page_title: Colossal Cave (Arizona)
section_title: Colossal Cave Mountain Park
hierarchical_section_title: Colossal Cave (Arizona) / Colossal Cave Mountain Park
caption_attribution_description: English: This is the entry to Colossal Cave Mountain Park, at the end of Old Spanish Trail, in Tucson, AZ.
context_page_description: Colossal Cave is a large cave system in southeastern Arizona, United States, near the community of Vail, about 22 miles southeast of Tucson. It contains about 3.5 miles of mapped passageways. Temperatures inside average 70 °F year-round. Previous names include 'Mountain Springs Cave' and 'Five–Mile Cave'.
  The cave is an ancient karst cave, classified as "dry" by guides. The meaning of this is that its formations are completely dry, or "dead", and do not grow. This is because the cave was formed by water depositing limestone, but this source has disappeared. It instead feeds the "active" nearby Arkenstone Cave that continues to grow formations. Colossal Cave was used from 900 to 1450 AD by the Hohokam, Sobaipuri, and Apache Indians.
context_section_description: Today the cave is a popular tourist destination as part of Colossal Cave Mountain Park.  The park also features two other caves, named Arkenstone and La Tetera, which are protected and are being studied by researchers.
  Other park attractions include:
  La Posta Quemada Ranch Museum - exhibits focus on the human history and the natural history of Colossal Cave Mountain Park and the Cienega Corridor region, with special emphasis on the park's caves.
  Civilian Conservation Corps Museum - history of the Civilian Conservation Corps activities in the park
  "The Cowboy" - a bronze sculpture of a cowboy by Buck McCain, reflecting the park's history as a ranch
  Horseback trail rides
  Picnic and camping facilities
  Butterfly garden
caption: Entry to Colossal Cave Park
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