A really nice visit with gorgeous views of the mountains to start off. Waited in gift shop for our trip to the boat to go across the lake to go up to caverns. You can walk down stairs or take the ramps to get to boats. Nice easy ride across lake where your docked and take a bus up to lodge before entering the caves. If you are not able to climb a lot stairs, don't try the caverns. There are lots of stairs with narrow pathways. Sorry. Beautiful caverns with lots of history about how they were found and even some original paths in and ladders from founder. The light show at the end was fun. Worth the history, boat and bus ride up. Plus, Elsie, a boat from WWII Normandy sits in the harbor and is still used to boat stuff around and even has old bullet wounds to show. Reasonably priced adult ticket is $47.84 and can be purchased online or at the cute little gift shop. This is for at least 2 hours and if your a smaller group, lots of 1 on 1 with your guide for questions answered and they are very knowledgeable. read more

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I had a wonderful time at the caverns. This is a must see if in the Redding/Shasta area. I purchased my tickets online. It was easy and quick process. You can also purchase tickets from the gift shop. The entire trip was smooth and super fun. It started with a ferry ride to the other side of the lake. There was a bus waiting for us. We loaded the bus, drove up to the caves, and met our guide. We met Jenna, tour guide, and began our tour. She was funny and very informative throughout the entire tour. The caves were fantastic to see. BEWARE: there are lots of stairs in the caves that you must climb and descend. There were loads of rock formations to see in the caves. The lighting system made it easier to each one. I especially liked the light show at the end. read more

Lake Shasta Caverns - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Lakehead, California

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One of our quest to visit all beauties of California is exploring Lake Shasta Caverns. We went to see the McCloud 3 Falls then stopped by here to see the cave. The lake is beautiful, the boat ride is refreshing. Walking to the bus ride is tiring due to up hill climb from the dock, but the ride is scary and exciting looking down the steep slope to the lake. All the buses trying to go up and down the one way road quite amazing. The bus driver is extremely humorous and pleasant. Inside the cave, we had a narrator to explain the history of the cave and how they're forming which is quite informative and eye opening. More stairs to climb, tiring but there are so much to see. Each floor and sections have different scenery. The lighting makes each cave look lively and exotic. Although there are quite a lot of climbing and walking but we had enjoyed it tremendously. On the way out, we could see the views of the lake so beautiful. It's quite a feast for the eyes. We loved it. It's time for another one. read more

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The boat ride over was fun other than the "fast" boats creating big waves. Good tour...take your photos quickly as the guide moved us along. read more

I finally caved in and did this tour. Normally I would give a tour like this five stars, especially considering that the check-in experience is more welcoming and operationally inviting than expected and the trip comes with a boat ride, but... because of Memorial Day crowds, we had the "self-guided tour", which I did not enjoy. First, because people were just moving around willy nilly, helter skelter, and higgedly piggedly, people entering were unaware of the docents stationed in certain areas, so they talked over them. Plus, you'd enter a room while a docent was halfway through a spiel. As a result, the "robust and comprehensive tour" was more bust than robust. I guess they're pretty, but I rank these caverns below Kartchner (southern Arizona) and even Georgetown (near Austin, TX). What saved the experience was the light show at the end. As of April 5, 2025, they replaced 183 light bulbs with LED Luminaries Lighting for an all-new light and sound show for the finale. It was lit. The check-in grounds had two parking attendants help us to a spot, and the check-in area had a small picnic area with photo ops and activities for the kids, with access to a gift shop and snack bar. Getting checked in was easy and hassle-free and the boat boarding was well-organized. The captain is presented as "a guide [to] inform you about the geography, formation, and natural beauty of the caverns", but that wasn't the case. She just said, "Let me know if you have any questions," so the boat ride across the McCloud arm of Shasta Lake was self-guided, too. Expect the unpleasantly hot bus ride that goes 900 feet above the lake. One kid asked if they could put on the air and the guy said it's already on. Unfortunately, the air conditioning was not self-guided. The bus slows down as it climbs a guardrail-less steep slope, and because the bus driver tells people to look at the drop, a good chunk of the other side of the bus got up to look, so please put your "well-fed" kids on the left side of the bus- otherwise it feels like Fred Flintstone's car when he orders the brontosaurus ribs. read more

