Lost River Caverns is a natural limestone cavern and tourist attraction located in Hellertown, Pennsylvania that has been forming for 250,000 years. Consisting of five chambers, the caverns were formed by the karstification or dissolving of the limestone by water. In the past, the cavern was also referred to as "Rentzheimer's Cave" or the "Lost Cave". The "Lost River", so named because the source and mouth of the river have not yet been discovered, flows through it. The temperature in the cave is consistently close to 52 °F (11 °C). The area on the surface of the cavern was a limestone quarry in the 19th century. In 1883, quarry workers ignited a black powder blast to remove limestone from the cliff face. In doing so, they discovered the entrance to the cavern. The first systematic exploration of the cavern didn't take place until three years later. In the years following the cavern's discovery, local residents found the underground spaces ideal for a variety of uses. During the late 1800s, a wooden dance floor was constructed in what is now called the "Crystal Chapel". Regular dances were held in the natural air conditioning of the cave. Irwin Gilman purchased the cave in 1929 and opened it to the public the following year. It is still owned and operated for tours by the Gilman family today. A small museum and gift shop stand above the surface of the cave entrance. From 1949 - 2009, the "Crystal Chapel" was available for weddings and other private ceremonies. Approximately 35,000 tourists explore the caverns annually. My family and I visited the Lost River Caverns this past summer while we were visiting relatives in the area. My wife and I had previously visited some natural caverns in upstate New York years ago. This was the first time that we explored caverns since we became parents. Both of our young sons loved exploring all of the various chambers. The tour was fun for the whole family. Our sons also enjoying learning about the different geological features such as stalactites, stalagmites, and fluorescent rocks. We even bought a toy miners helmet in the gift shop for our older son. If you're looking for a fun family activity to do in the Lehigh Valley, then we recommend visiting the Lost River Caverns. read more

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The gift shop was fairly large with the usual collection of stuff but in addition had a large collection of various rocks and gem stones for sale. Our cave guide was enthusiastic and knew her stuff, handling questions as the tour progressed. If you've never been in a cave before you might be impressed but if you have , well I think you'll be disappointed. There aren't all that many types of formations to look at and those that are there are not all that impressive. We picked here because in our local area we have only been to Crystal Cave and thought we'd give it a shot. Glad we did but would recommend Crystal Cave over here. That said, if you've been to say Luray Caverns in Virginia then you won't be blown away by either of them! read more

Lost River Caverns - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

A little pricey for such a small cave. Gift store and all its chachkis were definitely dated with an odd, random mix of decorative pieces. The indoor sluice box wasn't working after we bought a bag of gems in sand, so we returned it since no one knew how to fix it. Overall, it was a good first-time experience for our 4-year old girl after I hyped her up by sharing my own experiences in caves. She's looking forward to exploring another cave in the near future. read more

Lost River Caverns - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

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I always thought it'd be a different cavern as our first family cavern experience since we're from NY but I was happy it was this one. We really loved the history and seeing everything. I'd definitely recommend it if in the area. My 5 year old at the time really liked it. read more

Wow--what a cool place! The Lost River Caverns in Hellertown are an absolute must -- this underground world is full of mystery and natural beauty. You get to walk through paved, well-lit pathways inside a limestone cavern where an underground river flows, and the constant temperature of about 52 degrees Fahrenheit adds to the atmosphere. The guided tour is fun and educational, with knowledgeable guides pointing out the geology, flowstone formations, and historic tidbits (the place has been open to the public since the early 1930s). It's a great outing for families, couples, or anyone looking to do something unique -- you'll be under the earth's surface and totally immersed in nature's work. The gift shop and picnic area across the road add to the charm. Highly recommend to add this to your route if you're in the Lehigh Valley area -- you won't regret discovering this hidden gem. read more

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My boyfriend and I came today and had a great time! Our tour guide, Connor, was very informative and he had some great jokes along the way. Definitely recommend! The cave was beautiful and has some great stories through its long history. 5 stars read more

Lost River Caverns - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

Excellent place. Had a lot of fun. The guide was great!! They have a good gift shop too!

