Super fun place that I recommend! The tour was engaging enough, and the cave itself was a really cool experience. Beautiful stalatctites and stalagmites and 100 feet down and up. It wasn't too claustrophobic at all -- but the initial walked down. Could be scary for some people because it's a little bit narrow. But everything is on stairs and steps and paved and you're pretty out in the open once you get down the staircase. It just takes a few minutes to walk down. We paid $25 each for the tour and they also have a crawl tour. You just see the main part of the cave on the $25 tour! read more

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This was a random find on here when I was looking for things to do or visit while we were in Groveland for a little weekend getaway. This place was about almost hour away from where we were staying. Booking was pretty easy as I booked our tickets on their website. They have a parking lot so easy to find parking. The drive there was windy from Groveland. They have restrooms, but it's really tight spaces. Staff were friendly. Our tour guide was funny and informative. I don't remember his name. Lol this was back in November. The staircase was crazy!!! My legs were sore for 4 days afterwards!! Omg! Lol It was definitely a fantastic adventure to visit the cavern and to walk that down deep underground. Pricing was okay. I think it was like 20 or 30something per person. They took a group photo of us, which I ended up buying. Lol They also have a small gift shop when you exit with memorabilia and little Knick-knacks. If you happened to be near the area, I would say it's a great place to visit! Probably better for adults or teens. It's harder for little kids or elderly people because of the stairs. We saw a mom carry her child. Such a strong mommy! Kudos! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

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A deep underground cavern with stalagmites and stalactites with an equally epic 100+ year old spiral staircase which can apparently hold for another 100 years. The stairs take us down more than 165 feet below the surface level. They offer tours which can fill in quickly especially during weekends so make sure to book online. The tour is kid friendly, we had a couple of 3 year olds in our group and they enjoyed the experience as well. The 260 odd steps down the spiral staircase allows unparalleled views of the stalagmites really up close. Once we reach the bottom, as part of the tour all the lights get turned off, the cavern turns pitch black, apparently as black as it is at the deep bottom of the ocean. The cavern itself is not very large but the staircase and the pitch black demo make up for it. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the tour and I recommend trying it if in the area. read more

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5 stars! My two boys and I had a wonderful time during the spiral tour. We learned how the cave formed and about the history of those that explored it. It was really cool when they turned the lights off. Crazy to think that this is underground. Would definitely recommend! read more

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This was the best thing I've done in a while. Good: - Super unique experience - you actually go all the way into the cave and it's pretty dangerous but we never got hurt - The experience is so cool since we crawl at some point completely inverted and go through tiny cracks - there are optional areas too so it's like a choose your own adventure! Great workout and I felt like it was harder than a v1 climbing route - The tour guides are great, super helpful and also keep us entertained as we wait for others to finish the climbs - The end involved sliding down the face of a mountain - it was super safe but I had a "oh shoot" moment - talk about facing your fears - I loved the history of the cave and learning more about the bone pile for example Bad: - It takes a while with a big group to get everyone through - Pretty muddy and you can get a bit banged up in the process - not for the faint of heart Overall so so memorable and I would recommend everyone go to this tour if you get a chance! read more

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I can't recommend this tour enough! They are so informative and the tour is so cool! You go so deep down and learn so much about the caverns! There's a cool gift shop as well Youve gotta check it out! There's a touching wall and a surprise at the end! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Inside of the cave - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

The cave is about 2 hours drive from Sacramento. There are signs pointing toward the place as it was kinda secluded. We joined the 11am tour with about 20ish people. At the beginning of the tour, we descended to the cave opening and walked through small passages with some interesting features. Then we arrived at the spiral staircase which was the most interesting part of the tour. According to our tour guide, the staircase was made of scrap metal from the World War era. The descending steps were challenging for small kids or older people but manageable. The cave itself was not too big but it was very deep. We spent some time at the bottom of the cave with our tour guide told some stories about the cave. The tour was about an hour and it was a fun experience for us. read more