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This was a fun and interesting experience and I'm really glad that we made a stop here. It is dog friendly, however I think it's really important for people to understand what that means. They have a small kennel area here under a blue canopy (SEE PHOTOS) that has a few dog cages and some bowls for water. It's my understanding that if you have a larger dog or you want to leave your dog there, you can. We actually did not see that area until after the tour and it made me quite sad. I understand that some people might have to leave their dogs because the tour is more difficult if you have your dog with you, but just know that it's not impossible. We took our 20 lb dog with us and with the exception of the cavern area, it was a breeze. In the caverns however, you will have to carry your dog the entire time. While it might not sound like a difficult task to carry your dog for 30 minutes or so, there are over 600 steps inside the cavern that you will have to traverse while carrying your dog and there is no place where you can set your dog down while you are in the caverns. That being said, the tour was more physically grueling than we anticipated. My husband and I are both overweight and do not exercise regularly but we were able to make it through, including carrying our dog through the caverns. My husband had also just had knee surgery a few months prior so while this tour is definitely doable, it is a lot of physical activity. You will have to walk down multiple steps after purchasing your ticket and walk down a graded slope to get on the boat. Once on the other side of the lake, you will have to walk up a steep grade to get to a bus and then there are the 600 steps inside the cavern. When it's over, you get to walk up and downhill and do more steps again to head back. The tour itself is lovely and you get to see a lot and learn a lot, but I think if we had known exactly how much physical exertion would be required before coming, we might have chosen a different activity. I'm glad we didn't know and took a chance on this tour; I just want others to be prepared because I see reviews saying things like" don't worry about the 600 steps, it's easy" just remember that you will be in a line of strangers and we were definitely not the only ones huffing and puffing and hot and uncomfortable even though the temperature in the caverns is steadily cool. While I would recommend this tour to most people, we were approached by an older woman on our way out asking us about the difficulty and after about 5 minutes of talking she decided to send her children and grandchildren and wait in her vehicle instead of going and I think she made the right decision. read more

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Shasta Caverns is the only Cavern that you have to take a boat ride and a bus ride to get to the enterance. They have a gift shop and visitor center with quite a few items available including food and drink options, this is also where you have to check in for your tour to get your boarding pass for the boat. They start their boarding call about 15 minutes before tour time and you descend out the back of the visitor center and down to the lake to board the boat. You take a boat ride accross the lake where you board a bus that drives you up to the top of the hill. There is a waiting area with a drink machine and some history on the caverns. We met our tour guide at the enterance and he went over the no touching etc rules and regulations. The tour you see 3-4 different rooms and types of formations. Be aware that this tour has alot of stairs. There's a few here and there at first when you go to the first and second room and once you head to the larger rooms you take 80 consecutive stairs before you get to the first room. You then take an additional amount of stairs in to the largest cave room I've ever been in. Where they have a light show which was incredible. The tour was fairly quick in each room and we didnt get the opportunity to take a photo of us together in the Cavern. When you exit the caver you exit at the top and descend countless stairs back down to the visitor center. My legs felt like jello by the time we were done. This was one of the better caverns I have been to and I highly reccomend. read more

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Shasta Caverns was a great way to spend a warm day during a vacation in the area. I love visiting caverns and had been looking forward to this for quite some time. You can buy tickets online but it's not required-walk ins are first come first serve and tours run every 30 minutes. The staff told us that summer weekends and holidays are packed, so try going during the week if you can. The cost of your ticket includes a whole experience of a short boat ride across the lake, a scenic bus ride to the entrance and the tour itself. My group was small and Katie, our guide, was a Chico State geology major. She made the tour interesting and was very knowledgeable about the cave formations and the history of the area. Plan on wearing comfortable shoes and doing a good amount of walking with stairs. The caverns themselves are amazing. We even saw some bats! The gift shop was cool and near the parking area there was a nice picnic area. Plan about 2 hours minimum for your visit-more if you're going to enjoy their grounds. Wonderful spot and the lakeside location makes it even more special! read more

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What an amazing experience we had. From start to finish it was perfect. The staff were all friendly. The boat and bus ride were smooth and with beautiful scenery. The caverns are spectacularly beautiful. Lots of steps up and down so be prepared for a workout. read more