A reasonably priced, brief, and extremely educational activity to explore a cavern. What a great opportunity to have in the Lehigh Valley. The tour guides are highly informative and engaging which shows their genuine concern for a successful tour. The gift shop offers a high variety of stones, gems, and typical gift shop souvenirs. Check out Lost River Cavern for a worthwhile exploration! read more

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Wonderful tour at an interesting site. The guide was cordial and well informed. Parking was free and easy, too. Perfect for a hot day with temperatures there at least 15 degrees cooler than on the surface. read more

Lost River Caverns - Cool formations. - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

Lost River Caverns are lost in time in the best way, infusing small-town charm into a quaint little cavern and connected shop. This tour is great for younger kids, though I'd say 4-5 years old is probably best. You'll be on a guided tour, and it's hard to tell a toddler they need to wait before exploring a cave. What makes it a bit more bearable is that the tour is quick, only about thirty minutes, and most of the places you'll stop along the way have some room to look around. Though I can't say I'm claustrophobic, I thought this was a nice option for folks who may not love feeling cramped. We only had to duck down slightly at one part, and otherwise our group of about ten had plenty of room to stretch out and poke around. You also won't need to worry about any flying friends sneaking up on you here - the only way into the cave is through the gift shop (Disney would be proud), so bigger critters aren't calling this cavern home. I will say the biggest hit for the kids may have been the gift shop. They have all the trinkets you'd want from a trip into the caverns, including small jewels, mining helmets, and plenty of lost cavern stamped swag. Overall, this is a nifty stop to make when you're traveling in Pennsylvania and need a little breather on your way. read more

This may be one of the closer caves to me (about 1.5 hours from the Bergen county area) and it was incredible! Still family operated for almost 100 years! Our tour guide was funny and patient with all our questions, giving us great stories and information and also time to take photos. Inside was well kept and preserved. After we did gem mining and checked out the local hike. If you're into caves, I would absolutely recommend stopping by here. I made a reservation by phone and paid after the end of the tour. If you have kids, fyi that the crayola experience is only 20-25 minutes away and I would recommend a meal at Vassie's! read more

Such an amazing experience. My daughter and I took the caverns tour today. Our tour guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. A very big gift shop that anyone will find a souvenir at. A part of the tour was closed off where the bridge was due to flooding. Without any notice they gave a small refund which they didn't need to do to make up for it. Awesome place! They also have a little hiking trail out front with trivia questions all over the place. All around the gift shop on the walls it looks like a museum with artifacts and stuff everywhere. Great place to bring the family. read more

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Great tour! The caverns made for a fun family activity. Our tour guide was great. Make sure to bring a jacket as it is chilly down here year round. read more

Recently visited lost river caverns. From the moment the tour began, Steven's knowledge, and storytelling skills brought every location to life. Steven was not only incredibly knowledgeable about the history and culture of the cavern but also had a fantastic way of engaging everyone in the group. He shared fascinating insights, little-known facts, and even some fun anecdotes that made the tour both educational and entertaining. What stood out the most was their attention to detail and genuine passion for what they do. They took the time to answer all our questions, ensured everyone felt included. Would highly recommend taking a tour if you're in the area! read more

This is the first game tour I've ever done so my standards for comparing it are probably not super high. I once was supposed to do the jewel cave national Park, I think it was a national park, but we arrived after the last one. Knowing this was a smaller cave I was excited to still tour one but it was like. Are tour guide was very nice the knowledgeable did not rush us through the cave The tour was approximately maybe slightly longer. And afterwards you were able to go out to their gift shop. I really enjoyed the gift shop because then it due to some of the rocks they had they also had some jewelry making supplies. I recently picked up some stones and a gem show and needed some settings and had no clue where to purchase them and figured I would figure it out eventually and they had a very good selection things and riding of metals and precious and non-precious. They also had a lot of tools for jewelry and I was very impressed with their selection. They also had things for feeding as I had purchased pearls to make a pearl necklace and they had the supplies I needed. All in all I was super excited and happy to stop here as well exceeded my expectations. And I may even come back in the future just the cruise their gift shop area for jewelry making supplies. A tip if you're going to do the tour, even in the summer bring a hoodie as the cave tends to be pretty chilly. read more

Very cool experience. About an hour from start to finish. Guides were super informative about cave structures and the history of the cave. An amazing experience for all ages! Cave is a bit chilly in the winter so be prepared with hats and jackets at least. Definitely worth the price though. Afterwards, there is a gift shop where you'll find souvenirs and gems from all over. read more

