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Phoenix- Kartchner Caverns State Park will hold “Bug Night” on Saturday, August 16, 2014. “Bug Night” consists of outdoor insect viewing with a local entomologist. Cave tours will also be available but should be reserved in advance.
Visitors should bring their own flashlights to this hands-on learning experience. The program starts at 7 p.m. in the Tenen & Tufts Theater with guest speaker John Palting, from the University of Arizona, Department of Entomology. Then at 8 p.m. join us for a Scorpion walk, followed by insect viewing outdoors until approximately 9 p.m.
There are three guided tours inside the cave at Kartchner Caverns. The Rotunda/Throne Room Tour is half of a mile in length and takes approximately an hour and a half to complete. The Big Room Tour is available from mid-October to mid-April. It is half of a mile long and takes an hour and 45 minutes to complete. Note: Big Room Tours are not available for children younger than 7 years of age. The new Headlight and Helmet Tour allows visitors to experience the cave as the discoverers did in 1974 using only the light provided by the headlamp on your helmet. This tour is currently offered only on Saturdays, is a half-a-mile long and takes an hour and 15 minutes to complete. Note: Headlight and Helmet Tours are not available for children younger than 10 years of age.
The Discovery Center facility contains exhibits on cave formations, cave life, hydrology and history. In the Tenen-Tufts Theater, a video presentation (15 minutes long) plays twice an hour. The program highlights the discovery aspect of the cave. The Gift Shop offers a wide array of cave related and southwestern themed souvenirs, gifts and practical items to meet the needs of travelers. The Bat Cave Cafe is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for dining while at the Park. There are hiking trails for the beginner to advanced hiker and a large, modern campground adjacent to the Whetstone Mountains.
Reservations for camping or cave tours can be made 24-hours a day at AZStateParks.com or by calling (520) 586-2283 between 8am and 5pm (Mountain Standard Time) seven days per week. Reservations are highly recommended for all cave tours. Cave Tour tickets must be picked up AT LEAST 1 hour prior to your scheduled tour time. Kartchner Caverns State Park is located on Highway 90, nine miles south of I-10 near Benson, Arizona.
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