MIND BLOWING TOUR! This tour is worth every cent of the 44$ price tag! The bus ride was very easy and nice heading up the mountain . (Modern, clean buses with AC) The walking tour was breathtaking! The guide was knowledgeable and nice! LOTS OF STAIRS! (Be careful if you're not a solid walker) The cave is cool so you can take your time walking them and it's not hot doing it! The light show at the end was my favorite! 10/10 would recommend! read more

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If you're looking for a fun activity to break up the lake days and get out of the heat then you must check out the caverns! It was a cool 50degrees inside the caverns, with gorgeous sites and rich history. The tour guide was super friendly and entertaining. read more

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Historic and Natural [Lakehead CA] We've been to a few different caverns before but this is the first time the tour included a boat ride and a bus ride that took guests to the cavern. The enter experience was about two hours. The catamaran cruise was about a 15-min ride across beautiful Lake Shasta. The lake was 115% of average for this time of year and about 99% full. Once we were ashore we boarded a 30-passenger bus that drove us up the mountainside. The ride was comfortable and the view picturesque. We were around 800-ft above the lake. Our bus driver was very informative and funny as he shared with us facts and trivia. Once inside the cavern we saw different sizes stalactites and stalagmites and other unusual forms. Each section (room) had a tour guide so guests were able to ask questions. The self-guided tour inside the cavern took us about 45 minutes. TIP: be prepared to climb over 600+ stairs on the cave tour (300 up and 300 down). We were not allowed to bring backpacks. Purses okay. Wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing. The boat ride was cold (our tour was on Memorial Day weekend. Adult Admission: $42/person + taxes and fees Review #3451 read more

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Was told about this by a friend who had the pleasure of the Shasta Cavern experience and I was glad take his advice. A triple event for this tour, a great boat ride across the lake then a short bus ride from the water to the cavern entrance and then the tour. Every member of the staff was happy and made the experience an incredible journey thru nature. Would do it multiple times again and will spread the word. It is a bit of a workout so make sure you have good shoes and bring plenty of water, it's about a 2-2.5 hour experience but definitely worth it. So when you are in the Lake Shasta area and looking to get out of the seasonal heat and interested in enjoying natures Air Conditioning as well it's geological wonders then this is for you. Ciao read more

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It was a wonderful way to end our Summer trip. If you want to escape the heat, you must cave in and tour the cavern which is typically about 58 degrees. Just be aware that there are about a total of over 800 steps to get into and out of the cave. But it is doable. There is only one section that is a continuous 87 steps climbing upwards into the middle room. After that, it is smooth climb. Wonder place to take the family if one wants to learn about lime stone formations. Highly recommend the caverns as it is our second tour after ten years. More rooms were available this time around. The one consistent variable was the black stuffed bear in the waiting room. read more

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What an amazing tour! Highly recommend this cavern tour. Cavern Dave (the Boss) made the experience unforgettable. His passion and wealth of knowledge was very inspirational that our kids wanted a picture with him We were very excited by the boat ride to the cavern, but the cave itself was incredible. We've visited 3 other caverns and this by far is the best! It's spectacular especially their "Cathedral" room with the light show experience. Best part, unexpected bats flew around in the cave. Kids and adults enjoyed it! Boat ride was good for sea sickness people. Our kids have sea sickness and they were fine. People with furry friends, they have a free kennel service to keep your pet in! This was a great service for us because we didn't want our dog to bake in the car. They also have a can to water your friend! Just let them know you have a pet and they will guide you to the kennel (by the front) They also have a small playground area for kids. Beautiful picnic area to hang out and a cool gift shop with food, soda machine, ice cream, and very nice bathroom. read more

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Visited with a group. Everything is very well organised. Beautiful experience. The transportation to and from Caverns is very easy and comfortable. read more

Lake Shasta Caverns - Inside the cavern - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Lakehead, California

Nice place to stop by on the way if you are passing through the area. Reasonable pricing for the two hourish tour. The caves themselves were nice to look at, nothing amazing but still worth a look. We went in the summer, would recommend going earlier in the day as it could get quite hot. The guides were friendly, and the tour was well organized. read more

