Crystal Cave is a limestone cave located in Sequoia National Park, California. It is known for its impressive formations of stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone. The marble karst cave is located in Sequoia National Park within the western Sierra Nevada of California. It is one of more than 240 caves in Sequoia National Park. Between the Ash Mountain entrance to the park and the Giant Forest Museum is Crystal Cave in the Giant Forest area.
Subterranean streams polish ornate marble to create crystal caves that are decorated with curtains of icicle-like stalactites and ice mounds. A visit to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will show you how big, beautiful, and diverse nature can be. Among Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are magnificent mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, large trees, and caves!
The Crystal Cave at Sequoia is a 40-minute drive from Wuksachi Lodge near Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. It is open to the public during the summer months only. There is a constant temperature of 48 °F (9 °C) in the cave. A flashlight and the necessary equipment will be provided by Sequoia Parks Conservancy. The cave is relatively cool and damp, so visitors are advised to dress warmly. A jacket or sweater is recommended because the cave’s temperature is always 48 degrees. Photography is not allowed inside the cave, but visitors can purchase a souvenir photo taken by the tour guide.
Crystal Cave is a limestone cave that formed over thousands of years through a process of erosion. Rainwater percolated through the ground, dissolving the limestone and carving out passageways and chambers. As the water flowed through the cave, it left behind dissolved calcium carbonate, which over time formed the impressive formations of stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone that can be seen today. The cave is estimated to be around 3 million years old. Crystal Cave was discovered in 1918 by two prospectors, who later sold the cave to the National Park Service in 1933.
Guided tours are the only way to access it. As your guide takes you through the cave along paved, well-lit pathways, he’ll explain some of its top features and its history. There is no on-site ticket sale; tickets must be purchased at the Lodgepole or Foothills Visitor Centers. It will take about half a day to travel to and walk to the cave’s entrance, as well as to complete the 50-minute tour.
Crystal Cave will be closed for the season of 2022 due to the impacts of the KNP Complex Fire. When the repairs are complete in 2023, we look forward to seeing you again! A cave of crystals is an amazing cave connected to the Naica Mine at a depth of 300 meters, in Naica, in Chihuahua, Mexico.
