State Parks and National Parks

Discovered in 1974, Kartchner Caverns' existence was kept secret until 1988. Only recently opened and still under development, the state park is 49 miles from the Tucson Airport.

The massive limestone cave has 13,000 feet of passages and two rooms as long as football fields. Virtually pristine, this underground wilderness and its bat population remain protected. Visitors can tour portions of these rare, multi-colored cave formations.

Environmental safeguards designed to protect the caverns and technological advances used in its development make this park unique.

Visitors can discover and learn about this live cavern system through interpretive displays, videos and park tours.

The 550-acre state park also offers five miles of hiking trails, a wheelchair-accessible loop trail, picnic facilities, trailhead access to National Forest trails, 63 spaces in the campground with water and electric hookup, and a Discovery Center with exhibits and a gift shop.