Wild Cave Tours, Sequoia Natural History Association

2008 Crystal Cave Wild Tours

Dates offered: Saturdays only - 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23, 9/6, 9/13

Instructors: SNHA Crystal Cave Staff

Price: $109 - SNHA Member
$129 - non-member

This tour gives you the opportunity to learn about Sierran caves firsthand.
Your cave guides will explain how the delicate formations such as soda straws, rimstone dams, and cave pearls are formed. Learn proper caving techniques, etiquette, and conservation from experienced cavers. Experience total darkness and silence interrupted by the rhythmic sounds of dripping and flowing water. Explore off-trail, crawl and climb through passageways, over steep drop-offs, and past intricate formations on a 4 to 6 hour tour within this marble cave. Expect to come away with great memories, new knowledge and insight, intermingled with sore muscles and a thick coating of dirt from head to toe.

Physical Requirements: Participant must be in excellent physical condition, not more than 30 pounds overweight; have chest, waist, and hip measurements less than 45 inches in circumference; have the ability to support body weight with arms; not be claustrophobic or have fear of heights; and have the ability to easily lift their body weight with legs (deep knee bends). Flexibility is important.

Meeting Time and Location:
Please be at the Crystal Cave parking lot by 4:00 p.m. It is a 15 minute walk from the parking lot to the cave entrance. Please use the restroom in the cave parking lot before you start down the trail. There are no refunds if you arrive too late for your tour. The tour lasts for approximately 4-6 hours. By reservation only!

Includes: Two guides per group. Safety equipment. Helmet with headlamps, gloves and kneepads. There are no flush toilets at the cave. There will be an opportunity half-way through the tour to exit and use the portable emergency toilet. Each tour is limited to 6 participants, at least 16 years of age.

Additional information on the itinerary, physical requirements, equipment, etc. is available here.

To register for a Wild Cave Tour, or for more information, call (559) 565-4251 or 565-3759.

Since 1982, Crystal Cave has been operated by the Sequoia Natural History Association, a non-profit educational organization, working in conjunction with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to help make quality educational programs available to the public.

More information about Crystal Cave is found in Crystal Cave Tour, published by Sequoia Natural History Association. These and other educational publications are available in park visitor centers or from Sequoia Natural History Association.

Contact Us:
Telephone: (559) 565-3759
Fax: (559) 565-3728
Mail to: 47050 Generals Highway #10, Three Rivers CA 93271