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Did the short "Spiral Tour". It was literally going down the steps, standing around the cavern, and coming back up. I've been to a lot of caves, so to be honest, I was not very impressed... but my 9 year old and 6 year old LOVED it. Do not get me wrong- the cavern is impressive, but after 6-7 cave tours in TN, KY and one in Vietnam, this was just okay. This is a really good cave/cavern for the kids (and cave novices). For me, I would have probably enjoyed a more in-depth tour they offer, but my kids weren't old enough. I forgot our guide's name, but she was very nice and informative. Cute gift shop with friendly staff. Definitely worth stopping by if you are in Sonora and/or Columbia State Historic Park, or if you have some time on the way to/from Yosemite. read more

Moaning Caverns was a great stop! Tickets were reasonably priced, which was nice. Since there isn't a whole lot to do beyond the tour, I'd recommend bringing a picnic to enjoy the views after your visit. The gift shop is there, too, and has some pretty affordable items if you're looking for a small souvenir. Mom Tip: I visited with my 5- and 7-year-old, and they were quite scared once we got inside, so we ended up turning back. I'd suggest showing younger kids a video ahead of time so they know what to expect before you spend on tickets. read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

What an absolutely amazing experience!!! Such a cool cave, and our tour guide Don, was very engaging, knowledgeable, and accommodating with our large group. I hope to go another time! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

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165 ft deep underground - 235 spiral stair steps up and down. Even it's the largest and deepest cave in California - It's somehow easy and not bad at all for family with kids to enjoy. Lot of fun and informative tour (45mins time). We gathered at the gate for some general information about the cave's depth. Then we started with narrow small passages to the first stop where we can touch the cave and our tour guide gives us some interesting information why some parts of caves have that color or some area is made with different formation. At the end of the spiral stair, the tour will take picture of you and you can purchase at the gift shop ($15) then she provides us more information. It's interesting and amazing. Staff is very friendly and helpful. I did booked online and very easy to check in at gift shop. Our tour guide is funny, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She provided us with detailed information about the cave's history, geology. I can see her passion for the job. Moaning Cave is very closed to Vallecito where you can visit the Gold rush town at the same day. We did have very short of time after visiting the Columbia State Park. That why we just took the easy tour - the last tour of the day at 4pm with 8ppl in the group. Next time we definitely come back and ready for the expedition tour - as know it will be more challenging with 5 hours of crawling and climbing through narrow paths. This is an awesome amazing experience to explore the nature. Highly recommended !!!!! read more

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I love exploring caverns and this one had an amazing tour guide, Emily, who made the experience more interesting that it probably is. They were very knowledgeable about the history of the caverns and was able to keep us entertained for the whole hour. Compared to places like Luray caverns in Virginia, this is a small spot. Unless you do the spelunking tour for an extra hundred bucks, there really is not much to see or walk around. After you go down the spiral steps, that is pretty much it. read more

Great experience! I like coming here once a year. They used to have a zip line but now they have ax throwing. The gift shop has bags to search for emeralds, sea shells and fossils. The kids love it. The cave is amazing! The spiral staircase is beautiful but a bit scary to walk down and tiring to walk up. Worth it though:) this place is a must if you like Mother Nature. read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Cave - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

It's a cool educational quick tour. We took the spiral tour. It was fairly easy but just be ready for serious leg work because there is only one way in and out of the cave and that is through a spiral staircase that is about 6 stories high. read more

My wife and I went on the expedition tour with Iiana and had an amazing time! She was so nice and knowledgeable, we were able to talk and joke around with her and she was very helpful with the tight squeezes throughout the tour. We would love to go back! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - After we completed the crawl, pointing at Wedgie Hill. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

What an adventure to come here. We didn't know what to expect when we decided to come for this. Randomly discovered this and it was absolutely fabulous. We had a toddler with us so going 16 floors under the surface level is not something we would usually sign up for but he is a sport so why not! There are tons of stairs so won't recommend for folks with knee injury. There isn't any bending or crawling so folks with back issues can manage (speaking from experience with other caves) We came at a time no other folks were there so we kind of got a nice private little tour and the staff was amazing! They not only took us down and told us about the stalactites and stalagmites but it was amazing to see when the lights turn off how dark it gets.. it was extremely scary for that half a min but also super peaceful to be in this black space one can't imagine. I had never experienced anything this dark in my life so I quite enjoyed this first! My kiddo was scared for a split second but like I said he is a sport! I am definitely coming back here for the half day expedition tour someday in the future to get my adrenaline going! This is an amazing amazing experience and highly recommend it. read more