Lost River Caverns - Cave entrance - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

This is an excellent day trip for all ages. Takes about an hour including the fun gift shop. Try it! read more

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This is a cute little spot for a day trip. Reasonably priced for admission and gift shop. The only negative thing I can say is that you can't access the gift shop from the main entrance where you have to check in. I had teens with me so that wasn't a problem but with little ones, having to go in and out and up and down stairs could be a bit of a pain. The tour itself was interesting and our tour guide, Jay was knowledgeable, although a bit nervous since it was one of her first tours. All the staff are extremely friendly. The cave was very cool, temperature wise. The gift shop was reasonably priced and my daughter and her boyfriend did the panning for gems, which they both liked and got some really nice gems. Definitely would recommend as a family outing read more

My boyfriend and I had a lot of fun. The guide (Adam) was entertaining, and he knew a lot of info. I'm from New York and my bf is from Ontario Canada, so we thought it was ironic that those two rocks happened to be displayed right next to each other lol read more

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Totally fun for kids and adults! It's a quick stop, maybe an hour tops. The tour guides are terrific and explain lots of info about cave formations, rocks, and research/history. Yes it's cold and wet - it's a cave! And, it's owned by a family, so it's a mom and pop operation. Be kind. Buy something in the gift shop. These are the kind of places we need to support as a community. read more

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This place is weird. We stopped by because we were bored and in the mood for something silly on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The cavern is cool, and the tour guide was actually quite knowledgeable, but I have mixed feelings about it. It's really obvious that they've not changed anything since the owners' family first acquired it in like 1929 or something. I'm guessing they've never replaced any of the downright awful inventory in the store since then, and they have certainly never done any upgrades to the property. It's super kitschy, so as long you're aware of that going in... The "nature trail" outside just winds you through their trees, lmaoooooooo. You could just wander through your own backyard. But I did like the mossy rocks. Anyway, like I said, this is what people did for a good time back in Laura Ingalls Wilder days, and the owners have zero interest in investing any money into improving the experience. ‍ read more

Definitely worth visiting. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, gave a great tour. read more

Lost River Caverns - Here's Johnny!!! - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

The cave is small but interesting. They were allowing entry about every 20-30 minutes so when you paid, you got a colored chip that designated what time you went in. In the meantime, there were displays of rocks and minerals to look at as well as a gift shop. Our guide was knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions. He pointed out things of note. We were able to walk over the river on the bridge but need to be careful as it's a bit slippery. The path is narrow and there are some low hanging rocks so important to watch your head. It isn't what I would describe as spectacular compared to other caves but it was still interesting to see the river that passes through without coming out on the surface-they don't know where it comes from or where it goes. It was cooler in the cave even on a very hot day so helpful to have a jacket with you. The gift shop had a lot of items-books, rocks, equipment for rock tumbling, books, etc. read more

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This place is phenomenal. It is not very big but there are extra parking spots for overflow. Everyone is so friendly there and real down to earth. (Haha) I had scheduled to be a part of the 10 am tour, but I had arrived at 9 due to being 2 hrs away and not wanting to be late. Luckily it was accommodated and when I asked politely, they bumped up my tour time to the earliest, 9:30. It was only Jillian (my lovely and kind tour guide) and myself, I was so lucky! The awe and splendor I felt as we traveled each area was endless. Now if only visitors would respect the natural wonder by NOT throwing coins into the water or trying to break off/deface formations of the cave for themselves. I'm definitely coming back again with my parents and siblings, it's a chill experience (haha, it's cold in the cave). The jungle display was hilarious to me, with three different themes, it clashed amusingly. There are some old types of gifts at the shop and I found them neat! As for updates? While it would be nice, I believe leaving the facility as it is, helps set you back in time a bit. Yknow? You just get this feeling you are somewhere old and I think it should stay that way. Modern isn't always the answer. read more

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A must see -- this was a really neat experience. The tour was worth every dollar. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and thorough. read more

Lost River Caverns - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

Best experience being new to the areas. The gentleman was very informative. You can oder tickets online or get in person. It was a small group of us. Wear sneakers inexpensive and worth it. read more

