A recently completed hiking trail — aimed at expanding recreational options beyond cave tours at Kartchner Caverns State Park — will be officially opened with ceremonies and a guided hike on Sunday, April 22.
Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m., and the guided hike for the public starts at 10:30 a.m.
The new Ocotillo Trail winds for 1.75 miles through the foothills of the Whetstone Mountains southwest of Benson.
“But to access the new trail, you have to take part of the existing Foothills Loop Trail,” said Michelle Thompson, spokeswoman for Arizona State Parks & Trails. “So if you do the whole route, it’s a total of 3.25 miles.”
Rated as challenging, the Ocotillo Trail was constructed in response to visitor requests for more challenging hiking routes in addition to two existing trails at the park, which is best known for its extensive network of caves and spectacular subterranean formations.
The trail, at elevations of 4,750 feet and higher, passes over grassy knolls, sandy washes and limestone hills, Thompson said. Among plants along the trail are the namesake ocotillos and other high-desert vegetation.
An expanded trail system is beneficial, Thompson said, for visitors seeking activities beyond a cave tour.
“The park has camping cabins and a campground,” she said. “This is something else for people to do if they want to spend a little more time at the park.”
Facilities along the new trail include two information kiosks and three benches.
Trail work was completed with hand tools by an Arizona Conservation Corps trail crew and members of the park staff, Thompson said.
The project was funded by a federal Recreational Trails grant and cost $79,000 including some renovations on an existing trail.
