sunset. We'll be back! read more

There are not enough stars available that I want to give to this place. This was a very awe inspiring, peaceful, exciting experience. They let you get touching the cave walls out of your system by letting you touch a sample before you begin the tour. They are very extremely picky about not touching anything but the stainless steel rails because they have to be, in order to preserve the cave for hopefully decades and centuries to come. If you touch something accidentally or on purpose they want you to tell one of the tour guides because they have to mark the site so that someone may come in and clean the area to remove the oils from your hand. So be careful! Before we started the tour, we had lunch in the quaint little cafe. The man at the counter was very friendly and made some suggestions. The menu is simple but delicious and homemade so don't expect fine dining. Think quesadillas, southwest hot dogs, and sandwiches. They also have prickly pear lemonade which was very good. Eating outside was so peaceful as they have a butterfly garden surrounding the premises. When picking up our tickets, the lady at the counter said the Big Room often gets booked even way in advance, but people often make the mistake of thinking the Big Room tour is the best. The tickets are a little pricey, $40+ for two people but I understood that their prices are so because of the maintenance and pressurization of the caves. I say money well spent for a great afternoon. Of course it made things better to see that they take you on a little driven tour ending at the cave doors. I'm always a sucker for those mobile cart train thingys. The gift shop is the bomb with yummy salsas and gemstone jewelry. Of course since I read the website, I knew not to wear a sweater even though it was cool outside. Once you are in the caves, if you have worn a sweater, you will instantly wish you hadn't. It is very humid inside and warm so there is no need for it. The tour guide was very humorous, friendly, and graciously answered any questions we had for her. ONE thing..going on a tour with kids can either be a hilarious or annoying experience depending on opinion. One kid wanted to know where the the bones were of the two men who had discovered the caves. Of course there are no bones in that cave. Hilarious Make sure you watch the little 15 minute movie before the tour, it will make it more enjoyable with the information you will know before you go in. The caves are just magnificent inside. They are truly awe inspiring. You may get a little creeped out, especially if you have seen The Descent but you will soon find yourself at peace once you see how quiet and closed off from the rest of the world the caves are. A MUST if you are in the Tucson/Benson area!! read more

Just over an hour from Tucson in the direction of Tombstone, lies Kartchner Caverns State Park. Although there is a pleasant short walking trail, and an indifferent cafe, you come here for only one reason -- to see the caves. There are two tours available, each one and a half hours, and we have done them both. The Rotunda tour includes the most fantastic formation in the caverns (the Throne Room), but the Big Room tour gives you a bit more of the overall feel of the cave. They are really fairly similar; I cannot recommend one above the other. Both tours are easy walks on paved pathes. It is very safe and sanitized -- no climbing, tight squeezes, or bending down, and there are guide rails everywhere. This somewhat detracts from the experience and costs Kartchner Caverns a star, in my opinion. The cave temperature is about 70 degrees, and the humidity is high. You will not need a jacket. They don't allow purses, backpacks, and recently have even forbidden cameras. You will DEFINITELY need reservations, as tours are limited to 15 or so people. You can reserve months in advance on their website. By the way, when you enter the park, tell them you have a tour reservation and you won't have to pay the parking fee. read more

Five stars is not really correct. Double it. A must do. Everyone was so nice. The people on the phone, the rangers, the officer who supervises the inmates that work there. The grounds are gorgeous. I can not begin to describe the caves. Beautiful! The story is so interesting even if they were UOfA students, just kidding. I was a little reluctant to go in a cave again after a bad Scuba diving experience but this is fine. Even great for kids. They warn you of the humidity but it is not bad at all and the walk is not too strenous. I want to go back again soon. Heck I want a job there. lol read more

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This place is excellent! We were able to go on the Rotunda/Throne Room tour on October 5th, which was a truly interesting experience. The caverns are pristine and beautiful....the care in which they are preserved is amazing. You enter via two air locks, which keep the caverns internal temperature and humidity level at a constant. Our tour guide was great, and the entire experience was memorable. I highly recommend Kartchner Caverns. Now I need visit during the winter months to go on the Big Room Tour (open mid-October through mid-April). read more

Kartchner Caverns State Park - Kartchner Caverns Visitors Center entrance. - Parks Near Me - Benson, Arizona

