Volunteers and staff worked hard to move 6- to 15-foot-deep mounds of snow along the trail. Volunteers contributed 304 hours to the effort, and staffers shoveled for 824 to make the trail clear.

The cave tours started for the 2008 season Saturday and will run through early fall. The monument is open daily, with tour hike times starting at 7 a.m. Tickets for the last tour of the day must be purchased by 4:30 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults (16 and older), $5 for juniors (age 6-15) and $3 for children 3-5.

Monument officials suggest visitors plan on three hours to hike the trail, which climbs more than 1,000 feet in elevation from the visitors center, and to complete the cave tour.

The popular $15 Introduction to Caving ranger-led tour, limited to visitors 14 and older, is offered every day but Wednesday and explores an undeveloped section of Hansen Cave. Reservations are required.