In southern Arizona we traveled southeast from Tuscon to take the tour of Kartchner Caverns, booking an early morning tour.   We were underground in the Rotunda Room and the Throne Room for about an hour, enjoying every minute of the tour.   Cameras were not allowed on the tour, so a stock photo is shared to get a sense of the spectacle.    We chose a drizzly grey day, but the weather was not an issue underground.

There are two tours that can be booked so when we return to the area we will do the tour of the Big Room next time.

There were a few trails in the State Park to hike so we also chose the Foothills Trail.

The trail winds around the foothills of the rugged Whetstone Mountains.

Along most the trail was desert growth – saguoro, ocotillo, brittlebrush, creosote bush, and lots of thorny low-growing shrubs.   A short steep trail went to the top of a hill for a 360 degree view of the desert hills of southern Arizona.

We completed the loop and stopped to marvel that the cave complex was underneath the hill shown in this image.

Kartchner Caverns is a must-see tour (rated number one in Cave Tours on sites like Trip Advisor), the State Park surrounding it is a pleasant place, and the hiking trails are also good choices.     We will return to do the other tour and to hike another trail next time.