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This is a month late for a review on Kartchner Caverns, but the sweet deal is you HAVE to see it if you are in Southwest Arizona. Amazing, amazing, amazing place, whether you are into earth science or not or somewhere in middle like me. Some tips for a joyous trip: read the park info on their website and plan your trip from there. This is a live cave, which means that you'll see stalactites and stalagmites older than Abraham Lincoln and Moses, but wait, these formations are STILL growing, so be sure not to touch and contaminate them so they will continue to be self-sufficient. The humidity averages 72 degrees fahrenheit so wear comfortable clothes. Tickets are slightly cheaper if you get it online, plus you get to reserve your time for the tour. I took the Rotunda Tour which is 1 1/2 hour of awesomeness; the other tour (Big Room) will reopen on 10/16 to give way for the bats habitation, and if you are feeling more adventurous, you can check out the Saturday Helmet and Head Lamp Tour. Knowledgeable tour guides are included. My last advice is the most practical and that is don't drive over the speed limit on the freeway because there are highway patrols lurking in the bushes. Enjoy! read more

I have gone to Kartchner Caverns State Park twice in the last 3 months. Let me tell you this cave tour of the caverns is $23 per person and so enjoyable. I took my uncle and aunt in September to the Throne room, which has a music and light show towards the end. During 7 months of the year the Big room is closed, as to not disturb the local bat colony that resides there. So today I finally got to see it, and it is great. I am going to go back and taking my husband with me; perhaps my sister and my neighbors too. It was a much longer and interesting tour, with a larger variety of rock formations to observe. The theme of the park is being a custodian of the caverns for future generations to enjoy. They do charge you with the responsibility to do your part; no pictures or purses allowed on the tour. Constant reminders to not leave any trace behind. However, this means you are seeing some wondrous things, that are pristine to behold. There is a 2.5 mile loop trail around the park to walk, it's the perfect time now to go to the park. At the Park the food options are only the Bat Cafe, which has a a little over a dozen things to enjoy; soup, wraps, salads, sandwiches and hotdogs. I had lunch and it was under $10. It might be a nice thing to pack a lunch in the car and eat in their picnic area; but i'm by no means that organized to do such a thing. Lastly, they ask you arrive an hour early. Since traffic delays so many people, I guess they are unable to move you to alternative tour times if you miss your scheduled tour. So please plan accordingly. Today we arrived at noon for our 1:45 tour time, and we asked if there were any earlier tour openings, and they said they were booked solid. So we enjoyed lunch, hiking and looked through the lovely gift shop before looking through the park museum. That was just perfect, because just when I finished looking at everything, was when our tour group time was announced. read more

Wonderful. Roomy campsites with lovely views. One of the best camping areas I've been to.

It's always been my dream to use the words "stalactite" and "stalagmite" in a Yelp review without referring to the condition of a restaurant's meat dish, and with Kartchner Caverns, I can finally make my dream a reality. About an one hour and fifteen minutes south of Tucson, this limestone cave is notable for its attempt to keep the conditions as pristine as the day they were found decades ago. The dryness of the Arizonan desert is kept out of the caves through a series of locked doors and strategically-placed misters which spray moisture on visitors as they enter a series of hallways and doors. In fact, we move from dry desert to Floridian conditions in several minutes. You have your choice of either touring the Throne Room or the Big Room (closed during bat birthing season). While the Throne Room contains one of the worlds longest soda straw stalactite, many of the visitors who had gone on both tours said that the Big Room is by far the more interesting of the two, as we can see the formations close up (ie. Large stalactites hanging several inches over your head like a large spear ready to pierce through the densest of skulls). The paths - surrounded either side by railing - are clearly laid out for visitors, who are told not to touch anything. We are also not allowed to bring purses, cell phones, or yoga mats - in case those among us wish to commune with the limestone and re-create the conditions of being back in our mothers' wombs. The staff here is meticulous about preserving the sanctity of the cave and return after hours to "clean up" any spots where a wayward child might have left behind. The Big Room tour is so well preserved that kids 7 and younger aren't even allowed. The entire Big Room tour is only 0.5 miles in length, but we spent a good 2 hours learning about the fascinating organisms and eco system that exists here. Our volunteer tour guide was a wealth of information, and had an obvious passion for the caves and for keeping up on the latest scientific findings. However, being that their volunteers, I can see how the quality of tours can vary significantly, depending on how knowledgeable the guides are. The tours are wheelchair accessible (though no walkers allowed) with wide, smooth and paved paths; however, there's lots of up and down, and the man pushing his wheelchair-bound wife had to rest several times throughout the tour. There are benches for periodic short rests but no restrooms during the entire 2 hours. While the caverns are fascinating, younger folks might find the tour to be boring after a while, as there is no opportunity to interact with the different formations found inside the cave. (And they're not allowed to jump, yell, run around, and muck about the cave). While there is an exhibit displaying more information about the caverns in the waiting area, as well as a theater showing a movie continuously, much of the learning I received was from the tour guide. The rest of this state park is rather ho-hum with better vistas to be found in Tucson city proper. There are several moderate hikes throughout the park, and some picnic tables and plenty of parking. But it seemed most were there for the caverns. Tips -- - Make your reservations for the tours online. Arrive PLENTY EARLY (they recommend one hour prior) as the tours fill up, and I think the staff gives your place away if you're not there by a certain time. - There are tours running every quarter hour or every ten minutes, and both tours - Big Room/Throne Room are in the similar-ish waiting area. Be careful you don't end up in the wrong tour, which might have left ahead of you already - Bathrooms are found outside next to the waiting area. It's not necessary to use the ones at the entrance of the visitor center. - Leave the cell phone, Dolly Parton wig, and two pounds of Xmas ham - in the car. There are lockers near the waiting area for you to put your stuff, but you have to pay. read more

