07/12/2024
Have a peek at some of our menu items. There's much more! So be sure to plan on lunch here when you visit!
Colossal Cave Mountain Park offers cave tours, a cafe and gift shop, and horseback riding. We also have RV parking, campgrounds, and hiking trails.
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Have a peek at some of our menu items. There's much more! So be sure to plan on lunch here when you visit!
Calling all adventurers!
Ready to ditch the beaten path and delve deeper into Colossal Cave? Our Ladder Tour is no walk in the park (literally!). This 1.5-hour adventure takes you off the main trail, through tight squeezes and uneven terrain, for an up-close look at the cave's hidden wonders.
You'll need your sense of adventure and a head for heights, but the reward is an unforgettable experience that gets you right into the heart of this geologic marvel. Imagine scaling a fixed ladder to a secret chamber, squeezing through narrow passages, and feeling the cool, damp air whisper stories of the cave's ancient past.
Think you're up for the challenge?
Spaces are limited, so book your Ladder Tour adventure today at colossalcave.com.
📷 Bri Stiteler
Nom, nom, nom. This tortoise is one of the pair in our tortoise habitat in the Butterfly Garden at our park!
Does our staff spoil Shelly and Cienega, the residents of our tortoise habitat? Maybe! They dine well on native plants that our staff glean from our park, as well as fresh veggies unavailable to their cousins out in the desert!
(We don't feed wildlife in our park; just the tortoises!)
Cave guide Dalton took this pic in 2022.
"Regardless of whatever weather is happening outside - the cave is always a comfortable temperature. Where else can you go outdoors, get a good workout in a fascinating environment, and still be cool and comfortable?" - Bill Savary
Sign up for our next Wild Cave Tour this Friday, July 12 at 12:15 pm!
colossalcave.com
Why did Rachel visit us twice in one week? Read her fantastic review in its entirety:
I had the privilege to visit Colossal Cave twice in one week. My husband and I went on Tuesday with our boys (6 and 8) to do the classic cave tour and our guide was Noah. He was great! He did an amazing job explaining the importance of conservation in caves, pointed out the animals in the caves, and did not sugar coat the danger. Unfortunately, this did scare my youngest a bit, but he's easily frightened and he made it through the tour just fine! The way Noah explained and presented things really excited my oldest, who wasn't sure he was going to have any fun, and he was asking me at the end why the corridor was called the haunted corridor. I told him I didn't know, but we'd find out. After we finished I looked online and saw they had a Ladder tour open on Thursday, which was my birthday. I figured why not book it for my husband and I as a nice little nostalgic adventure. I had done it with Girl scouts 20 years ago and him with Boy Scouts. Us and two of our best friends snagged the last 4 spots and surprise surprise Noah was our guide again! At first he didn't recognize us, but my husband's name was particularly memorable and once I reminded him he laughed and remembered. He took us through an amazing Ladder Tour! We had a lot of fun hearing stories and seeing the other parts of the cave including the haunted corridor. My oldest was so excited for me to tell him about it when I got back. When Noah found out it was my birthday, he planned something special at the end, and my husband said he doesn't think he's seen me so happy before. Colossal Cave is worth a visit, multiple visits in fact. I had so much fun learning about the conservation efforts with my boys and having them ask questions. I love the ladder tour and it's just as great as I remembered from when I was younger. Noah was a phenomenal guide and told us about so much of the history of the park, both recent as well as from its earliest inhabitants. I would recommend it and it was well worth two trips in one week. Thank you for keeping something this adventurous and fun so open and accessible to the public.
Rachel
The Prickly Pear Soft Serve Cone at our Terrace Café
The most-mentioned menu item in our reviews is our delicious house recipe Prickly Pear Soft Serve! Treat yourself and see what everyone is raving about!
12 bat species have been recorded at Colossal Cave on and off during the year. Check out our bat page to learn which times of year the different bat species call Colossal Cave home: colossalcave.com/our-bats/
Do you like a little excitement but would rather not do the climbing and crawling required on our Ladder Tour? 🙋 Book yourself on our Lights Out Tour. You'll take the same route as our Classic Tour, but with our cave lights turned off, and a hurricane lantern in your hand to light the way.
You'll see the cave as the early explorers might have seen it, and learn about its fascinating history, legends, geology, and cave formations. Plus, you might even spot some cave wildlife! 🦇
This is a unique and unforgettable experience that you won't want to miss.
Book your spot now for the next Lights Out Tour at 9 am on Saturday, July 6! Go to colossalcave.com now!
(No children under 8 years old allowed on the Lights Out tour.)
Hey, we're kind of a big deal this year on Tripadvisor! Many thanks to all of you who take the time to write those glowing reviews! We're grateful to you, and happy that you've enjoyed our park and our commitment to hospitality excellence.
Big monsoon storms at the Park in 2017. Whiteout waves of rain; even captured a bolt of lightning hitting one of our telephone poles (at 0:30). Our desert is loving the rain! Us too, how about you? ☔️ 🌵 ⛈️
Would you like to know a bunch more about our Cave's history than our guides can tell you during the tour? Check out the history tab of our website colossalcave.com/history/. The Wild West section is...wild.