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The spiral tour is very interesting, but unfortunately relatively short; and we can't do the other one due to children age. The price is decent for the value, the personnel is very kind and helpful. The area around the entry is well equipped and maintained. There are enough picnic tables, cornhole game and treasure hunt (additional pay required) game. There are clean and good restrooms as well as gift shop with some snacks. Make sure you arrive in advance, especially if driving from far distance. The local roads are narrow and curvy, so you can be late just because of the slow truck going ahead of you without ability to pass it. read more

this is definitely an experience the pictures don't show how awesome it is. Also, it's a Xtreme work out. I had my baby carrier on with my 22 month old son. I wouldn't recommend. on the way down the cave it's very snug. I had to hold my sons feet in front of me so they would not scrape the rock walls. """"165ft below the surface """ On the way up the spiral staircase. This is where the extreme work out kicks in. After this experience I was sore for about four days straight. I'm also a very active person.. . The staff was great, we learned a lot. Eat and drink before your tour, no food or drinks allowed. . read more

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Absolutely an amazing experience! But definitely not for anyone who is even mildly claustrophobic! Very tight areas thats you need to squeeze through over distances. Must be in good shape with good upper body strength. Need to be flexible too. Going to get very dirty and wet at times. Guide explained everything in detail as you go through each section. 10 out of 10 for people looking for an adventure and an experience "very" few will ever know. Did I mention about not being claustrophobic.. read more

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Neat little cavern. Our guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. She also orated the history perfectly. Warning...The stairs are killer going back up. I will definitely go again. read more

I've been in a number of caves throughout the area but this cave was memorable because it was pretty much straight down - 10 stories and as I recall 144 stairs down and 144 stairs back to the surface. The circular staircase was built in 1924 from an old battleship. Once at the bottom our tour guide did a nice job of describing the cave history and pointing out the cave highlights. Personally I wouldn't recommend this tour for children under the age of 10. Individuals in the upper age brackets need to be physically fit and able to climb a lot of stairs. read more

My mother in law had this great idea for the kiddos and it was an adventure that they loved! My little had a great time in the caves, thought it was super cool to see all these rocks and the "earth" in a different way and then the colored rocks and stones he got to bring home with all the info on each of them. They learned a lot, saw things that they didn't expect to see, and had an amazing experience. read more

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The formations of the rocks underground are so beautiful and amazing! Yes, you do have to go down a steep narrow stairwell before you get to the spiral staircase, but it is so worth it once you get to the viewing platform below. We ended up having a private tour (just my husband and I) because the group of 28 girls were late getting to the site. Having a private tour was perfect because we got to ask a ton of questions. Plus, it was easy for us to hear the peaceful sounds of cave, such as water dripping (in different pitches) from the different rock formations. Great place to unplug and reset. The view topside is also beautiful. I agree with the other person, saying it is an Adventure Park is a stretch, but I get they are trying to attract people. Worth the $$ read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

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Very cute exploring adventure for kids. We went down 150 feet to see the stalagmites and stalactites and the kids had a great time in the dark. I would recommend for those little brave adventure kiddos go wanted to be somewhere nice and cool to beat the heat in copperopolis or angel's camp.Lots of fun and knowledge in the 60 min tour. For those 12 and up, they allow you to explore the caves with all the gear. We aren't there yet, but one day. Please note the road down is steep and very narrow so be forwarn some folks turned right back around without going down. read more

This is a very fund experience, it tests your stair climbing. The people are very friendly there. The kids really like the mining and finding the gem stones. You Diffently go straight down to the cave cavern, through some pretty tight spaces, but very cool and the history is very good. read more

Christina was our guide and she was so great! Very knowledgeable, added some humor in and is passionate about her work! loved that. Lots of steps and narrow areas- good work out! read more

Me and my family drove from Turlock California. Had a great time. Take all the family! Very fun even the drive there was Great .

