362Reviews24Q&A
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 181
- 121
- 42
- 12
- 6
Traveler type
Time of year
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
I really wanted to see this place again. It’s closed down during Covid times fortunately. Years ago I took a tour it was amazing. Can’t wait until things are open again
Read more
Date of experience: July 2020
Helpful
Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park is a fun, family-friendly adventure! The cave is accessible only by guided tour but luckily tours generally run May-November and it's easy to purchase affordable tickets. About the cave Crystal Cave is a marble solution cave which means that it was naturally sculpted by water thousands of years ago and is predominantly comprised of marble, which is rare, only about 10% of caves in the world are made of marble. Expect gorgeous white sparkling calcite formations inside as well as multiple water features. The cave was discovered by accident in 1918 by two park employees and remains a popular destination, inspiring curiosity and awe. The walkable underground tour route has paved paths and is lighted by solar-power. The whole experience is both exciting and calming and is sure to be a truly memorable adventure. Tours The Family Tour is 50 minutes long and is the perfect, all-ages introduction to Crystal Cave. Other types of tours are also available for those seeking a more in depth experience. All tours are led by Sequoia Parks Conservancy Naturalists and are educational, entertaining and full of wonderful natural and human history. The tour is 2 miles round trip; 1/2 mile from the trail head parking lot where you check in using your ticket confirmation number, 1/2 mile route inside the cave on the guided tour, and 1/2 mile back up the cave trail to the parking lot. Expect to spend about 2 hours round trip. The trail to get to the cave is beautiful and you pass several waterfalls along the way. There are a few flights of stairs and narrow corridors within the cave so accessibility by wheelchair is not an option.The only items allowed inside the cave are your jacket, water bottle, flashlight and camera. No bags of any kind are allowed (including baby carriers) but they may be left unattended at the entrance of the cave during your tour. How to prepare Aim to arrive about 15 minutes prior to the time of your tour so you will be ready. There are no refunds for missed tours. Be sure to bring your own water and use the restrooms that are available in the parking lot before your tour as there are no restrooms at the cave. No food is sold here except bottles of water and small snacks but they do have souvenirs and parking is free. Temperatures inside the cave are 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) year round, so remember to bring a light jacket. Flashlights are not required but they sure do add to the fun so I recommend bringing one. You will be in active Black Bear habitat so you will need to put any food or heavily scented items from your vehicle into the free 'bear boxes' located around the parking lot. The road to get from Generals Highway to the cave parking lot takes about 20 minutes to drive and doesn't allow vehicles over 22 feet in length. The Sequoia Shuttle bus does not go to Crystal Cave. Drive slowly along the cave road as the road becomes a single lane at some points. Cave protection When visiting Crystal Cave, preservation of this irreplaceable resource is very important. Do not touch the formations or the walls of the cave as the oils in your skin can cause damage. It is also important to know about White-nose syndrome, which is a fungal disease killing millions bats in North America. Luckily the disease has not been detected in Crystal Cave but people can spread the fungus from one cave to another because it can be carried by shoes, clothing, or gear. Therefore if you have visited caves in other parts of the country, you must not wear the same clothing or equipment when visiting Crystal Cave. Thank you in advance for doing your part to protect the cave! All in all, when visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Crystal Cave is definitely a must-see! Purchase tickets 2020 Crystal Cave Tour Season: FRIDAY, MAY 22 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Purchase your tickets in advance at Recreation.gov by searching 'Crystal Cave Sequoia'…
Read more
Date of experience: January 2020
Helpful
Crystal Cave is a relatively small cave with some very nice features. This is devnot Carlsbad Caverns, but the short tour was very interesting and informative about the cave's origins and features. Most of the formations will be familiar to veteran cave visitors, but this would be a great "starter" cave for those who aren't certain about the whole cave experience. Note that preventative measures are in effect here, as at nearly all caves these days, to attempt to stem the spread of a fungus deadly to cave bats that has killed millions of bats nationwide. You should wear shoes and clothing that have not been worn on other cave tours, particularly in the Eastern United States. Last, the number of tickets available on a walk-up basis is very limited at the site, which is at the end of a fairly long road off the main roads in the Park. Do yourself a favor and buy your tickets in advance online. And pay attention to the time needed to get to the cave: the road is narrow and very winding so it can be slow-going.…
Read more
Date of experience: September 2019
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
+1
Worth the time and effort, but just a heads up... You need to buy tickets ahead of time online and reserve your spots! There is a sign leading down to the cave that states tickets are sold at Lodgepole (?) but that is quite the drive and it seems the tours sell out pretty quickly. Total time for the drive down, the tour, hike back out, and drive back to the Generals Highway took up about 2.5 hours of our day. The road leading down to the cave states it takes 20 minutes. Depending on who is driving or who you might get stuck behind, the drive can take 20 minutes or an hour. It is a narrow winding road that seems to go on forever. Plan for some extra time so you don’t miss your tour. The tour basically starts in the parking lot. They go over rules and safety before you head down to the cave. Here they tell you the walk down is about a half mile, but can take up to 15 minutes because of the steep terrain, rattlesnakes, falling rocks, and waterfalls. You basically have to be Indiana Jones to conquer the trail. Okay, it’s not quite that dramatic, but just remember it is steep and you do have to go back up! There are stairs and obstacles. I couldn’t imagine doing this with a stroller or anyone with physical impairments. As a curtesy reminder, your group is all waiting on you. Please take their advice and wait to get pictures and sight see for the walk back up. I enjoyed the tour, as did my kids. It was definitely one of their favorite memories we made in the park! Our guide was informative and the cave itself was awe inspiring. It was worth all the time it took up in our day. …
Read more
Date of experience: September 2019
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
The road to the Caves is to your left driving from the Foothills Visitor Center. The road to the cave parking lot is 6 miles The sign says 20 minutes, which is too subjective. One lady didn’t go to the end because there is no signage once on the road. The tour is worth the cost. The guide walks quickly ahead to each gathering spot in the caves don’t lag but take your time to look around The naturalist guide will wait for you. …
Read more
Date of experience: September 2019
Helpful
