BISBEE HIKING FIELD GUIDE
Into the Hollow: Spelunking Coronado Cave above Bisbee
A short, steep 1-mile hike brings you to one of southern Arizona’s few undeveloped caverns — this guide explains what to expect, what to bring, and the cave’s deep human history.
Into the Hollow: Spelunking Coronado Cave above Bisbee.
Embark on a roughly 1-mile out-and-back hike climbing about 500 feet to Coronado Cave, an expansive undeveloped cavern used over millennia by middle archaic peoples, the Chiricahua Apache, and later miners and settlers; the cave itself stretches about 600 feet in length and is generally some 70 feet wide, offering a unique spelunking experience in southern Arizona.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A short, steep trek to an open cavern
The outing is an approximately 1-mile out-and-back hike with roughly 500 feet of elevation gain that leads to Coronado Cave’s broad entrance and interior passages — a compact route that delivers big subterranean scale.
Layers of human use over millennia
Coronado Cave may have sheltered middle archaic peoples as far back as 8,000 years ago and later served the Chiricahua Apache; Mexicans, European miners, and settlers also used the cave, leaving it rich with human stories.
A rare undeveloped cavern in southern Arizona
Relatively untouched by development, the cave opens into a cavern roughly 600 feet long and in many places about 70 feet wide, offering broad chambers to explore rather than tight, engineered passages.
What the day feels like
What this outing feels like
Expect a brisk approach through the hills above old Bisbee, a steady climb that culminates in a wide, undeveloped cavern whose scale surprises — the visit is as much about the approach and the landscape above ground as it is about standing inside a 600-foot-long hollow that has sheltered people for generations.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this outing suits — and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Plan on about 2.5 hours for the full outing.
Hiking shoes and long pants are required; sunscreen and gloves are recommended.
Meet at The Grassy Park in old town Bisbee before departing for the trailhead.
The hike is approximately 1 mile roundtrip with roughly 500 feet of elevation gain to the cave entrance.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the hike to Coronado Cave?
The hike is approximately 1 mile out-and-back with about 500 feet of elevation gain.
How much time should I allow for the trip?
The outing is scheduled to take about 2.5 hours.
Where do participants meet?
Groups meet at The Grassy Park in old town Bisbee prior to the hike.
What should I wear and bring?
Hiking shoes and long pants are required; sunscreen and gloves are recommended.
Is the cave developed or fitted with infrastructure?
Coronado Cave is one of the few open, undeveloped caves in southern Arizona, extending roughly 600 feet in length and around 70 feet in many places.