Historic Route 66
Grand Canyon Caverns, AZ

Formed 345 million years ago, the Grand Canyon Caverns are the largest dry caverns in the US, and third in the world, with a labyrinth of limestone caves 21 stories beneath Route 66 that vents all the way to the Grand Canyon. As little as 3 percent of all caverns are dry (void of stalagmites and stalactites). This geological wonder which also holds the remains of a Giant Ground Sloth (extinct at least 11,000 yrs.), petrified bobcat, and military rations, has been a destination in itself since the 1930s.

The Grand Canyon Caverns are a geological treasure. For some travelers it’s just another Route 66 roadside attraction, but for geology and cave enthusiasts, it has no counterpart. The Caverns are also a sacred burial site, a living classroom, and a place of ongoing science. New geological discoveries continue to be made, and an additional cavern will soon be exposed. As a Route 66 road trip icon, great care is being taken to preserve its role in the rich Route 66 history.