Part 9B - Mount Wrightson Wilderness Area.
Gardner Canyon and Cave of the Bells.
Forest Service Website: Mt Wrightson Wilderness Area
In Advance: Cave of the Bells is gated and locked and the key must be acquired from the Forest Service. Here is a link with all of the important information for Cave of the Bells.
Forest Service Website: Cave of the Bells
Warning: Since these are unmaintained fire roads, a high clearance 4x4 vehicle is recommended.
In Advance: Cave of the Bells is gated and locked and the key must be acquired from the Forest Service. Here is a link with all of the important information for Cave of the Bells.
Forest Service Website: Cave of the Bells
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| Jenny is not vegetarian enough to ignore the attraction of cave bacon. |
Warning: Since these are unmaintained fire roads, a high clearance 4x4 vehicle is recommended.
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| Maybe I did see a smuggler, but its really none of your business. |
This hike is very close to the border, and signs like the one above are common. Oddly enough, we met a stranded couple whose battery had died, and the husbands work Visa was about to expire. We got them going again and they were on their way to Costa Rica through Mexico. I often wonder what happened to them.
Gardner Canyon is one of several canyons accessible by fire road from Highway 83. Heading South from Tucson on 83 will take you past Box Canyon Rd (FR 62) and through a border patrol checkpoint before reaching the Gardner Canyon Rd (FR 92) turn off. This area is very dry and grassy, with free range cattle never far from the roadside.
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| Free-range cattle along Gardner Canyon Rd in the Santa Rita Mountains of Arizona. |
Going farther in on FR 92 took us past the turn-off for Kentucky Camp, an old mining ghost town. Several areas along the roadside are designated off-road campsites and a large parking area served as a boon-docking site for several off-grid travel trailers. Farther still on FR 92 and we passed the Apache Ranch and parking for the Arizona Trail before dropping into a wash at Cave Creek. Just before this wash is a 45 degree angle pull off from the road, which made a nice camping spot for us. I found a small sinkhole nearby that I rapelled into, but the passage did not go very far before pinching off to nothing.
So continuing on FR 92 past the Cave Creek Wash, turn right on FR 4084 and go down another wash and up the other side bending around to a junction with FR 4085. Turn Right onto FR 4085 and cross Sawmill Canyon until the road forks left onto FR 4086 which ends shortly at a camping area for Cave of the Bells.
A group shot of Alpha Team Badass, as coined by my friend Jesse Roberts who snapped this picture. This was right before we entered the cave.
The gate can be found by following a trail that leads uphill from behind this sign. There is a short climb down that does require either some previous climbing experience or an adventurous soul and a lanky body to give you the wingspan for the climb.
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Forest Service maintains Cave of the Bells. This is a medallion marking the entrance. In typical government style, you will notice they skip the name in favor of a non-descript number.
Beyond the gate, lies the entrance tunnel, which must have been tiny to begin with because it was only widened to an opening about 2.5 feet square.
Just past the gate and the squeeze through the tunnel, the room opened up a bit to reveal ceilings that sparkled with some sort of microorganism.
In this room, near the exit, is a standard cave register tube that contains a check-in list.
The large entrance room sloped down on one end to a slick climb down to an attached room that was adorned with pits. Several of these had long drops to who knows where...except one. The one just to the right,when sliding down the entry slope, was only about 8 feet deep and looked promising. Climbing down that sinkhole seemed to go nowhere until turning around brought the revelation that you could effectively crawl under the pit room you just climbed down from. Caves are so uniquely fun and confusing at the same time.
A few small formations were seen along the way, but nothing too cool yet.
Legend says the cave got its name from the sound the cave formations would make, when struck with a hammer. Of course, we know better than that now, and the only thing getting struck with a hammer is the person suggesting to hit speleothems.
This was what I believe is the Bell's room and it had the coolest piece of cave bacon I had ever seen.
There were many options to continue going, but those would have to wait. It was time to turn around and head for the surface. This is a great cave, with little to no bat population, so I was told that White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is not a concern.
Link to information on White Nose Syndrome in bats.
I still recommend sterilizing your gear before entering unless your equipment has never left Southern Arizona caves. Here is a direct link to the decontamination process.