I've visited both rooms and thought the Big Room was better. I think it's closed from mid April to mid October when the bats are there. The light show in the Throne/Rotunda was was just a little cheesy to me. Both rooms are impressive. I didn't think it was chilly due to the high humidity and was fine in jeans and a sleeveless shirt. I wish we could take pictures because the beauty and colors of a wet cave is amazing. The guides are very knowledgeable. John was our favorite! Make reservations online since the tours book up quickly and then you don't have to pay to get into the park. P.S. They have great specials on the Throne/Rotunda room in the late summer just before the Big Room reopens. read more

Exhilarating and simply awesome! Went there for my Birthday yesterday (Saturday) and experienced something brand new at Kartchner that will blow your mind. Read this: Two months ago Kartchner started offering their new "Helmet & Headlamp" only tours - a brand new all lights out experience that is only offered once a week on Saturday at dusk. http://www.pr.state.az.us/parks/kaca/tour_info.html If you want to experience Kartchner in all it's amazing and exquisite beauty. take the new Helmet & Headlamp tour and see the caves with a new set of eyes just as the original discoverer's did in the early 1970's. We had seen Kartchner about 8 years ago - and it is easily one of the wonders of the natural world. But the new headlamp tour (only $30 per person, offered once a week on Saturday evenings) to me is now the ONLY way to fly when visiting this palace of breathtaking stalactites and other-worldly formations. Only 15 people are allowed per tour, and the FANTASTIC tour guides (Erica and Jennifer) really put their hearts and souls into making the tour a fun wide eyed learning experience. Apparently the headlamp tour has taken many years to finally be approved by the state. Very few are even aware of it's existence - at least not yet... My wife & two teens LOVED the headlamp tour! There was a moment near the end of the tour which we will all never forget - when Erica the guide encouraged all of us to turn our lamps off at once and experience what it is like to be in true complete darkness while safely seated near the Kubla Kahn cave. Not even a hint of light seeping through - just endless inky blackness and a minute or two of visual & spiritual solitude. How many times in life can you experience 100% darkness? With ZERO input at all from the eyes, your ears suddenly notice the echoing dripping sound of the tiniest globs of water in the cave making their way through thousands of years worth of limestone - drops of H20 life helping to slowly generate layers of soda tubes and glistening overlapping drapes of dramatic Calcite wonder. If you are lucky you might even receive a "Cave Kiss" of water magically falling from above (my youngest got one on her arm!). The Helmet & Headlamp tour at Kartcher is something to add to your bucket list - since these new tours just started in March 2014, I fully expect they will be the #1 hot ticket in the months and years to come. There is no better way to experience the awe of Kartchner Caverns - a place that will leave an indelible impression on your mind and soul for a lifetime. read more