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Colossal cave vail arizona9/24/2023 We agreed to navigate the tunnel one by one by feel, inch by inch, and heartbeat by heartbeat. At the entrance to one tunnel just large enough to slither through, the guide instructed the six of us to turn off our headlamps and the darkness was complete - not a speck of light came from anywhere. I have to admit I traversed that one on my hands and knees. One of the ladders was a mere eight inches wide! We traverse a ledge that was only a foot wide with a rock face to our right and a drop-off of several stories to our left. Most of our journey involved climbing steel ladders embedded into the rock, crawling through narrow passages and crossing natural bridges. We wore helmets, headlamps, and gloves so that we would not leave the oil from our hands behind on the rock. Arizona (AZ) Vail Vail - Things to Do Colossal Cave Mountain Park Search. I took the Ladder Tour, a behind-the-scenes excursion to more distant parts of the cave. Colossal Cave Mountain Park: Fun ladder tour in a damaged cave - See 694 traveler reviews, 601 candid photos, and great deals for Vail, AZ, at Tripadvisor. Cave tours, Western trail rides, camping, picnicking.The classic tour covers half a mile of easily accessible trails and takes out 45 minutes to walk about six stories (365 steps) down into the cave and back up. On the National Historic Register, the 2,400-acre Park showcases crystal-filled Colossal Cave and historic La Posta Quemada Ranch. It has been home, shrine, hideout, inspiring workplace, exciting playground, tranquil retreat. This desert refuge has sheltered people for over a thousand years. The deposit was soon exhausted, and the tunnel was abandoned. The cave was then used as a guano source, and a tunnel, 82 ftlong, was built in 1905, and a total of seven train cars of guano were filled. He was searching for stray cattle when he discovered the entrance to the cave. The cave was rediscovered in 1879 by Solomon Lick, the owner of the nearby Mountain Springs Hotel. It instead feeds the “active” nearby Arkenstone Cave that continues to grow formations.Ĭolossal Cave was used from 900 to 1450 AD by the Hohokam, Sobaipuri, and Apache Indians. This is because the cave was formed by water depositing limestone, but this source has disappeared. The meaning of this is that its formations are completely dry, or “dead”, and do not grow. The cave is an ancient karst cave, classified as “dry” by guides. Temperatures inside average 70 ☏ year-round. It contains about 3.5 miles of mapped passageways, and was discovered by Soloman Lick in 1879. Campground at a GlanceĬolossal Cave Mountain Parkis a large cave system in southeastern Arizona, United States, near the community of Vail, about 22 miles southeast of Tucson. Note that the cutting of trees and branches in the Park is strictly prohibited. Signs will be posted if fires are prohibited. For emergencies, there is a 911 phone located in the campgrounds near the “Y” intersection where the road branches to El Bosquecito and La Selvilla picnic areas.įires are allowed in barbecues and established fire rings only, if we are in a fire-safe condition. Please refer to the Park hours below before making your trip plans. For the safety and security of the Park we lock the front gates at night. Note this is primitive dry camping-water and restrooms are limited, there is no electricity or RV hook-ups. Water and restrooms are available in El Bosquecito and La Selvilla. Most areas have tables and barbecue grills. These consist of two large areas-El Bosquecito and La Selvilla-and a number of smaller ones, totaling about 30 individual sites. The Campgrounds, tucked in the mesquites in Posta Quemada canyon, were built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps – CCC. The park encompasses over 2,400 acres and includes the magnificent Colossal Cave, the historic La Posta Quemada Ranch, Western trail rides, camping, and picnicking. Click image to view more pictures Campground Overiew:Ĭolossal Cave Mountain Park located in Vail, AZ is a popular attraction in the Tuscon Area.
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