Booked the 12pm Tuesday tour 9/30/25 Nicole was our tour guide. She did a fabulous tour. We learned more facts than we can retain! All the workers we spoke to were friendly and truly enjoyed what they were doing. I think Nicole was doing 4 tours today not sure when she had time to eat or use the bathroom. The light show at the end with organ music was really nice. It is strenuous but no one dropped out of our group and many were over 70. read more

The review is for the Jul 4 weekend. The organizers didn't manage the crowds and added a light show at the end of tour. This resulted in long queues forming in cramped and claustrophobic spaces. I think these conditions are not safe. You should not have a bottleneck situation like the light show at the end of tour. If you are going to have a light show/ bottleneck have it at the beginning to manage crowds. read more

I recently visited Lake Shasta Caverns and had an absolutely amazing experience. The tour started with a scenic boat ride across the beautiful lake, which was a great way to start the adventure. Once we arrived at the caverns, we hopped on a comfortable bus that took us up to the entrance. The tour of the caverns was fascinating, with our knowledgeable guide providing us with interesting information about the formations and history of the caves. The highlight for me was definitely the steps leading down into the depths of the caverns. It was a bit of a workout, but the views and the experience were well worth it. Overall, I would highly recommend visiting Lake Shasta Caverns. The boat ride, bus ride, and steps all added to the excitement and enjoyment of the tour. It was a truly unforgettable experience that I will cherish for years to come. Five stars all around! For pet owners, u can take a small pet as long as they stay in a small carry bags. Big dogs wont be allowed as well as bagpacks. I bought a little lake Shasta shoulder bag and put my cat in it with a harness and it was just perfect. read more

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What a unique experience! Who knew this was here in California? I was pretty amazed by all the crystal-filled caved on this peninsula. Our tour guide was incredibly friendly! He had so much knowledge about the different classifications and development of each crystal formation. I learned so much about limestone! Definitely do the 2 PM session. This tour is best when there's few people in the cave at once. You get to enjoy it all in a more intimate setting and the view is beautiful at this time of day too! The best part was definitely the Cathedral Room! I was blown away by this. Don't let the 600 steps of stairs scare you. As someone with a knee condition, I can guarantee you that it was worth every step! If I survived, you can too :) read more

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We have visited many caves/caverns around the US and the quantity and variety of these formations were great and the lighting was well done! We took our tour on Sunday at 11:00am. Check-in was easy (reservation is on line); walk down/back from boat launch offered paved stairs or switchback walkway for most of the way; 10 minute boat ride, walk up ramp to take shuttle bus to cave entrance. Guides were all well informed and gladly answered questions too! Helpful hints: Wear Tennis shoes or walking shoes! This is not for open toed shoes, flip flops, sandals or crocs! Check-in 30 minutes in advance (so allow drive time).... Many stairs (be sure you can handle) and continual upward hike inside the cave, which has a naturally damp interior. Final descent is 250 stairs to the cave entrance. Hand rails are used! Water is only liquid you can bring inside. There are restrictions to follow, so be aware in advance (they do state them on their website). The views are spectacular and it was a great experience! read more

We went there during July 4th and our SUV was broken into while we were busy doing the tour. I am sure someone from the Shasta caverns or local was tracking as we will be away for the tour for 2 hours, so our car was a safe target. Tour was ok but giving 1 star as even with the high ticket price the organizers were not able to provide safe place for parking. Now I have to pay for the car door and lock repair. I do-not recommend going there anymore just due to the safety reason and this incident happened with me. Disappointing. read more

What an amazing experience! We had a big group on the adventure for a wedding party excursion. What a great time! Cave Dave was super knowledgeable and funny, as was every person on the tour itself. They made sure to give us lots of cool info, and answered all sorts of questions. They also gave us insight into different parts of the tour, so there were no surprises when it came to various climbing and walking parts of the trek. Everyone in our tour-time group was respectful and friendly (which was nice since it was a very large group made up of different small groups). There is a LOT of walking, climbing stairs, and winding trails so I'd say make sure you are feeling healthy, physically capable, and up for adventure! (Also, take care if you have a fear of heights, there are tons of breathtaking views but man, it is UP there!) Thank you for such an amazing time, will definitely never forget this. read more

