Explore Grand Canyon Caves and Caverns near Grand Canyon (2024)

FAQs

Can you explore Grand Canyon caves? ›

Exploring caves in Grand Canyon National Park is very restricted and nearly all caves require special permission to visit. There are good reasons the park has these regulations, but the main issues are protecting archeologically, and biologically sensitive resources found in the caves.

Old mines located near Horseshoe Mesa and throughout the park are also closed. With the exception of Cave of the Domes, permits are required to enter caves in Grand Canyon National Park due to the extremely sensitive nature of cultural and natural resources inside.

Caverns Guided Tour

The tour begins with an elevator ride that takes you 200 feet underground. Handrails, paved walkways, stairs, and mild inclines make the 3/4 mile long tour suitable for all ages. Approx. 45 minutes.

It's estimated that there are more than 1,000 caves inside the Grand Canyon, with only 335 documented and even fewer mapped, explored, or inventoried. Today only one cave is open for visitors to explore, and it's called- the Cave of the Domes on Horseshoe Mesa.

The Grand Canyon Caverns is a natural limestone cavern and the largest dry cavern in the US, located 210 feet below the earth's surface.

ADOSH found a steep staircase at the caverns did not have proper handrailing, Laky confirmed on a call Friday morning. The agency did checks on the site following a malfunctioning elevator leading to five tourists being stuck 210 feet underground at the caverns for several hours between Oct. 23 and 24, Laky confirmed.

One area that is sometimes referred to as part of the forbidden zone is the region around where the Colorado River and the Little Colorado River meet. This area is considered sacred by many Native American tribes, including the Hopi and the Navajo. One of the main sites in this area is the Hopi Salt Mines.

Havasu Falls is a beloved but well-hidden destination within the Grand Canyon, requiring a hike of about 10 miles in and out. It's within a part of the canyon known as Havasu Canyon, which is host to a large tributary on the Colorado River's south side.

What are the strange finds in the Grand Canyon? ›

Some of the most fascinating artifacts found here in the Grand Canyon are split-twig figurines. Each one is made from a single twig, often willow, split down the middle, and then carefully folded into animal shapes. These figurines date from 2,000 to 4,000 years ago and were found in remote caves.

Many people visiting Mammoth Cave ask, “May we visit the cave without a guided tour?” The answer is yes! This self-guided tour requires a ticket, and proceeds into the Historic Entrance. Focusing on early history and prehistory of the cave, this section of cave houses many great artifacts.

Can I explore the cave on my own? No. To protect the cave environment and for your safety, you must be on a cave tour to enter the cave. Ranger-led cave tours are offered throughout the year and a short self-guided cave tour is offered seasonally.

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the world's most popular destinations for hiking, which can be done along the rim, on forest trails, and, most notably, into the canyon itself via the many inner canyon trails including the popular Kaibab or Bright Angel trails.

Just drive into Grand Canyon South Rim, then park and use the free shuttle bus to get around. You can walk along the rim from, say Mather or Yavapai point to the rim lodges or beyond along Hermit's Rest Road. You don't need to take a tour.