Photo Tours

Visitor's Center Area

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Pictures taken: October 2002 & November 2005

	This picture gives some perspective as to how far up the hill Mitchell Caverns are and how far the caverns themselves are from the Visitor's Center.
	The road to the caverns offers a great view of the jagged peaks of the Providence Mountains.
	Blair Ranch is seen in the distance looking north from the paved road.
	Almost to Mitchell Caverns.
	The Visitor's Center and other buildings at Mitchell Caverns as seen from the first (lower) parking lot.
	Two of the buildings that the Mitchell's built in the 1930's are still in use today by the State Parks.  The main residence for Jack and Ida is now the Visitor's Center.
	Jack called this building the Honeymoon Hogan.  It was built using an igloo form that he picked up in Barstow and is used today for Park employee housing.
	The first (lower) parking area as seen from the second (upper) parking area.
	Panorama from the Visitor's Center looking east at the great view .
	Same panorama as above but with callouts.
	You can still see the remains of the Mexican Mine by looking north from the upper parking area.
	The hiking trail to the caverns as seen from the Visitor's Center.
	The Caverns Tour begins on this trail to the left of the Visitor's Center.  This trail is fairly level, very well-maintained and is open for hiking even if you are not going on the Caverns Tour.  This location is also the trailhead for the Crystal Springs Hike.  Turn right and look for the trail leading up-canyon.

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Caverns Tour

Click on picture to enlarge
Pictures taken: October 2002 & November 2005

	This picture is being shown again because it is the beginning of the Caverns Tour trail.  The trail is fairly level and very well-maintained.
	Looking back at the Visitor's Center from the trail to the caverns.
	The entrance to the first cavern, El Pakiva, is seen for the first time from the hiking trail.  The opening to the second cavern, Tecopa, is actually the exit for the tour.
	The small canyon you pass through to reach the caverns.
	A ranger waits at the entrance for the arrival of the next tour group.
	Closer look at the entrance to El Pakiva.  The opening on the right is where you enter the caverns.
	One of the first large formations you see after walking into El Pakiva.  The caverns are lit by incandescent lights.
	Some classic stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the first cavern.
	These flat (rather than round) drippings are known as a cave curtain.
	Several small stalactites hanging from the ceiling.
	More small stalactites.
	This large deposit, although difficult to distinguish, is a complete column .
	Some longer stalactites near the floor of the walking path.
	Stalactites sometimes grow together creating some very random shapes.  This feature is fairly commonly in the caverns.
	Another example of a group of stalactites that have grown together only these are longer.
	There are plenty of eerie shapes inside the caverns.
	Looking straight up at some stalactites.
	Only a small amount of deposits seeped through the rocks here.
	Some of the smaller stalactites have broken-off.  There is a column in the background.
	One of Mitchell Caverns' prize features: a cave shield.
	Long and skinny stalactites.
	Keep your eyes out for this interesting little feature on the left.  This "mini- cavern" at about shoulder level and is no more than 3-4 feet (1 m) across and 2 feet (0.6 m) high.
	More stalactites.
	Unlike some of the previous stalactites, these have not broken-off.
	The edge of two different curtains.
	This particular type of stalactite is known as a "Soda Straw".
	More stalactites and columns.  You can also see that the trail climbs here and loops to the left.
	More Soda Straw stalactites.
	Many small stalactites.
	Looking down into a small cavern where there was a particularly large flow of acidic water.
	Another example of columns and their scale.
	More of the interesting formations.
	A great example of how the carbon-rich water flowed through a crack in this black marble.
	A closer view of the stalactites from the picture above.
	These wide drippings are the beginnings of a cave curtain .
	The stairway leading you back to the Earth's surface.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Cliff & Ilene Bandringa - BackRoadsWest.COM

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