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It was so cute and the tour guide was very informational. Tour was about an hour and there was a cute gift shop. read more

Lost River Caverns - The image shows the interior of a limestone cavern with mineral formations such as stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor. The formations are textured and vary in color from white to shades of brown and gray. A small mirror is placed on a brick ledge in the foreground, reflecting part of the cavern interior. The scene highlights geological features typical of a guided cave tour experience. - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

This is a fun excursion, but once is enough for a lifetime I think. I had previously been here as a kid and could not for the life of me remember much of the cavern tour. On a boring Saturday I decided on a whim to drive up and see it again, hoping the caverns would keep me shaded and cool from the summer sun. The funny part was that I remembered as a kid I was not super impressed with this cave (especially compared to larger ones in the area), so my adult self got the reminder why. It's a very small cavern. The actual tour takes maybe about an hour, perhaps maybe less than that even. While the tour is informative and interesting, don't expect this attraction alone to fill up an entire day. The tour is around $13 for an adult, a fair price I suppose. Unfortunately this place makes me a little sad because there's so many places in the cavern that have been pretty much destroyed by human carelessness. Throwing pennies in the river? Really? Seeing oxidizing pennies in the river bed pretty much infuriated me. You have this natural wonder in front of you and all you can do is chuck pennies at it like a cheap fountain at the mall? But I digress. If you have kids I think they'll get a kick out of this place. If you're an adult who happens to be in the area, it's worth a try. Not the most extensive or exciting cave in the region, but it's interesting nonetheless. read more

Lost River Caverns - Some calcite on the walls of the cavern - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

We were only in Pa for 2 days and the caverns fit the bill for what we were hoping to find. Tom was our guide and he was super charismatic and added to the beauty of the cavern. Albeit small and doesn't take a long time to get thru, it's family owned and it's still accessible to the public and hasn't fallen into the wrong hands. It's still actively growing which is incredibly exciting. Stop by if you're in the area, visit the gift shop and chat. read more

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Small, family owned business with well trained friendly tour guides and staff. I would give 5 stars, but the facilities definitely need updating. I liked ease of finding the location and parking. Prices very reasonable. Tour guides able to answer basic questions about mineralogy and history of the area. Especially happy about being able to purchase tours online in advance. Very important since I live an hour away. The shop is unbelievably stocked with tools and equipment for gemstones as well as souvenirs. Nice picnic area, so pack a basket. read more

Lost River Caverns - Beautiful waterfall of flowstone. - Museums Near Me - Hellertown, Pennsylvania

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Nice little cavern to explore. Family owned business for decades !! Lots of information offered on the tour, runs about 20-30 mins. Cute gift shop at the end. read more

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This place was great! Smaller cavern but packed full of awesome stuff! Our tour guide was great! He had wonderful info on everything and had some great jokes! 10/10 would go back and being the family! They also have a nice outdoor nature trail for free Prices are great and nicknacks in the store to bring home! read more

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Found this great road side attraction and couldn't wait to go. $11 for adults and $7 for kids for the cave tour which lasts about an hour. Our guide was great and pointed out some really cool geological formations. The caverns were also used to host weddings, baptisms, parties, square dances, pledge activities, etc, which adds to the history and charm of this place. Lost River Cavern is basically right off 78 which makes it very easy to get to or from. We drove from Frenchtown on very remote and windy roads bc we followed our crazy GPS, which i'm almost positive didn't bring us the most direct way. The souvenir shop is a little cheesy like most tourist shops but the history of the cavern and the story of the "lost river" makes this a unique and interesting place to visit. Apparently no one knows where the river goes that runs beneath the caverns. Our guide told funny stories of them adding red food coloring to the water and throwing in ping pong balls with their phone number written on them, in hopes of someone either complaining of red water or calling them after finding the ping pong balls. Neither ever happened, furthering the mystery of the "lost river." Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. read more

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The Caverns themselves are a neat local diversion that will take about 45-50 minutes to cover. There is a guide there that teaches I believe Geology on the collegiate level at a local college and if you get him you will learn a whole lot about the Cavern, Caves and rocks in general. There is a river that flows under the cavern and over the years several attempts have been made to figure out where it leads to and if it ever goes above ground but so far with no success. There are pumps in the cavern to keep the river from overflowing onto the walkways, but usually this is only a problem when there is a large amount of rain or snow melt. The gift shop is a bit on the hokey side but at a tourist attraction such as this I think that's kind of expected. And other than three days the caverns are open daily year round. Lost River is more than worth a visit especially to LV locals who may not even realize that a place like this is right in their backyard. read more

