Approaching the Ranger Station; trail on stairs left (view W) |
Stairs to begin the trail to the cave (view S) |
Note: no dogs on trail or in the cave) |
Trail to the cave is not open for general hiking (view S) |
Hikers gather up outside the Ranger Station (view N) |
Hikers starting on the trail to the cave (view S) |
First stop along the tour: info about Jack and Ida Mitchell (view SW) |
Plaque honoring the memory of Jack and Ida Mitchell (view SW) |
Trail to the cave is fairly level (view S) |
Trail to the cave (view S) |
Ranger speaking about an old mine (view S) |
Fossils in the limestone rock |
Grand scenery from the trail (view E) |
First view of the cave entrance from the trail (view S) |
Eyes in the mountain |
Ranger speaking again about trail-side geology (view SW) |
Outcrop along trail is an old cave (view W) |
Old cave formations exposed along the trail (view N) |
Old cave formations exposed along the trail (view N) |
Information sign about creatures living in the cave (view N) |
Mitchell Caverns Niptus Beetle (Niptus arcanus) |
Mitchell Caverns Niptus Beetle (Niptus arcanus) |
Mitchell Caverns Pseudoscorpion (Archeolarca aalbui) |
Mitchell Caverns Pseudoscorpion (Archeolarca aalbui) |
Bridge across chasm leads towards the cave (view S) |
Grand scenery and some pinyon pines (view SE) |
Stairs lead up towards cave entrance (view S) |
Fork in trail: straight is the return from cave exit (view S) |
Stairs into the cave (view SW) |
Ranger giving final instructions before entering cave (view W) |
Hikers finally entering the cave (view W) |
The cave has a gate to keep vandals out (view W) |
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Small bat sleeping inside the cave |
Small bat sleeping inside the cave |
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The cave is wet and still growing |
The cave is wet and still growing |
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A live Mitchell Caverns Pseudoscorpion (Archeolarca aalbui) |
Cave bacon and other formations |
Cave shield |
Cave shield |
Cave popcorn |
Bridge over the "bottomless pit" |
The bottom of the "bottomless pit" |
Tunnel that was dug to connect the two caves |
Door that forms an air-lock between the two caves |
End of the tunnel |
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Cave formations |
Cave formations under black light |
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I hope they don't break off and fall while I'm here! |
Cave formations |
Passing around a piece of a broken cave formation |
Natural exit from the cave in the distance |
Final chat from the Ranger while inside the cave |
Natural exit from the cave |
Hikers on stairs that lead to the exit gate |
Hikers passing through the exit gate |
Above ground, hikers return towards the cave entrance (view N) |
Hikers returning towards the cave entrance (view N) |
Hikers approaching the cave entrance (view NW) |
Hikers collecting items left at the cave entrance (view NW) |
From the cave, it looks like a long way back (view N) |
Returning to the bridge (view N) |
Climbing stone stairs (view N) |
The Ranger Station is getting closer (view N) |
The Ranger Station is getting closer (view N) |
Hikers returning to the Ranger Station (view N) |
Returning to the trailhead (view N) |
More to come ... |