Kartchner Caverns and the Foothills Trail

Kartchner Caverns and the Foothills Trail

Doug Smith  March 21, 2020 at 8:48 am

In southern Arizona we traveled southeast from Tuscon to take the tour of Kartchner Caverns, booking an early morning tour.   We were underground in the Rotunda Room and the Throne Room for about an hour, enjoying every minute of the tour.   Cameras were not allowed on the tour, so a stock photo is shared to get a sense of the spectacle.    We chose a drizzly grey day, but the weather was not an issue underground.

There are two tours that can be booked so when we return to the area we will do the tour of the Big Room next time.

There were a few trails in the State Park to hike so we also chose the Foothills Trail.

The trail winds around the foothills of the rugged Whetstone Mountains.

 

Along most the trail was desert growth – saguoro, ocotillo, brittlebrush, creosote bush, and lots of thorny low-growing shrubs.   A short steep trail went to the top of a hill for a 360 degree view of the desert hills of southern Arizona.

We completed the loop and stopped to marvel that the cave complex was underneath the hill shown in this image.

Kartchner Caverns is a must-see tour (rated number one in Cave Tours on sites like Trip Advisor), the State Park surrounding it is a pleasant place, and the hiking trails are also good choices.     We will return to do the other tour and to hike another trail next time.

 

 

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I started exploring this area in 1976 and I continue to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, I chose to share this information. Getting out 12 months each year, I continue to explore trails, tracks, routes, and waterways of the Kamloops area and beyond.

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Doug Smith

Doug writes for Kamloops Trails, a not-for-profit (and ad free) website, offering information on trails, waterways, routes, featured spots, viewpoints, and explorations in the outdoors in the Kamloops area (and beyond).

Doug started exploring this area in 1976 and continues to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, he chose to share this information.

The Kamloops Trails website has a massive number of interesting posts and would be of interest to anyone in Kamloops who enjoys the outdoors. Visit the Kamloops Trails website at: http://www.kamloopstrails.ca/

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