Gear decontamination process for White Nose Syndrome.
Another piece of advice for cavers not from the area...Southern Arizona caves run hot...like in the mid 70 degree range. So don't overdress like I did, its part of the reason I cut the trip short.
Lastly: I'm still amazed that this cave is not regulated more since it is definitely not a beginners cave. Please seek out qualified leadership before entering from either the Forest Service or reach out to someone from a local grotto of the National Speleological Society. Link below.
Homepage for the National Speleological Society
If you have any interest in caves, please go and visit the NSS website where you can join up and find information on safety and conservation. Who knows, maybe you could meet new friends to cave with like we did. Have fun and always respect the 'leave no trace principles'. See ya next time.
Previous Entry:
Part 9A - Mt Wrightson Wilderness Area
Following Entry:
Part 10 - Tanque Verde Falls.
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| A 20 foot deep sink that I rapelled into to check for leads. |
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| Testing my rigging before jumping in. |
So continuing on FR 92 past the Cave Creek Wash, turn right on FR 4084 and go down another wash and up the other side bending around to a junction with FR 4085. Turn Right onto FR 4085 and cross Sawmill Canyon until the road forks left onto FR 4086 which ends shortly at a camping area for Cave of the Bells.
A group shot of Alpha Team Badass, as coined by my friend Jesse Roberts who snapped this picture. This was right before we entered the cave.
 |
| Jesse is super happy. This was all his idea. LOL!!! |
The gate can be found by following a trail that leads uphill from behind this sign. There is a short climb down that does require either some previous climbing experience or an adventurous soul and a lanky body to give you the wingspan for the climb.
 |
| Hello down there. |
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Forest Service maintains Cave of the Bells. This is a medallion marking the entrance. In typical government style, you will notice they skip the name in favor of a non-descript number.
 |
| Certified and approved. |
Beyond the gate, lies the entrance tunnel, which must have been tiny to begin with because it was only widened to an opening about 2.5 feet square.
 |
| Highway to Hell? |
Just past the gate and the squeeze through the tunnel, the room opened up a bit to reveal ceilings that sparkled with some sort of microorganism.
 |
| Microbes? |
In this room, near the exit, is a standard cave register tube that contains a check-in list.
 |
| Obligatory PVC cave register. |
 |
| Alpha Team Bad Ass!!! |
The large entrance room sloped down on one end to a slick climb down to an attached room that was adorned with pits. Several of these had long drops to who knows where...except one. The one just to the right,when sliding down the entry slope, was only about 8 feet deep and looked promising. Climbing down that sinkhole seemed to go nowhere until turning around brought the revelation that you could effectively crawl under the pit room you just climbed down from. Caves are so uniquely fun and confusing at the same time.
 |
| We're in a tight spot. |
A few small formations were seen along the way, but nothing too cool yet.
 |
| Cave popcorn |
This was what I believe is the Bell's room and it had the coolest piece of cave bacon I had ever seen.
|
| Jenny is not vegetarian enough to ignore the attraction of cave bacon. |
 |
| An enormous piece of flow-stone. |
Link to information on White Nose Syndrome in bats.
I still recommend sterilizing your gear before entering unless your equipment has never left Southern Arizona caves. Here is a direct link to the decontamination process.
Gear decontamination process for White Nose Syndrome.
Another piece of advice for cavers not from the area...Southern Arizona caves run hot...like in the mid 70 degree range. So don't overdress like I did, its part of the reason I cut the trip short.
Lastly: I'm still amazed that this cave is not regulated more since it is definitely not a beginners cave. Please seek out qualified leadership before entering from either the Forest Service or reach out to someone from a local grotto of the National Speleological Society. Link below.
Homepage for the National Speleological Society
If you have any interest in caves, please go and visit the NSS website where you can join up and find information on safety and conservation. Who knows, maybe you could meet new friends to cave with like we did. Have fun and always respect the 'leave no trace principles'. See ya next time.
Previous Entry:
Part 9A - Mt Wrightson Wilderness Area
Following Entry:
Part 10 - Tanque Verde Falls.
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