It’s one thing go exploring Northern California’s vast array of beautiful landscapes, but it’s something else entirely to venture beneath these landscapes. There are all sorts of underground adventures just waiting to be had, and the one featured here is a must! California Cavern is notable for a variety of reasons but one of its most unique features is an underground lake that forms during the wet season. This body of water is a truly unique sight and it’s a bizarre natural feature that you’ll definitely want to see for yourself.
Located in the Sierra Nevada foothills near a town called Cave City, California Cavern is a stand-out underground adventure for many reasons. This incredible series of interconnected caverns and its underground lakes is simply the type of place you need to see to truly appreciate.
Initially discovered in 1849 by Captain Joseph Taylor, California Cavern was the very first show cave to be opened for public tours in the state. First known as Mammoth Cave, some of the cavern's earliest visitors included local icons like Mark Twain and John Muir.
In addition to being called California's very first show cave, the California Cavern is also considered the longest cavern system in the state. Guided walking tours of the cavern takes you through several passageways, chambers, and crawl-ways. It almost feels like an underground city of sorts.
California Cavern is officially considered a state historic landmark, and they offer two types of tours depending on the type of year. For summer and fall, they offer the Trail of Lights Tour which can last up to 80 minutes. During winter and spring, they offer the shorter Trail of Lakes Tour.
The Trail of Lakes Tour may be a tad shorter than Trail of Lights (it lasts up to 60 minutes), but it makes up for it by offering a truly unique experience unlike any other cavern adventure. During this tour, you'll get to witness the multiple pools of water and rising water levels that form throughout the cave.
The cavern's underground lakes are one of its most fascinating features. That's because these pools first give off the appearance of pure blackness, but the water turns crystal clear when you shine light to it. It's both eerie and mesmerizing.
The cavern opens the miniature lakes up to tour groups once they are deemed safe, and you can even raft or swim across them if you desire. However, we have to admit there's something downright unsettling about swimming across 80-feet of pitch black water!
Visiting California Cavern feels like entering some bizarre underground world, complete with jaw-dropping rock formations and foreboding underground lakes. This is an adventure that's bound to leave you in awe, so add it to your bucket list soon.
Did you know about the underground lake at California Cavern? This is definitely a unique natural feature that you don’t get to see very often. Check out more experiences like this one with our list of 11 Underground Adventures In Northern California.
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