Lake Shasta Caverns - Ferry Ride - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Lakehead, California

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Being a resident of Ashland, I am surprised I missed this spot, and what a pleasant surprise. The boat ride to the location is lovely, the staff are humorous and engaging, the grounds are immaculate, and the caverns themselves were spectacular. In fact everything about this place was spot on and I loved everything about it. It would have been 5 stars, but there are literally hundreds of vertical steps one must take, and while I am healthy and fit and enjoyed it, some in an our party were not. And this could be emphasized a little more read more

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Great experience! You get to the caverns by boat which is also fun. There are a lot of stairs. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Easy to get to off the I-5. If you have never been in caves, this place is a must see. Also they are very supportive of animal organizations. read more

Been here a few years ago and it was fantastic, I hear that with the new renovations they are making it will be even better

Really impressed with this super fun tour. Well kept grounds and well run tour. I loved how we were "counted" loading onto the boat, before we enter the caverns and on the return bus. It showed they took the time to make sure they had all the visitors accounted for! I appreciated that. Quick boat ride across the gorgeous lake and onto the bus, short windy road and into the cavern. There & back, Tim & Joe were great. Our cavern tour guide Brody was , informative, funny & had great energy. Caverns were amazing. Tour is well worth it, great value! Word to the wise, no stroller or backpacks. I wouldn't bring a child under 5 and seniors should be in good shape. There are a lot of stairs, up some fairly high inclines, and some tight spaces. The stairs have good hand rails throughout, but def recommend shoes with good tread bc it can be wet & slippery in areas. Overall loved this tour and wouldn't hesitate to recommend. read more

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Second time here. I wanted to bring the hubby. This place is amazing! Dark and chilly at time. But with all those stairs, my legs were shaking after a while. But there are resting points. The boat ride was fun too. And the views!! You gotta try this place at least once. read more

An unexpected amazing cave. Didn't expect it with magnificent views. The Lake Shasta tour is very friendly. Will come back with our (adult) kids for sure. read more

Since I was heading up north to the Redding/Mt.Shasta area, I researched and decided to come check out Lake Shasta Caverns. Tickets were purchased online in advance for 1/16 at 2pm (they are currently running 3 tours at 10,12,and 2). Parking was plentiful when I arrived and check in with your tickets in the gift shop. You head outside from the back door of the gift shop and waited until the boarding call. From there its a 3 part adventure: BOAT, BUS and HIKE. The boat was about a 10 min ride across the the Shasta lake. The scenic bus was about a 15 min ride over the edge of the mountains and at one point you can look down at a 200 feet drop! The hike inside the caverns is about a hour. Total tour from start to finish is 2 hours. Caverns: We had an amazing tour guide Tim who transformed from our boat driver to tour guide. He took us into the caves and explained the crystal formations. We visited several rooms within the caves and learned so much! For example, I learned that the caves are estimated to be about 200 million years old. There are newly discovered rooms and possibly more to be discovered! Each room is unique in it's formations. Use your imagination as there are many "animals, things, and objects" to be seen through out the caves. We were able to see a dragon, Santa, a man climbing the caves, eagle, a turkey, etc. The best part was seeing the mark on the wall by JA Richardson on Nov 11,1878 who discovered the caves on that date and left the mark using carbide from his miner's lamp. COVID updates: Lake Shasta Caverns is asking everyone in different household groups maintain social distancing. Masks are required in their gift shop and on their tours. Online ticketing sales are limited as they reduced the amount of tours running per day and also smaller group size. We had about 48 people total on the boat and was split up into smaller 15 people group on the bus. They had 3 buses running to accommodate everyone. The 3 split up groups tour different rooms and occasionally you might pass a group by but no more than 1 group per room. read more

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CREDIT CARD FRAUD! Went to the Shasta caverns recently. one of their cash registers wasn't working correctly and it charged my credit card twice. Then we went to the other cash register that was working and it charged my credit card once. so three charges. When I called back the next day and told him they had double charged my card. They refuse to refund the charges! so keep a close eye on your credit card receipts. The girl that double charged my card knew that she did it when she did it. I ask about it and she says oh we'll take care of it if it overcharges which they absolutely did not! read more

expensive for a muddy cave ! To much made of this tour .. way more caves in California that are prettier and less expensive for a family..