Do something WILD this month! We've opened up another Wild Cave Tour on Friday, July 12 at 12:15 pm.
This advanced cave tour is for our most adventurous guests. It's nearly three hours of full-blast down-and-dirty spelunking restricted to ages 16 and older.
Check it out and book your tour now at colossalcave.com.
Besides swimming, how can you escape the summer heat and still be outside? Inside our cave, of course! It's 70° year-round.
Just for our Facebook folks: Use promo code SUMMER5F at checkout for $5 off Classic Cave Tour tickets for adults and children.
Don't miss out— book your tickets today! colossalcave.com
This summer's your chance to create unforgettable memories with your crew! Take a cool, adventurous underground journey through the wonders of Colossal Cave. It's the perfect escape from the heat, and an Arizona adventure you won't forget.
Good through August 29, 2024. Not valid with any other tour or discount.
It's AND with this video from 2019!
If you've been on our Classic Tour and aren't quite ready to level up to a more adventurous Ladder Tour or the Wild Cave Tour, give our "Lights Out! Lantern Cave Tour" a try! The next one happens on Saturday, June 29 at 9 am.
We turn off the lights in the cave and lend you a hurricane lamp to see the cave as the early explorers might have seen it.
It's 363 stair steps of history, legends, geology, cave formations, and sometimes some cave wildlife!
Book your Lights Out Tour now at colossalcave.com.
(Please note: Absolutely NO children under 8 years old allowed on this tour.)
Our gift shop is the BEST! Whether you prefer to give classy or quirky or just fun gifts, or want a fun memento of your visit to southern Arizona, we've got unique items in our Cave Shop!
In this photo you can see a small selection of our classy items. We also have plushie bats and other desert critters, cave-inspired t-shirts/hoodies/hats, gems, fun socks, turquoise jewelry, and more.
Come out and browse in cool comfort with a beautiful view as a bonus!
If you've previously done the classic tour, and are ready to level up, the Ladder Tour is for you!
You'll truly go SPELUNKING as you climb ladders, squeeze through narrow passages, scale obstacles, and scramble across rock bridges.
Book your tour now at colossalcave.com!
📷 Beth Wright
How cool is this?! Our cave truly is unforgettable. How old were YOU the last time you visited Colossal Cave? Bring your kids/grandkids out to give them an experience they'll always remember, too!
BOOK TOURS
On a hot summer day, our delicious Prickly Pear Soft Serve from our Terrace Café is the best (and yummiest) way to cool down! This soft-serve with a unique Southwest flavor is the most-mentioned menu item in our reviews.
Happy ! It's a hot one today but 1) rain is in the forecast and 2) we have these photos from snowy days at our Park that might help us feel a bit cooler. Be safe out there with lots of water and shade, and remember that inside our Cave it's always 70°! Book yourself a tour at colossalcave.com and use promo code SUMMER5I for $5 off each ticket!
Happy Juneteenth!
You deserve a discount for surviving our summer heat!
Use promo code SUMMER5F at checkout for $5 off Classic Cave Tour tickets for adults and children.
This summer's your chance to create unforgettable memories with your crew! Take a cool, adventurous underground journey through the wonders of Colossal Cave.
It's the perfect escape from the heat, and an Arizona adventure you won't forget. Don't miss out— book your tickets today! colossalcave.com
Good through August 29, 2024. Not valid with any other tour or discount.
Come check out our beautiful gift shop! We have one-of-a-kind items from classic to quirky, silly to sensational. Jewelry, pottery, shirts, socks, gems, food gifts, and SO much more. The shopping is worth the drive and you can have prickly pear ice cream afterward!
📷 by GM Tony
This Tuesday and Wednesday, June 18 and 19, our cave, shop, and café will be closed while our parking lot is being resurfaced. We'll reopen as usual on Thursday morning...hope to see you soon!
Turning teen-unethusiasm into total cave-thrill is no small feat but we are up for the challenge every time! We love hearing that Colossal Cave can surprise and delight explorers of all ages.
On this weekend eve, remember that there's nothing like our delicious Prickly Pear Margarita on a hot day with a spectacular view of our Park from the shade of our terrace. Come out this weekend to relax and refresh yourself!
We have Prickly Pear Lemonade, too!
(souvenir glass sold separately)
Our "Lights Out! Lantern Cave Tour" is coming up on Saturday, June 29 at 9 am!
We turn off the lights in the cave and provide you a hurricane lamp to see the cave as the early explorers might have seen it.
It's 363 stair steps of history, legends, geology, cave formations, and sometimes some cave wildlife!
Book your Lights Out Tour now at colossalcave.com.
(Please note: Absolutely NO children under 8 years old allowed on this tour.)
Did you know that a group of coatis is called a band? 🐾❤️😍
Keep wildlife wild; do not feed, touch, or approach.
Hey, when's the last time you explored Colossal Cave? Do it this summer with a discount!
