Arizona's 10 most famous caves and caverns: Here's how to explore them

While Arizona is famous for its stunning landscapes and dramatic rock formations, some of the best things to see here are underground.

Arizona has numerous famous caves — some readily open to the public, some not. Some, like Kartchner Caverns, are renowned for their stunning beauty, filled with awe-inspiring formations that captivate with their intricate and colorful displays. Others are valued for their historical and archaeological significance, offering a window into past eras and ancient cultures.

The level of accessibility also varies: Some Arizona caves are easy to explore with well-maintained paths and guided tours, while others present a more challenging adventure with rugged terrain and steep entrances. Some caves and caverns require a permit to enter.

Pro tip: Always check the status of your destination before heading out. Wildfire, weather and other factors could affect access.

Here are 10 famous caves in Arizona and how to visit them.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Colossal Cave Mountain Park is a popular attraction southeast of Tucson. The park is best known for its extensive limestone cave system with stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones.

Colossal Cave has a long history of use, including by Indigenous people, early explorers and even as a hideout for bandits. The park offers guided tours where visitors can explore the underground passages and learn about the cave's geology, history and legends.

The park also has hiking trails, picnic areas, horseback riding, camping, a museum and a gift shop.

Details : 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail. $24. colossalcave.com .

The Wave Cave

The Wave Cave is a rugged rock formation in the Superstition Mountains that resembles a wave, created by natural erosion processes. It offers striking views, including Phoenix in the distance.

It's about a 4.2-mile round-trip hike with a moderate to challenging climb, depending on your comfort level with rocky terrain.

Begin your journey at the unmarked parking area located off Peralta Road, just east of Gold Canyon. Check the location online in advance; the parking area can be easy to miss. It's highly recommended to bring a map or use a reliable navigation app, as the path may not be well-defined the entire way.

Details : Off U.S. 60 and Peralta Road east of Apache Junction in Tonto National Forest. Free.

Grand Canyon Caverns

Grand Canyon Caverns are a dry cave system near Peach Springs in northwestern Arizona. The lack of moisture helps preserve the formations and keeps the air inside the cave clear and clean. The caverns are 210 feet underground and are accessible via an elevator that takes visitors into the main chamber.

The caverns were created millions of years ago by underground rivers. During guided tours, visitors can see stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones, as well as fossils that are millions of years old.

In addition to the regular tours, the Grand Canyon Caverns also offer more adventurous experiences, such as spelunking tours that take visitors into undeveloped parts of the cave, and the opportunity to spend the night in a unique underground suite .

The caverns are also famous for their historical significance, having been used as a bomb shelter during the Cold War, complete with emergency supplies that are still stored inside.

Access to the cave is closed at this time, however, while a new elevator is being installed and safety improvements are being made to the stairs, a representative for the property said. In 2023 the state fined Grand Canyon Caverns $6,000 for safety violations.

Tours and cavern suite reservations will resume once repairs are complete. Check the website for updates.

Details : Grand Canyon Caverns is on Historic Route 66 in Peach Springs, 161 miles east of Kingman. gccaverns.com .

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

The centerpiece of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is a sweeping natural travertine rock arch that creates a cavelike feel. Easy trails provide views of the arch from above; steeper and sometimes slippery trails take you down to Pine Creek where you can view the natural bridge from below.

According to Arizona State Parks , Tonto is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. It stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot-long tunnel.

Details : The park is off State Route 87 about 7 miles north of Payson, $7 per person. azstateparks.com .

Cave of the Bells

The Cave of the Bells is notable for its natural beauty and less-developed environment, offering a more rugged exploration experience.

It is known for its complex network of passages and stunning geological features, including large chambers, rock formations and underground streams. The cave also has archaeological and historical significance, with evidence of past human activity found within its depths.

Details : In Sawmill Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains in southeastern Arizona. Access requires a Forest Service permit. fs.usda.gov .

Coronado Cave

Coronado Cave is a limestone cave in Coronado National Memorial in southern Arizona, near the U.S.-Mexico border. It's about 600 feet long, with a main chamber and several smaller side passages.

Inside the cave, visitors can find impressive stalactites, stalagmites and other formations. The cave is accessible via a moderate, 0.75-mile hike from the park's visitor center. Entering the cave requires scrambling over rocks. Bring at least two sources of light (headlamps or flashlights) and backup batteries.

Details : Coronado National Memorial, southwest of Hereford in southern Arizona. Free. nps.gov .

Onyx Cave

Onyx Cave is a lesser-known cave in southern Arizona. It's named for its beautiful onyx formations, a type of banded calcite that gives the cave its distinctive appearance. Onyx Cave also contains stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones. It's relatively small compared to other caves in Arizona. Due to its fragile environment and the need to protect its delicate formations, a permit from escabrosa.org is required.

Details : In the Santa Rita Mountains near Patagonia. fs.usda.gov .

Lava River Cave

This milelong lava tube north of Flagstaff formed about 700,000 years ago. During a volcanic eruption, flowing lava solidified on the surface while molten lava continued to flow beneath it. As the lava drained away, it left behind the hollow tube that exists today.

The cave stretches for about ¾ mile and you'll clamber over boulders to enter. The temperature is around 40 degrees year-round, so dress warmly. The floor of the cave is uneven and rocky, with sections of the ceiling varying in height, making crawling or crouching necessary at times.

Wear sturdy shoes and bring at least two sources of light plus extra batteries.

Details : About 13 miles northwest of Flagstaff off U.S. 180. Free. fs.usda.gov .

Cave of the Domes

Cave of the Domes in Grand Canyon National Park is reachable by the Grandview Trail that traverses Horseshoe Mesa. The cave is notable for its distinctive rock formations and stunning views of the canyon.

This is an outing for experienced, well-prepared hikers: The steep, rugged trail to the cave is about 7¾ miles round trip, with an elevation loss/gain of about 2,600 feet. Bring a map.

Call the park's backcountry office at 928-638-7875 to check the status of Cave of the Domes before you hike. The cave is closed periodically to protect roosting bats and monitor potential hazards to people and the cave's environment.

Details : Off the Grandview Trail on the South Rim of Grand Canyon. Park admission is $35 per vehicle. nps.gov/grca .

Sandys Canyon caves

The easy hike on the Sandys Canyon Trail near Flagstaff starts in a rocky wooded area on the rim of Walnut Canyon and soon drops into meadows that get broader as you make your way and are filled with flowers in summer.

About 2 miles in, bear left to find the caves, which are actually petrified sand dunes . They're neither deep nor dark, and suitable for all levels of hikers. The paths through Sandys Canyon are well worn and trail junction signs give options to extend your hike along the Arizona Trail and to Fishers Point.

Details : The Sandys Canyon trailhead is off Lake Mary Road about 5.5 miles southeast of Flagstaff. Free. fs.usda.gov .

Copper Queen Mine

While not a cave in the traditional sense, Copper Queen Mine provides an easy way to go underground.

The mine in Bisbee contributed significantly to the town's development and the Arizona copper industry in the early 20th century. Established in the late 19th century, the mine became one of the most productive copper sources in the United States.

Today, it is a popular tourist attraction where visitors can ride into its tunnels on guided tours, gaining insights into the mining process and the lives of the miners. The site also has a museum with mining artifacts and historical exhibits.

Details : 478 N. Dart Road, Bisbee. $16. copperqueenmine.com .

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's 10 most famous caves and caverns: Here's how to explore them