Adventure Tours at Colossal Cave Mountain Park in Tucson, Arizona

Colossal Cave Mountain Park located just southeast of Tucson, Arizona. Take the I-10 east to exit 279, follow the sign 7 miles to the park entrance. The Colossal Cave Mountain Park offers many guided tours for the cave explorer. No matter your spelunking level there is sure to be a cave tour to excite your senses as you go underground in the Colossal Cave!

Regular Colossal Cave Tour

The tour route is a mere half mile long and takes about 45 minutes to complete. It is well lit and easy to maneuver. The cave tour guide will relate the local history and legends of the cave, explain the geology and wildlife in and around the cave. You will see cave formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and helictites. One interesting fact I learned on my tour was that the Colossal Cave is a dead cave. It is classified as such because it is a dry cave and it is not creating any new formations at this time. Your tour guide will explain facts and information about the cave in a fun, informative way so that you will not forget what you have learned. This tour is given daily and year round. Reservations for this tour are not required. The fees are $11 for adults; $6 for children ages 5 - 12 and free for children 4 and under.

The Candlelight Tour

As the tour's name implies the exploration of the cave is done by candlelight. The cave is lit by candles and you are given a candle to carry as well. This tour gives you the sense of how the first cave explorers saw the cave as the light from their candles bounced and flickered off the cave walls. The duration of this tour is about an hour and a half. You have to make reservations and it is offered after regular operating hours only. You must be 12 years old or older and have a group size of 10 - 20 people. The fee for this tour is $25 per person. The candles are provided.

The Ladder Tour

Want to wear a helmet and explore off route in a cave? Then this would be the tour for you. Your helmet will have a headlamp and you will climb ladders and squeeze through narrow passages to add to your caving experience. The adventure is followed by a dinner and bonfire. This tour lasts an hour and a half and is an intermediate level trek. Cost is $45 per person and by reservation only.

The Wild Cave Tour

This is the most extreme tour the Colossal Cave has to offer. You will follow in the footsteps of the early cave explorers and legendary outlaws through unlit, unmarked, and seldom seen passageways! This is a down and dirty real caving experience. It is offered on 2 levels; intermediate tour 2- 3 hours and advanced tour 3 -4 hours. This tour is also by reservation only and for a group size of 2 to 6 people. Age ranges are 16 and older for the advanced tour and 14 and older for the intermediate. Costs for these tours are $55 for the intermediate and $75 for the advanced. Helmets and lights are provided, and gloves, knee and elbow pads are recommended but not provided.

For more information and reservations visit the park's website at www.colossalcave.com

Happy Caving!

Sources:

Own experience

Colossal Cave Tour Pamphlet