Grand Canyon Caverns

Grand Canyon Caverns is an underground system of dry limestone passages in Coconino County, Arizona, extending about 64 meters (210 feet) below the surface. An elevator takes visitors down into the depths, where lit pathways lead through several connected chambers.

A woodcutter named Walter Peck discovered the cave entrance in 1927 after nearly falling into the opening. He later opened the site to visitors and built the first pathways to offer tours through the underground network.

Local people sometimes call the cave "the driest cavern in America" because underground water is completely absent here. Anyone walking through the lit passages today finds reddish limestone walls and smooth rock surfaces shaped by millions of years of erosion.

The main access is through an elevator that takes visitors directly into the main chamber, where paved walkways with handrails make movement easier. Additional tours go deeper into less developed areas and require a bit more mobility.

A cosmic ray telescope has been operating since 1979 about 38 meters (126 feet) below the surface, collecting scientific data on particle physics. The natural shielding provided by the rock makes the cave a suitable location for such measurements.

Location: Coconino County

Website: http://gccaverns.com

GPS coordinates: 35.52889,-113.23167

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29