Very well staffed and a very efficiently run operation. Tour consisted of a short boat trip to the caverns and then a short uphill bus ride to the entrance. The caverns inside were beautiful and the guides in each room were informative and we learned a lot. I would suggest to bring a light cover up as the temperature is cool inside but certainly not necessary. We went in Aug when the temp was about 100 outside but 70 in the caverns. Walking shoes are a must - some stair steps are quite shallow but plenty of handrails. Expect to walk up and down a few steps and one of it is quite a long flight up. We did it with an infant in a front facing carrier and that wasn't too bad. It was a self paced tour and we spent about 2 hours here. It didn't feel overly crowded. Fun activity for the family. read more

Fun and unique place to stop by if you happen to be a few hours North of the Bay Area. If you decide to come here, don't rely solely on your GPS since the cell signal is pretty weak in this area. Make sure you follow the actual road signs for the Lake Shasta caverns, since there are a few forks in the road. There was plenty of space on their 10am tour on a Saturday in late March, since it was still brisk outside. You can also pre-purchase tickets online to guarantee your spot but it's an extra $2 ($30 versus $28). The tour of the caverns lasts about 2 hours and involves a lot of stairs and walking. You check in and/or purchase tickets at their gift shop, which also has a lot of rocks/minerals for purchase, ice cream,and Hot Pocket type snacks. They also sell water and other drinks. You start off on a 10 minute ferry ride across the lake, then hop on a small bus that takes you uphill to the opening of the cavern. During the bus ride through a forested area, you have the opportunity to see local animals, such as bald eagles, mountain lions, and black bears. I didn't see any animals during my bus ride. On the actual cavern tour, you get to see a wide variety of calcite formations, that have been naturally forming throughout the millions of years. You have plenty of opportunities to take photos, but they ask that you don't touch the formations since the oils from our hands can kill the formations. I thought this was a great experience, and would recommend stopping by if you're in the area and have a few hours available. They have free parking available at their lot, and they had plenty of spots available. read more

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This tour was awesome! You start off riding in a bus, then a boat, then another bus to get to the cave entrance. It's a nice scenic ride and it was cool to see the exterior landscape of the caves before entering. Once you enter the cave, it gets nice and cold. Feels great when it's almost 100 degrees out in the summer. Inside the caves it's all paved with hand rails so it's easy to stay on tour and not get lost. My family and I were lucky enough to have our fantastic and funny tour guide Ashley! She did a really good job of explaining the history and geology of the caves without being too overbearing with information. Everything seemed super natural and not rehearsed, almost as if it were just a conversation between two people. At the start of the tour, she told us about how she's a bat whisperer. Although we were skeptical, she actually delivered and somehow a bat came into the cave during our last segment of the tour... It was a pretty cool experience. You can apparently request a tour guide so ask for Ashley! read more

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Location- we were visiting from Vacaville. East to get to. Nice green grass and tables In front. Ample parking BUT if it were busier I would say get there early. Check in - Check in with prepaid line tickets at Snack shack. Or buy there. Tours are On the hour tours. Walk a good walk down stairs. Then on steep dirt road to water to take pontoon boat across lake. Captain boat was pleasant but did not wear masks. Our tour guy Joe did not either. I wore my mask so I was okay. Top of the mountain was the caverns. Steep but manageable walk to entrance. Not read more

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Awesome experience!!! Would like to do again next trip. Friendly staff and much more to do other than the Caverns, eat, play corn hole, panning for "gold" etc. fun stop. Highly recommend. read more

such a great find!!! everyone was so nice and so much to see! highly recommend visiting this little gem!

Such an awesome way to spend a few hours learning about the formations inside the mountain. If you've been to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, this place pales in comparison but is still totally worth going to. Unlike Carlsbad, you get a bus ride to the lake and a boat ride across the lake and a private tour. Well, it felt like we had a private tour because there was only one other family of 4 with my family of 4 so we were able to ask a bunch of questions. This will only take a few hours and it's a great way to stay out of the heat on a summer day. They offer a military discount, and all of the staff we encountered were super friendly and knew a lot about the surrounding area. read more