For an awesome cave themed day trip in Washington, head to Crawford State Park. What seems like your everyday, unassuming state park, is actually home to one of the longest limestone caverns in Washington State. So head over Crawford State Park, take a guided tour of the fascinating Gardner Cave, and then have a lovely picnic at the covered shelter. It’s the perfect way to spend the day.
Crawford State Park is located in the northeastern corner of Washington State, just north of the town of Metaline Falls. Tucked away near the US-Canada and Washington-Idaho borders, this park makes for a perfect day trip.
The park is a 40-acre, forested day-use park. The star attraction here is Gardner Cave, a 500-million-year-old cavern, which you can explore via a free guided tour. Reserve your tour on the park’s website.
Visitors to the caverns are recommended to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Please note that there is a steep, 200-yard walk from the parking lot to the cave entrance and there are several flights of stairs in the cave.
During your tour, you will see ceilings and walls rich with stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and rimstone pools. Your guide will teach you how to identify these geological wonders. Temperatures in the caverns vary, so remember to layer your clothing.
After your epic tour of these fascinating caverns, head over to the covered picnic area for a memorable lunch or snack. It’s the perfect way to end your cave themed day trip in Washington!
