California Caves - North State

California Caves - North State

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Caves and Caverns, Northern California has Both:

This is an adventure you want to add to your list of family fun things to do while visiting Mount Shasta.

There are a few California caves within a short distance of Shasta Ranch Lodge.

There are many accessible caves.

Some are more accessible with lighting and guided tours, "others" you are on your own.

Lake Shasta Caverns , just 45 miles south of Shasta Ranch Lodge is a great way to spend an afternoon.

The tour of the caverns is guided. Before and after the cavern tour however, you will take a relaxing ride on Shasta Lake, on a 65 ft. catamaran, and a scenic bus ride.

Keep on the look out for the occasional eagle, deer or maybe even a bobcat.

Contact Lake Shasta Caverns for more information: 530.238.2341

Guest Comments:

We had a blast! We went to the Shasta Caverns and it was good to come home to a wonderful house where there is always something to do. The kids spent most of their time in the pool room. They all say they want to come back. Thanks for letting us stay.

Julie, Steve, Sarah, Kyan, Michelle, Pat, Nick, Emily

Spelunkers = Those who explore Caves and Caverns:

Start out early for this one. Lava Beds National Monument is about 100 miles from Shasta Ranch Lodge. Eat your cheerios and pack plenty of lunch, snacks, and water. There's nothing to eat or drink within 30 minutes of the park, plan wisely.

Bring your flashlights, good boots, hiking gear, and first aid kit. The site is the largest concentration of lava caves in North America. These California caves have both guided and "on your own" caves. The on your own caves are dark caves. You can't see your hand at the end of your noise. Be Careful.

There is over 400 lava caves discovered within the monuments boundaries. Out of the 400, several dozen are accessible by the public. This short list of accessible caves and their degree of "challenges" will help you plan your day.

Cave Types - Ice Caves:

Crystal Cave, this cave is breath taking. It is full of fragile, ice features that include frozen waterfalls and crystal footballs. Crystal Ice Cave contains some of the most spectacular ice formations in the park.

This cave is guided. Being an ice cave it is only open in the winter months. You must make reservations up to three weeks in advance. For more information call the visitor center at 530.667.8113

This is a 3 to 3.5 hour strenuous cave exploring experience not soon forgotten. Not for the faint at heart, good physical condition is a requirement.

Your tour will include climbing up, down, and around boulders, crawling through holes, and using a rope to navigate a sloped ice floor.

Lava Caves:

Most of the 400+ lava caves at the park were created from the Mammoth Crater. The creation of the caves was a result of very fluid lava cooling and solidifying around it's perimeter. As this cooling took place it formed an insulated "shell", when lava stopped flowing, the lava caves we explore remained.

Some of these lava caves stretched 15-20 miles underground. Today with cave-ins, they are a few hundred feet to a couple of miles in length. It is these cave-ins that give us access today.

Valentine Cave, one of 400+ lava caves at the Lava Beds National Monument. This cave is over 1600 ft. in length.

The large main passages make for easy access. Notice the bench levels, these were formed in the walls from different lava flows.

The ceiling has lava-circles. These are formed from dripping lava. Be careful, these drips can be razor sharp.

Along with the lava caves this area is rich in history and Native American rock art. With over 5,000 individual images, both pictographs (painted), and petroglyphs (carved), this site is one of the most extensive representations of Native American rock art you will find.

While traveling through the Monument, be sure to stop at the Visitor Center. Have a chat with a ranger, they will be glad to answer all your questions. Need lights and caving helmets, they are available for loan while you are at the Monument. For more Information contact the Visitor Center at 530.667.8100

Subway Cave:

85 miles from Shasta Ranch Lodge, this trip can be combined with a trip to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. After visiting the falls, Subway Cave is just another 30 miles down the road.

Dress warm, wear good boots and don't go it alone. Subway Cave is a cool 46 degrees all year round. The cave is an easy first cave. Ceilings never lower than 6 feet, no tight squeezes or crawling involved. The Forest Service provides a self guided map for your convenience. For more information contact the Hat Creek Ranger District at 530.336.5521. Don't forget your flashlights.

There is so much to see and explore at these California caves.

These adventures are rich in history and ideal for family fun. Adding cave exploring to your outdoor recreation adventures will be a lasting memory.