This is a very short tour but nonetheless still amazing! The information given and the experience of being so low in the cave is awesome. I am claustrophobic so I was a bit worried but if you have been to any European church and climbed those tight stairs and you were ok, this is doable, but it is darker. read more

so fun would recommend to go next time! the cave is really big! and the staff are so nice read more

We went to the cave for our first time with the kids. It was more than AWESOME!! We love the experience and enjoyed the tours so much. The guide was patient, experienced and the tour definitely surprised us! Instead talking about the boring history of the place, the tour made it so fun!! It's super kids friendly and I definitely would recommend to any of my friends. We had a blast for the long weekend!!! :) read more

We were in town for a concert and thought, " Hey, let's give it a try!" It did not disappoint. Hailey was our guide and she was fantastic! So knowledgeable in so many aspects of the history of the cavern. It's truly amazing to see what mother nature has created and how old the earth is! It's was truly mind blowing. Highly recommend, unless you're afraid of heights. read more

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Had an amazing time on the Adventure tour! I came alone and started out a little nervous but my guide Don is a local caving legend (I believe he said he's been in 3000 caves and mines??) and made it a great experience. All the guides have first aid training as well which is important in this environment. Highly recommend if you are up to it or else just see the main room and hear history and geology on the staircase tour! read more

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I have done the expedition tour multiple times now and it is EPIC!! I would highly reccommend if you're into spelunking. If you are even slighty out of shape or overweight I would stay away. I got stuck multiple times and had to wiggle around (I'm a size 8 in womens and I'm 5'11" for refernce). There are TINY spaces and I came out with buises everywhere. Also, you will get FILTHY, becuse you are army crawling through mud and dirt. BUUUUT its still epic and I would totally reccomend it! Our guide Hailey was amazing and so great. She gave us breaks and let us do all the extra rooms. read more

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What a great Cavern to investigate. The cost was $22.00 each 12 and older. They take walk-in's or you can make reservations and we only had to wait 15 minutes as a walk in. Make sure to wear tennis shoes and get your stair steps in for the day. Our tour girl Haley was awesome and she answered a lot of questions and gave us plenty of time to view this beautiful cavern. They also have gem panning and a cute little store to buy shirts, rocks and drinks. They do have a nice area with picnic table to enjoy a picnic after a cavern trip. This cavern is good for kids who are 5 and up unless your little one is very safe on steps. Enjoy the beautiful..... read more

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Classic NorCal attraction! I have been coming here since I was a kid, and it just gets more amazing as I get older. Nothing but beautiful formations and rich history. Near Columbia and close to Calaveras Big Trees. We did all 3 in an easy and affordable day trip. WARNING: The stairway down is 165ft of tight clearances and wet surfaces. My 10yr old daughter freaked out 10 steps down, and refused to go...taking my wife out of the tour as well. Be prepared for moments of anxiety...but they are short lived, and it is WORTH IT! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

It was our third time on the tour - twice before were with school groups (middle school) and were hectic but still fun. We're all three a lot older now and was fun to remember the previous trips but agreed that the "regular" tour was much more informative and interesting. Our tour guide was great and was full of cool facts and shared personal experiences in the caverns. read more

I've done there regular tour (2024) and Expedition Tour (Feb 2025). Both amazing experiences each time. I had an incredible tour guide named Emily each time. She listened to all my concerns for the expedition tour and made it like they say, "An experience of a lifetime." I just wanted to make it know how great of a tour guide she was and it was super cool to see her again. I have remembered everything she told me so she definitely made an impact for a wonderful experience. 100/10. lol read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

This is a must see if you are around the area! The spiral staircase is a bit of a challenge going down but it's all worth it. Kids have no problem going down but for the not so young, it will take longer to descend. It's a total of 235 steps down and more than 410 feet depth approximately. Discovered in the 1840s & opened to the public in 1922. Back in the days when there were no flashlights, it is such a brave discovery. My kids were hesitant to do it, but they were happy they did. It's part of history that we all need to see. read more

Such a cool experience! You climb down 16 flights of stairs which is 160+ feet below. You will definitely feel it in your legs on the way back up but the experience was worth it and the guides are super friendly, have a lot of great stories and take you picture down in the cavern too! read more

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This was a great place in Yosemite . I don't know when you google for things to do in Yosemite it never came up. But this place was worth the visit and have similar importance as of other places like Half dome , Sentinal dome etc in Yosemite . The caves were giant and the experience was fantastic . It's a 45 minutes tour to take you in caves with almost 235 stairs which goes 150feet down with a break on 65 feet. You have a tour guide which explains you the history once you reach down. I was sacred when I started as it was very narrow path but the stairs are quite strong and sturdy. Do make reservation well before as it's fully booked. Very must place to visit. read more

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