Take This Road Trip To Explore Some of New York’s Most Impressive Caves
There are countless caves to explore throughout New York and the rest of the northeast, but sometimes you’re looking to pack a lot of site-seeing into one trip, right? Well, if you live in New York, you’re in luck, because several of New York’s best caves to explore are just east of Albany, some of them in Albany County. If you play your cards right, you can get a firsthand look at a few of the state’s most marvelous caves in the same weekend. It’s a spelunker’s paradise, but it’s also an ideal weekend adventure for anyone who enjoys exploring the outdoors.
For all Northeastern Cave Conservancy areas, visitors must be prepared with a helmet and three sources of light for this excursion.
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Clarksville Cave’s 4,800 feet of passages have made it a hugely popular cave system, drawing tourists from all over the Northeast. Located in Clarksville, NY, the caves are open to visitors from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Howe Caverns is located a little further east in Schoharie County, but if you’re willing to put in the extra miles, it’s well worth the trip. Explorers can take a boat ride tour through the six million-year-old caves, all while floating down a mystical river 156 feet below the surface. Private and family tours are also available.
An awe-inspiring, underground waterfall (it’s 100 feet tall) is the centerpiece of the gorgeous landmark that is Secret Caverns. Tours, which last around an hour, can be scheduled throughout the day. For visitors who catch the waterfall glimmering in the midst of the massive limestone formations, the Secret Caverns tour is worth it on its own.
The first three caves are all near Albany County, making it easy to explore all three. But if you're looking to extend the trip and drive 95 miles upstate, you'll be rewarded. Head to Natural Stone Bridge and Caves, the largest marble cave entrance in the U.S., for an ideal day trip for adults and kids alike.
Here’s a link for the map of the road trip. If you’re looking to forego the final trek up to Pottersville, consider grabbing dinner in Albany to close out the adventure. These are far from all the caves in the region; Spider Cave, Benson’s Cave and Merlin’s Cave are popular spots as well. But if you hit this loop in Albany County (and maybe even take a detour north), you’ll be ready for whatever adventures the rest of the caves in the state can throw at you.
Address: 671 Caverns Rd, Howes Cave, NY 12092, USA
Address: 255 Discovery Dr, Howes Cave, NY 12092, USA
Address: 2082 Delaware Turnpike, Clarksville, NY 12041, USA
Address: 535 Stone Bridge Rd, Pottersville, NY 12860, USA
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