Please excuse our mess. We are working hard to make future improvements to the Kartchner Caverns campground. Several areas are under construction and there may be construction noises as early as 7:00 a.m.
Please see our Cave Tours page for information on how to prepare for your visit.
Cave Tours
Cave tour reservations are strongly encouraged.
Please read through the information below in advance of your visit. The cave environment is unique and you may need to take special actions to prepare.
Make Cave Tour Reservations and Book Tickets
Reserve online or call (877) MY-PARKS and select Option #2. You can call seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST. Group tours should review additional information.
Please arrive AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. For tours starting at 8 a.m., please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Late arrival may result in the forfeiture of your reserved tour time. Please be advised: video or photography inside the cave is not permitted.
Minors (under age 18) are not allowed on a cave tour without a parent or guardian.
Kartchner Caverns is now following established nationwide protocols to prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease that is killing bats. We request that if you have been in another cave or mine since 2005 you do not wear or bring any of the same clothes or shoes as on your other cave trips. If you arrive at Kartchner Caverns wearing shoes that have been in another cave, you will be asked to visit a White Nose Syndrome Decontamination Station, where your shoes will be sprayed down with rubbing alcohol to kill the fungus. Thank you for working with us to protect our bats!
| Cavern Tour | Adults 14+ | Youth 7–13 | Children under 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotunda/Throne Tour |
$23.00
|
$13.00
|
$5.00
|
|
| Big Room Tour |
$23.00
|
$13.00
|
N/A
|
Rebooking Fee: $5.00
Note: Big Room tours are not available for children under 7 years of age.
| Cavern Tour | Adults 14+ | Youth 10–13 | Children under 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet & Headlamp | $30.00 | $30.00 | N/A |
Rebooking Fee: $5.00
Note: Helmet & Headlamp tours are not available for children under 10 years of age.
Rotunda/Throne Tour
Length: ½ mile. Time: 1½ hours.
This tour is a half of a mile in length and takes approximately an hour and a half to complete, 50 minutes of which is underground. Discover the role that water plays in creating the caverns. You will see the discoverers' original trail, 45,000-year-old bat guano, delicate formations, and “Kubla Khan,” the largest column formation in Arizona.
Big Room Tour
Length: ½ mile. Time: 1¾ hours.
This tour is available from October 15 to April 15 and is scheduled throughout the day. It is half of a mile long and takes an hour and 45 minutes to complete, one hour of which is underground. The Kartchner Cavern story is about amazing discoveries past, present, and future. Marvel at the many strange and colorful formations. Learn about the cave fauna, both living and ancient. Experience the wonder of the cave’s discovery and learn about new scientific research and discoveries as ongoing studies continue. Note: Big Room Tours are not available for children under 7 years of age.
Helmet & Headlamp Tour
Helmet and Headlamp TourLength: ½ mile. Time: 1¼ hours.
Experience the cave as the discoverers did in 1974 using only the light provided by the headlamp on your helmet. The Kartchner Caverns story is about amazing discoveries past, present, and future. Tours are available year-round. From Oct. – April tour takes place in Big Room, the remainder of the year the tour takes place in the Throne Room/Rotunda. Tour is currently offered only on Saturdays, starting June 26, 2021. Tours are not held on third Saturday of the month. Tour is half-a-mile long and takes an hour and 15 minutes to complete, one hour of which is underground. Note: This tour is not available for children under 10 years of age.
Photo Tours
Length: ½ mile. Time: 2; hours.
Have you ever wanted to take photos of the amazing underground world of Kartchner Caverns? Here's your chance! Arizona State Parks and Trails now offers an opportunity to take photos inside the cave every month. Tours are offered every third Saturday of the month. Photos from these tours cannot be used for commercial purposes. For commercial photos of the cave, or photos for media, please contact pio@azstateparks.gov. Tours start at 4:30 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. Note: This tour is not available for anyone under 18 years of age.
To register, call 877-MY-PARKS and select opt. 2. Registration for this tour is $125 per person.
General Tour Information
All tours are led by a trained guide; no self-guided tours are available. Minors under age 18 are not permitted on tours without a parent or guardian. Various tours are scheduled daily. It is recommended that tours be booked as far in advance as possible to ensure availability. No items (bags, cameras, cell phones, backpack carriers, purses, packs, bottled water, strollers, etc) are allowed into the cave while on tour; however, lockers are available at the park to store these items. It is imperative that you arrive AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. Late arrival may result in the forfeiture of your reserved tour time. We also request that you familiarize yourself with our very important Cave Tour Rules and Reservation & Cancellation Policies. Pets are not allowed on any cavern tour. Please do not leave pets in vehicles while taking a tour.
Please note: video or photography is not permitted inside the cave, with your cell phone or a camera.
If you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please reschedule your tour for another time. Masks are not required, but are recommended.
The cave has an average temperature of 70° Fahrenheit (21° Celsius) and 99 percent humidity year-round. Most areas are dimly lit and some passages may pass through narrow or enclosed areas. This may be difficult for persons with mobility, respiratory or claustrophobia issues. See our Accessibility Information for more details. Please note that Arizona is in the Mountain time zone, and does NOT participate in daylight saving time.
School and group tours should also read additional information.
Information for Parents
It is not uncommon for young children to become frightened or uncomfortable in the cave environment. In these instances, the child and parent will be allowed to leave the cave tour for their well-being and safety. Please inquire upon check-in if you have any concerns. Strollers and backpack carriers are not permitted on the tour. For very young children (birth to one year) soft slings or pouches with the child on the front of the mother or father are recommended. Most infants do not tolerate the cave environment very well, so prepare accordingly when planning your visit to the park. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their children do not touch or damage any cave rocks or formations.
Tickets & Reservations
Electric TramYou will need to pick up your tickets at the park on the day of your tour; we do not mail out tour tickets. Bring your reservation receipt with you to the park. You must check in for your cave tour up AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. Late arrival may result in the forfeiture of your reserved tour time.
Any tickets not reserved in advance will be sold at the park on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the tour. These tickets generally sell out early and quickly. There is no guarantee there will be any first-come, first-served, unreserved tickets available on any given day. Don't risk not seeing the cave – make advanced reservations. (To make same day cave tour reservations, based on availability, please call 877-MY-PARKS.) In the event a tour has four or fewer people on it, the tour will be rescheduled for the next available tour.
Booking Both Tours on the Same Day
If you are buying tickets for both tours on the same day make sure to leave at least a two-hour window between tour start times. If you take a longer break between tours you may enjoy a picnic lunch or enjoy lunch at the Bat Cave Cafe.
Donate to Arizona State Parks
Arizona’s state park system does not receive General Fund monies that the state generates through taxes. As a self-sustaining agency, it is vital to receive public support for ongoing costs and upgrades to the park system you enjoy.
How will your donation be used?
- Improvement projects like playgrounds, restrooms, and other infrastructure to improve park experiences
- Repairs to existing buildings and structures within the parks, including historic structures.
- Trail maintenance and construction
- Organized clean-ups throughout Arizona
- Park operational costs, including supplies and equipment to maintain the park.