Use promo code SUMMER5F at checkout for $5 off Classic Cave Tour tickets for adults and children! ️
This summer's your chance to create unforgettable memories with your crew! Take a cool, adventurous underground journey through the wonders of Colossal Cave.
It's the perfect escape from the heat, and an Arizona adventure you won't forget. Don't miss out— book your tickets today! colossalcave.com
Good through August 29, 2024. Not valid with any other tour or discount.
16721 East Old Spanish Trail
Vail, AZ
85641
Monday | 9am - 3pm |
Tuesday | 9am - 3pm |
Wednesday | 9am - 3pm |
Thursday | 9am - 3pm |
Friday | 9am - 4pm |
Saturday | 9am - 4pm |
Sunday | 9am - 4pm |
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Have a peek at some of our menu items. There's much more! So be sure to plan on lunch here when you visit!
Big monsoon storms at the Park in 2017. Whiteout waves of rain; even captured a bolt of lightning hitting one of our telephone poles (at 0:30). Our desert is loving the rain! Us too, how about you? ☔️ 🌵 ⛈️
Did you know that a group of coatis is called a band? 🐾❤️😍 Keep wildlife wild; do not feed, touch, or approach. #wildlifewednesday #waybackwednesday #coati #coatimundi
There are many ways to experience and enjoy #ColossalCave. Some of them are more adventurous than others. Our next Wild Cave Tour is coming up on Friday, June 21 at 12:15 pm. Book your spot and get the details at https://colossalcave.com/tours/ #WildCaveTour #colossalcavemountainpark #adventure #cave #spelunking
Coati train! Love our #ColossalCoatis! 🐾❤️ Keep wildlife wild! Do not feed, touch, or approach. (Just take loads of pics and videos.) #wildlifewednesday #coati #coatimundi #wildlife
Come experience it for yourself. #squirrel #desertscenery #meditation #sonorandesert #meditationmonday #colossalcavemountainpark
Veronica & Ryan created an EPIC video of our Cave and our Park! Go check out the full 18-minute version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPfQVgcSppg Thanks for the love, Veronica & Ryan!
There’s always one straggler 😂 Love our Colossal Coatis! 🐾❤️ Keep wildlife wild! Don’t feed, touch, or approach.
Family found! KGUN 9 On Your Side tracked down relatives of the woman who lost her wallet in Colossal Cave more than a decade ago. She has since passed, but they had some amazing stories to share about her life. We're so happy to know the whole story and to learn more about her, and super grateful to KGUN9 for their persistence in following up. A special thank you to our team members Dalton and Laure for their efforts and participation. https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/update-lost-wallet-in-colossal-cave-returned-to-late-owners-family #lostandfound #FOLO #lostwallet #lifestories #colossalcavemountainpark Explorus
Do you like a little excitement but would rather not do the climbing and crawling required on our Ladder Tour? 🙋 Book yourself on our Lights Out Tour. You'll take the same route as our Classic Tour, but with our cave lights turned off, and a hurricane lantern in your hand to light the way. You'll see the cave as the early explorers might have seen it, and learn about its fascinating history, legends, geology, and cave formations. 🏞️ Plus, you might even spot some cave wildlife! 🦇 This is a unique and unforgettable experience that you won't want to miss. ✨ Book your spot now for the next Lights Out Tour at 9 am on Saturday, January 27! Go to colossalcave.com now! 🔗 (This tour makes a great gift, too! We have gift cards available for all of our tours!) 🎁 #cave #cavetour #hurricanelamp #spelunking #history #geology #legends #stalactites #stalagmites #coati #bats #arizona #pimacounty #vail #tucson #arizona #adventure
Here's the full video about the wallet found inside the cave. It belonged to a woman who died recently and we hope to return it to her family. Thanks to our team members Dalton and Laure for their efforts and to KGUN 9 for helping us get the word out! #lostandfound #colossalcavemountainpark
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom: Archival Footage In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here’s a lovely two-minute immersion in amazing archival footage from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. No doubt Dr. King would want us to remember and celebrate all the people who made the march possible - inspiring us 57 years later to keep working, marching, and fighting for jobs, freedom, equal rights, liberation, inclusivity, and a world where Black lives truly matter. Thanks to the SALT Project who has made this labor of love available to download for free: https://vimeo.com/383154903
There’s always one straggler 😂 Love our #ColossalCoatis! 🐾❤️ - Keep wildlife wild! Don’t feed, touch, or approach. #wildlifewednesday #colossalcavemountainpark #coati #coatibaby #babycoati #coatimundi #straggler #keepwildlifewild
Goodbye 2023 and hello 2024! We're so grateful to our guests and to our incredible CCMP crew who make it all happen! We hope you have some quiet contemplative moments today with a glorious view like this one. #NYE #NYE2023 #squirrel #colossalcavemountainpark
This desert refuge has sheltered people for over a thousand years. It has been home, shrine, hideout, challenging workplace, exciting playground, tranquil retreat. Today the 2,400-acre Park showcases crystal-filled Colossal Cave and historic La Posta Quemada Ranch. Enjoy cave tours, horseback trail rides, petting zoo, non-motorized trails, picnicking, & camping.