The Caves of the Gold Country
If you are up for going underground, there are plenty of large caves worth exploring in the gold country. Murphys can be a great central location for exploring one or all of them. Here is a little about the differences between them, in order of furthest from Murphys to closest. Most tours begin at 10am in the summer and the last tour leaves at 5pm. Tours generally last about an hour.
Black Chasm 15701 Pioneer Volcano Road in Pine Grove, Ca.
The 50-minute Landmark Walk Tour follows a series of environmentally friendly platforms, stairs and walkways, designed to give the best views of the cave without compromising the naturally pristine environment. This tour shows off some world class formations, including vast arrays of rare helictite formations. Currently, the cave tour culminates in a visit to the Landmark Room, the location of the greatest collections of sparkling helictite crystals.
California Caverns 9565 Cave City Road in Mountain Ranch, Ca.
The Trail of Lights tour is suitable for the whole family and is only available during our dry season. In the wet season, the Trail of Lakes tour is available instead. The Trail of lights is approximately 60 – 80 minutes long, and meanders over nearly level, well lighted passages and walkways. Experienced, professional guides lead groups into the recently discovered “Jungle Room,” named for the array of crystalline “vines” covering the ceiling, many of them several feet long. Groups learn about the rich history of the cavern and the surrounding countryside, and cavern formation and geology.
Moaning Caverns 5350 Moaning Cave Road
The 45-minute walk tour into the cave is suitable for the whole family. Professionally guided, the tour descends through well-lighted marble passages into the magnificent natural wonder. Descending down 234 stairs to a depth of 165 feet below the ground, the tour ends on the spot were scientific excavations revealed the bones of prehistoric people who had fallen into the cavern thousands of years ago. Guides explain the history and geology of the cavern, and discuss the explorations that have traced the cavern to its current depth of 410 feet.
Also available is a 45-minute rappel tour where you descend by rope 165 feet into the huge main chamber of Moaning Cavern. No experience is necessary, and gloves, hard-hat, and rappelling equipment are provided. Adventurous people from all walks of life can try this unique and exciting opportunity. Participants must be at least 12 years old, and special restrictions apply. Minor children (aged 12 to 17) must have an adult-signed waiver in order to rappel. More details about rappelling options for minors are listed on their website.
For the truly adventurous, Moaning Caverns also offers the three-hour adventure tour. Cave explorers can begin this expedition with the 165-foot rope rappel, followed by one to two hours of exploration through deep chambers and passages. (The trip is also available without the rappel.) Most areas are undeveloped, so there are no lights, stairs, or walkways. Instead, visitors explore by climbing and belly crawling with lighted helmets to show the way. This trip is offered all year by reservation, and is conducted by experienced, highly trained guides. No experience is necessary. Gloves, hard-hat with light, coveralls from size 36 adult, and rappelling gear are provided. Participants must be at least 12 years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Mercer Caverns turnoff from Hwy 4 in downtown Murphys
This three million year old cave has been enjoyed by a president and even royalty. Guests descend 172 steps to view the long-standing stalactites and stalagmites. Tours stop frequently throughout to learn about the cavern’s history as well as some geology and anthropology.
Traveling south from Murphys is another cavern which is located a bit further from the cluster of caves north of Murphys.
Boydon Cavern
The 45-minute walking tour is suitable for the entire family, from kids to senior citizens. First there is a steep five-minute walk to the cavern entrance and from there visitors travel deep within, where the temperature is a constant 55oF. Groups follow a well-lighted and handrail equipped trail as guides point out many natural varieties of formations. Popular features include The Pancake Room, a stalactite group called the Upside Down City, the Bat Grotto where bats spend summer days sleeping, and a flowstone formation called Mother Nature’s Wedding Cake. The Drapery Room contains large drapery stalactites, long soda straws and twisting crystalline helictites. Speleothems have developed to resemble familiar objects, as with the Taco Shell formations, the Baby Elephant & Mom stalagmites, and the Christmas Tree. There is also a subterranean stream and many other unique features.
By reservation, 1/2 and full day rappelling tours are available, as well as 1/2 and full day canyoneering tours with lunch and equipment supplied. These advanced adventure treks are available for all ages and experience levels.
