The Washington Trail With A Cave You Just Can't Beat
By Rachel Raimondi|Published July 18, 2023
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Rachel Raimondi
Author
Writer some days, editor other days, nerd all days. Love to travel to lesser-known spots and give them the love they deserve. Independently owned motor inns, Mom and Pop restaurants, uncrowded National Parks and trails.
In between these, spend my free time virtually adventuring through point-and-click games. Native New Yorker but can frequently be found roaming other parts of the United States.
Is anyone out there an amateur spelunker like I am? Visiting a cave can be like seeing a whole other world. The state of Washington is home to hundreds of caves, many of which you can explore. One such cave is Boulder Cave, located in the Wenatchee National Forest. It’s one of the best cave trails in Washington.
The Boulder Cave Day Use Site is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and attracts more than 30,000 visitors every year.
The hike out to the cave is 1.5 miles roundtrip and should take you about an hour. It is a dirt and gravel path with a few rougher areas as you head closer to the cave’s entrance.
As you journey along to the cave, you’ll follow a small ravine and come across ponderosa pines and Douglas firs as well as interpretive signs educating you about the area’s history and environment.
Due to the dwindling population of big-eared bats and Boulder Cave being a home for these creatures, it is closed from the end of September to the end of May for the bats' hibernation period.
But be sure to not point it directly at the ceiling or walls for the safety of the bats. You’ll also want to stay as silent as possible in order to not disturb them.
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And in order not to spread white-nose syndrome, which is deadly to bats, take extra precautions not to touch the cave walls and clean your shoes both before entering and then exiting the cave.