My husband and I came here to escape the heat on a long weekend in The Poconos. We visited during the pandemic, so masks and hand sanitizer were required, but unfortunately the other guests on our tour didn't care too much about social distancing, which is kinda disappointing when you're pregnant like I am. Our guide was exciting and a great story teller, and the caves were really cool. There are rails in the slippery areas, and the gift shop had lots of cute goodies. read more

Interesting cavern to see on a slow day looking for something to do that's different. Staff was very welcoming and knowledgeable. Gift shop has lots of gems and jewelry items to look at. Cavern tour is about 45 min, which is long enough not to get bored. Price of administration is $13.50 which seems reasonable and necessary to maintain the family owned attraction. read more

Thumbs up for the unique and interesting tour of the Lost River Caverns in Hellertown, PA. Expect a guided tour of a cave with beautiful rock formations and a small, lost river that runs through a portion of the cave. Have outdoorsy footwear and a jacket, even in the summer, as the underground temperature is a cool 50s/60s. Once through the cave, take a few pictures outside, some great photo ops for the family including a brief, kid-friendly nature trail. Walk across the street for a lunch picnic area. There is a nice gift shop to visit after your tour, and a friendly staff to help you. Lost River Caverns can handle large groups and class trips. Do, however, limit your expectations of the cave as the scenery is not as spectacular as other cave/caverns located in other Eastern States. The rope paths in the nature walk could use some fixing. Reasonably priced for a one hour tour. read more

This was a very nice day trip. The cave is rather small. However it has all the elements of the bigger caves. The tour guides are friendly and seem very knowledgeable. It is a little surprising and annoying that they allow you to throw coins into the lost river. It seems a little opposite of the ideas to preserve and protect these natural wonders. The gift shop is small and a little cheesy. We thought the prices were a little high for a half hour tour. We had 2 adults and one child and it cost approximately $50. The bottom line is my 6 year old son really enjoyed the tour and we thought it was informative as well. This is really a one time tour but for what it is we enjoyed it. read more

Cute way to spend 45 minutes on a rainy afternoon when we had to skip our hike. This family owned cavern has really interesting formations. Masks and hand sanitizer are required. read more

There's something just so electrifying about caves. If I were a professional Eccentric, I would purchase my own personal cavern system strictly for the purpose of throwing dance parties in it. When I was younger, ferried back and forth to school, I dreamt of buying a yellow school bus, throwing out all the seats and making that my dancehall. Now the dream is a cave. When our guide pointed out that a certain chamber (now housing a nondemoniational chapel) was once converted into a dancehall complete with a rocky alcove for a live band to play in, fantasy & reality mingled together in my head while a soppy grin formed on my face, visions of thousands of terpsichorean candleflames flickering to the melody of a raucous banjo, hands clapping, whoops & hollers and prancing shadows of a frolicking group stretched grotesque on the gnarled limestone walls. I snapped out of my little reverie, my guide mistakenly believing that I was grinning over her latest little rock joke. "We like ta' say that the Rolling Stones played here, hee hee!" We moved on. The tour was actually a *personal* tour, being that my boyfriend and I were the only two crazies at Lost River Caverns on a Sunday afternoon at 5pm. Our guide was actually quite nice and informative, although the tour was blatantly set up to anticipate children's reactions, inform their questions...and to alleviate their boredom, from time to time. Me, I have a childlike sense of wonder, so I was also a perfect candidate for the tour and I peppered the nice lady with queries that she was extremely happy to answer. Besides the requisite talk about stalactites/stalagmites, she also demonstrated the scientific property of florescence, which on the infinitely long list of supercool natural phenomena entries, is pretty high up there. The tour was about 30-40 minutes long and I'd say, worth the 10 dollar entry fee if you have an interest in caves or natural science. I would hope it would entrance any and all children, but you know... kids these days. Wear proper shoes and a jacket when visiting, its always a chill low-50s in the cave. Feel free to step into my dancehall reverie, if you please. read more

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