![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24957a.jpg)
Approaching the Ranger Station; trail on stairs left (view W) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24971a.jpg)
Stairs to begin the trail to the cave (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24972a.jpg)
Note: no dogs on trail or in the cave) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24973a.jpg)
Trail to the cave is not open for general hiking (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24993a.jpg)
Hikers gather up outside the Ranger Station (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24994a.jpg)
Hikers starting on the trail to the cave (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24995a.jpg)
First stop along the tour: info about Jack and Ida Mitchell (view SW) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](../Mitchell_Cav_vc/photos-mvc/S120_24975a.jpg)
Plaque honoring the memory of Jack and Ida Mitchell (view SW) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24996a.jpg)
Trail to the cave is fairly level (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24997a.jpg)
Trail to the cave (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24998a.jpg)
Ranger speaking about an old mine (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24999a.jpg)
Fossils in the limestone rock |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25000a.jpg)
Grand scenery from the trail (view E) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25001a.jpg)
First view of the cave entrance from the trail (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25003a.jpg)
Eyes in the mountain |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25002a.jpg)
Ranger speaking again about trail-side geology (view SW) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25004a.jpg)
Outcrop along trail is an old cave (view W) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25005a.jpg)
Old cave formations exposed along the trail (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25006a.jpg)
Old cave formations exposed along the trail (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25007a.jpg)
Information sign about creatures living in the cave (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25009a.jpg)
Mitchell Caverns Niptus Beetle (Niptus arcanus) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25008a.jpg)
Mitchell Caverns Niptus Beetle (Niptus arcanus) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25011a.jpg)
Mitchell Caverns Pseudoscorpion (Archeolarca aalbui) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25010a.jpg)
Mitchell Caverns Pseudoscorpion (Archeolarca aalbui) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25012a.jpg)
Bridge across chasm leads towards the cave (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25013a.jpg)
Grand scenery and some pinyon pines (view SE) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25014a.jpg)
Stairs lead up towards cave entrance (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25017a.jpg)
Fork in trail: straight is the return from cave exit (view S) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25015a.jpg)
Stairs into the cave (view SW) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25016a.jpg)
Ranger giving final instructions before entering cave (view W) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25018a.jpg)
Hikers finally entering the cave (view W) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25019a.jpg)
The cave has a gate to keep vandals out (view W) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25020a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25021a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25022a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25023a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25024a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25025a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25026a.jpg)
Small bat sleeping inside the cave |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25026b.jpg)
Small bat sleeping inside the cave |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25027a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25028a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25029a.jpg)
The cave is wet and still growing |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25030a.jpg)
The cave is wet and still growing |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25031a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25032a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25033a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25034a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25035a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25036a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25037a.jpg)
A live Mitchell Caverns Pseudoscorpion (Archeolarca aalbui) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25038a.jpg)
Cave bacon and other formations |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25039a.jpg)
Cave shield |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25040a.jpg)
Cave shield |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25041a.jpg)
Cave popcorn |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25042a.jpg)
Bridge over the "bottomless pit" |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25043a.jpg)
The bottom of the "bottomless pit" |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25044a.jpg)
Tunnel that was dug to connect the two caves |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25045a.jpg)
Door that forms an air-lock between the two caves |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25046a.jpg)
End of the tunnel |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25047a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25048a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25049a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25050a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25051a.jpg)
Cave formations |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25052a.jpg)
Cave formations under black light |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25053a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25054a.jpg) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25055a.jpg)
I hope they don't break off and fall while I'm here! |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25056a.jpg)
Cave formations |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25057a.jpg)
Passing around a piece of a broken cave formation |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25058a.jpg)
Natural exit from the cave in the distance |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25059a.jpg)
Final chat from the Ranger while inside the cave |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25060a.jpg)
Natural exit from the cave |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25061a.jpg)
Hikers on stairs that lead to the exit gate |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25062a.jpg)
Hikers passing through the exit gate |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25063a.jpg)
Above ground, hikers return towards the cave entrance (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25064a.jpg)
Hikers returning towards the cave entrance (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25065a.jpg)
Hikers approaching the cave entrance (view NW) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25066a.jpg)
Hikers collecting items left at the cave entrance (view NW) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25067a.jpg)
From the cave, it looks like a long way back (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25068a.jpg)
Returning to the bridge (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25069a.jpg)
Climbing stone stairs (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25070a.jpg)
The Ranger Station is getting closer (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25071a.jpg)
The Ranger Station is getting closer (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_25072a.jpg)
Hikers returning to the Ranger Station (view N) |
![Mitchell Caverns Trail](pho-mc/S120_24976a.jpg)
Returning to the trailhead (view N) |
![more to come](../../../Home_Page/Images/More-to-Come.jpg)
More to come ... |