Colossal Cave Mountain Park
16721 East Old Spanish Trail
Vail, AZ
(520) 647-7275
The Tour of Colossal Cave
The tour route is a half mile long and takes about 45-50 minutes to complete. As your guide relates the Cave's history, legends, and geology, you walk down and back up about six and a half stories and see beautiful cave formations like stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, boxwork, and helictites.
Tours are given daily, year-round. They are not pre-scheduled, but you'll never wait longer than 30 minutes after you purchase your ticket. You need no special clothing in the Cave, which is always 70 degrees and dry. You are welcome to take pictures inside - you'll want to use high-speed film and a flash unit for cameras, or a candlelight setting for videocams.
The Butterfly Garden
A colorful retreat where dreams take wing...
The Butterfly Garden at Colossal Cave Mountain Park is carefully designed to provide for the full life cycle of butterflies. There are larval food plants for the caterpillars, nectar to sustain the adults, shade and camouflage for protection from predators—and there's even a special spot for their puddle parties! A haven for butterflies, it is also a place of rest, entertainment, and education for the human guests that visit! The plants are all native varieties.
Trail Rides
Saddle up! Leisurely guided Western trail rides go out daily from La Posta Quemada Ranch facility in Colossal Cave Mountain Park. Starting from the site of the historic Mountain Springs Hotel and Stage Station, you'll follow the National Mail Stagecoach route. See spectacular and complex geological formations and a Hohokam bedrock mortar site as you ramble through unspoiled Sonoran desert.
Hayrides, stagecoach rides, pack trips, and cattle drives are also available by reservation.
PARK HOURS
Summer hours (March 16 - September 15)
Mondays through Saturdays:
8am-6pm
Sundays and Holidays:
8am-7pm
Winter hours (September 16 - March 15)
Mondays through Saturdays:
9am-5pm
Sundays and Holidays:
9am-6pm
