Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Arizona Benson Kartchner Caverns

Kartchner Caverns

Limestone caves with spectacular showcase chambers.

Benson, Arizona

Added By
Ted Tschopp
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Let’s Get Hammering!   hetmzr101 / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance!   hetmzr101 / Atlas Obscura User
What Lies Beneath!   hetmzr101 / Atlas Obscura User
  Douglas Coulter
  Mike Lewis
  Douglas Coulter
  ramblingrovers
  crackerbunny
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

After their discovery in 1974, these limestone caverns were kept secret for more than a decade as their discoverers sought a way to preserve their untrammeled beauty. 

Seeking undiscovered caves in the mid-70s, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts discovered evidence of a secret cave: the two felt warm air emanating from a crack at the bottom of a sinkhole they found in the Whetstone Mountains of southern Arizona. The men slipped through the crack and discovered a network of pristine caverns with spectacular rock formations, including massive stalagmites and stalactites. The cavers would return on several occasions over four years, discovering 2.5 miles of passageways and chambers, all the while keeping their find secret, even from the owners of the property encompassing the cave, for fear of vandals.  

In 1988, more than a decade after the discovery, the state of Arizona purchased the land from the Kartchner family and began developing the site into a state park, a process that took several years and millions of dollars. 

Today parts of the cave are open to the public, including two large chambers. Throne Room holds the largest known soda-straw stalactite in the world, and Big Room features a large formation of Brushite moonmilk, a soft, creamy substance that's composed of mineral deposits but does not harden into rock.

Even though the cave has been partially developed to allow groups to visit, including paved paths and lights, there are still areas in the developed part of the cave that have been left relatively untouched.  Tour guides will point out muddy footprints on the edge of a pool, which Tenens and Tufts left when they were exploring the cave.

Big Room is also home to a colony of bats from spring through mid-autumn. The room is sealed off from humans to allow the bats to raise their young in the caves, as they have since time immemorial.

Related Tags

Caves Natural Wonders Ecosystems Nature

Know Before You Go

Off AZ 90

Community Contributors

Added By

TedTschopp

Edited By

roadrunner805, azhoagie, hzoi, kostas1964ath...

  • roadrunner805
  • azhoagie
  • hzoi
  • kostas1964ath
  • hetmzr101

Published

June 20, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.caves.org/pub/journal/PDF/V61/v61n2-Tuffs.pdf
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartchner_Caverns_State_Park
  • http://azstateparks.com/parks/kaca/index.html
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonmilk
Kartchner Caverns
Park Srv Rd
Benson, Arizona, 85602
United States
31.836653, -110.348842
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Singing Wind Bookshop

Benson, Arizona

miles away

Jewish Pioneers Memorial

Tombstone, Arizona

miles away

Boothill Graveyard

Tombstone, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Benson

Benson

Arizona

Places 3

Nearby Places

Singing Wind Bookshop

Benson, Arizona

miles away

Jewish Pioneers Memorial

Tombstone, Arizona

miles away

Boothill Graveyard

Tombstone, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Benson

Benson

Arizona

Places 3

Related Stories and Lists

14 Exceptional Caves That Bring the Subterranean World to Life

subterranean

By Eric Grundhauser

Related Places

  • Cape Flattery

    Neah Bay, Washington

    Cape Flattery

    At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

  • Grutas del Palacio

    Flores, Uruguay

    Grutas del Palacio

    This wonderful rock formation constitutes the first geopark in Uruguay.

  • Benagil Caves

    Lagoa, Portugal

    Benagil Caves

    Perhaps the most spectacular grotto along the Algarve coastline.

  • Chinhoyi Caves

    Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

    Chinhoyi Caves

    The stunningly blue waters of these beautiful caves also have a violent past.

  • Moqui Cave

    Kanab, Utah

    Moqui Cave

    This ancient cave is home to a museum, bar, and is filled with fluorescent minerals.

  • The Fugaku Wind Cave.

    Narusawa, Japan

    Fugaku Wind Cave

    One in a pair of subterranean caves created by an ancient eruption of Mount Fuji.

  • View on Halvikhallen from the bay at Fårøya.

    Hellvik, Norway

    Halvikhula

    The largest cave in Northern Europe.

  • Caglieron Caves

    Fregona, Italy

    Caglieron Caves

    These caves are home to a small church and were used to age cheese.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.