coronado cave

This was a short, ½ mile one-way hike to the mouth of the Coronado Cave. The trail is listed in various places as being 0.5 -miles, 0.75- miles and one-mile. Trail access is from the west end of the parking lot at the visitor center or from the East Montezuma Canyon road. It's not long but it is a steep hike as the elevation change is about 500 feet in a short distance. Sort of like being on a “stair master”. If you plan to explore the cave you will need either a flash light, a head lamp or better still......both. It gets real dark, real fast. Getting in and out the cave involves a rock scramble. Another hiker, after seeing the entrance, decided to turn back rather than try to enter. A ranger suggested the best way to enter the cave is on your butt. Having headlamps so you can keep your hands free is a real plus at this point in the journey. The cave itself is a dry limestone cave, about 600 feet deep. When we visited, we were the only ones in the cave. Once we reached the end we turned off our lights and experienced the total darkness and silence. If bats were using cave they were keeping a low profile. We didn't see any. This was an interesting hike and a nice way to spend a couple hours.

The hike from the trailhead to the cave is all uphill without shade, but it is very manageable even though we visited at the end of August. Make sure you bring good flashlights and wear good hiking shoes. It is pitch black in the cave once you descend into it. The cave is huge, with some big stalagmites and stalactites. Watch your head when climbing through tight spaces. I saw more than one person hit their head and draw blood. Be ready to get dirty. There is a lot of dust in the cave. It is a kind of powdery dust. It is like walking on the moon.

It is not a long "hike" but is all uphill. Felt like a mile-long staircase. Kind of a death march up and a leisurely stroll down.The cave is unique but not spectacular. The entrance is not easy. Climb or slide down some rocks...no path. Not for everyone.It isa self-guided experience and if you want some developed like Carlsbad Caverns, this is not for you.Perhaps worth the effort just to say you did it. I will not do it again....but I did it once.

This is a great short hike. We started out at 0700 on 7 June 2014. It did get warm in a hurry and there is practically no shade on the trail. 0600 might have been a better idea. We set out from the Visitor Center, walked a short distance on the road to the actual trailhead. Trail is well marked, steep in parts and rocky. Arriving at the cave I climbed down into the entrance but chickened out to explore further. All around the mountains still show evidence from the devastating Monument Fire, which started three years ago in June. We'll keep this hike on our short hike list, for sure..

Though the trail leading from the visitor center is less than a mile, it's all uphill. And coupled with the heat of the sun it's fairly challenging. Once you get to the opening, you will need to snake your way in through tight and tricky crevasses. Watch your footing as you descend into the cave because it is fairly steep and the rock surfaces are covered in fine powdery dust. Once inside, the cave is neither deep nor extensive. It is still a fun distraction nonetheless. Don't forget to take a flashlight!

Located in Coronado National Memorial.The trailhead to Coronado Cave is situated not far from the visitors center. There is a small parking by the trailhead.The trail is 1,5 mile round-trip, moderate to strenous, offering gorgeous views of the canyon while hiking.Then you get to the cave entrance. After a litle bit of rock climbing (easy), you enter the cave.Bring a flashlight because you won't be able to see nothing, as soon as a few feet passed the cave entrance. It gets 100% dark pretty fast.If you think about bringing some cheap chirurgical masks (paper masks), that be smart because the cave is so dry and dusty (try taking a flash photo and you will believe me).Honestly, there is not much to see in the cave because it has not been well preserved or protected over the years (especially if you have already visited caves in the National Parks system or State Parks system elsewhere)... but still fun for the kids... and the 1,5 mile round-trip hike is very very nice.Did I say the hike is very nice ?!

It's a pretty tough hike up unless you're very fit. The scenery is beautiful, though, and there are plenty of rocks to sit on as you hike upward. The cave itself is extremely barren and vandalized. There were some formations at the very back of the cave but it's mostly a big hole with dirt in it. I played in this cave when I was a teen- we played marco polo with flashlights and had lots of fun that way. :)

We began our trip with a visit to Karchner Caverns, went to Bisbee for the underground mine tour (Queen mine), and ended our weekend get-away with a trip to the Coronado cave. This was a unique opportunity to go without a guide and go at your own pace. If we were to go again, I certainly would take a much stronger flashlight to peer into the 2 tunnels that come off the main rooms. We were not brave enough to venture into those 2 tunnels but did speak to the ranger at the info center who said that one is a dead end and the other just sort of circles around around a little, nothing great.Descent into the cave opening requires some rock climbing. Main room is certainly worth the trip. No bats, rodents, snakes, nada, not even a bug to be seen. It's almost moonscape-like in its surface of fine, silty dust. Could see particles in the air and wondered if maybe a paper face mask might have been a good idea to include before going in. The formations hanging down from the overhead "roof" inside are remarkable. Very little signs of grafitti (thank goodness) and no litter, even though this cave's entrance/exit is unmonitored. So very quiet and dark, although not as dark as either Karchner (when the lights are off) or Queen mine.Would recommend that locals make a mini-trip out of this area by lodging at a B&B in historic Bisbee and hitting the local caverns and caves and mines.

The cave isn't very big, but it's wonderful to be able to visit a cave without a tour guide. Even though you know others visit the cave, you feel alone and like an adventurer. There were 2 other groups in the cave at the same time, but most of the time we couldn't even see their lights or hear their voices.Bring water and some snacks along with your flashlights. The hike up is steep, but worth it. We spent almost 2 hours hiking to the cave, exploring, then hiking back.

My husband & I had a great time exploring this cave! How cool to know we were where Geranimo used to hide out!I hike up isn't too bad, just make sure you bring water. Lucky for us the visitor center had flashlights for us to buy. Wouldn't have been a very good experience without them!

I believe the hike was about less than a mile, full of stairs, up a ravine of sorts along the mountain. There was plenty of places to stop along trail to rest. Our 7 and 10 year olds were able to make this trail. As I recall, the opening was a bit crowded as boulders covered the entrance. Wonder if there were purposely put there. Once inside, you were essentially in two large rooms, maybe the size of a hotel ballroom. It was soo dark the beams of light on our flashlights were sucked up by the atmosphere. So quiet too because we were the two to be in there ----- lots of evidence other hikers were in the cave by their tracks and lighters that were flicked along the rocks, i.e. grafetti. Interesting to realize we were in the bowels of the earth. I will never foreget the experience! Fun to got into and get back out too! On the way out, you could see the entrance as you would see this blue speck of light to the entrance get bigger and bigger.

Our family of six carried two water bottles each and two flashlights each with extra batteries. We brought trail mix, beef jerky and a first aid kit. This is an unguided tour.The 3/4 mile hike up to the cave is well worth the climb! Inside the cave it's dusty and cool. My flash camera worked well. Be sure to watch your head! Stalagtites hang from the celing in places and stalagmites reach up from the cave floor. We explored every inch of the cave in about an hour and a half. In the back you can climb up and see the chiminey that is now closed by an iron gate. Imagine Indians using this cave as a hide out! The hike back down seems like nothing and we all agreed it was a great time. Be sure to check in at the visitor center and look at the artifacts inside. This cave is highly recommended.