Mammoth Cave.
Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico Without question, Carlsbad is America’s most famous cave complex. Since opening to the public in 1924, it has recorded nearly 45 million visits and currently entertains more than a half-million visitors annually. This labyrinth of more than 120 known caves nestled beneath the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico was formed when sulfuric acid and water dissolved the surrounding limestone in a process that began more than 250 million years ago. Both self-guided and ranger- guided tours are available. More than 400,000 Mexican free-tail bats inhabit Carlsbad and they put on quite a show when they whirl out the caverns at sunset to feed. From May to October—before the bats migrate south for the winter—visitors can attend a special ranger program at the outdoor Bat Flight Amphitheater (free with park admission) to witness this striking exodus. www.nps.gov/cave, 575-785-2232
Kartchner Caverns, Arizona These beautiful caverns, located near Benson in southeastern Arizona, have existed for at least 50,000 years but weren’t discovered until 1974 and it wasn’t until 1999 that they were opened to the public as a state park. The 2.4-miles of passageways lead to two major features—the Rotunda & Throne Room and the Big Room—that can be visited only on separate, hour-long guided tours. The Throne Room contains the world’s largest known calcite soda straw stalactites and a towering 58-foot-high dripstone column named Kubla Khan. The Big Room is notable as home to the world’s most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk, a creamy form of limestone precipitate. The Big Room is closed from April 15 to October 15 while it serves as a nursery roost for thousands of resident cave bats. https://azstateparks.com/kartchner/tours, 520-586-2283
VIRGINIA IS FOR (CAVE) LOVERS
COAST TO COAST SPRING MAGAZINE 2020
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