11 Best Caves near Sacramento You Want to Visit for an Epic Adventure

Are you looking to visit the best caves near Sacramento? Then this article is for you.

Whether you are interested in seeing some stalactites or are just excited to climb down into the darkness, these caves and caverns near Sacramento will fulfill your need for adventure. 

Each cave is truly unique, and visiting just one is not enough. 

Experienced tour guides are ready to share these caves’ history and information about how they were formed. 

Now get ready for some cave exploration near Sacramento.

11 Best Caves Near Sacramento California

The caves near Sacramento not only answer your call for adventure but also give you a lot of options for other activities close by. 

You can go hiking, have a picnic, or even do some wine tasting at a nearby vineyard. 

Thus, you can make a day out of visiting one of these caves.

In this guide, we’ve included practical tips and things you need to know for visiting the caves.

Black Chasm Cavern National Natural Landmark

• Distance from Sacramento: 57.2 miles
• Driving Time: 1:10 hours
• Cost: $19 for adults (13 and up), $11 (ages 5 to 12)
• Activities Offered: Guided tour, gemstone mining, gold panning, nature trail
• On-site Facilities: Visitor’s center, parking lot, restrooms, picnic tables

Black Chasm Caverns, just over an hour outside of Sacramento, was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1976 due to its beautiful and rare helictite crystals. 

Helictite crystals are cave-formed minerals that grow in different directions that seem to defy the laws of gravity. 

Not only will you see these amazing rock formations, but you will ascend several flights of stairs down into the cavern, where you will cross a bridge and get a glimpse of the crystal clear blue lake below. 

A 50-minute walking tour is offered to no more than a group of 20 people due to space constraints.

To preserve the beauty of this cave, camera attachments like tripods, big backpacks, and purses are prohibited to avoid scraping the crystals and causing irreversible damage. 

There are no age restrictions imposed, but infants and toddlers are only allowed to be carried in front packs. 

🧭 WHAT ELSE TO DO NEAR BLACK CHASM CAVERNS:

• Stop by Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park 

This historic park is located just eight miles east of Jackson, California, where you can find the largest collection of bedrock mortars. 

The Miwok tribe used these rocks to grind acorns for food. You can also check out petroglyphs or carved images here.  

If you want a short history trip during your tour, this park should be part of your list. 

• Go wine tasting in Amador County 

Your trip to the Gold Rush town would not be complete without some wine tasting. 

With vineyards surrounding the area, you are assured of some good wine choices. 

Visit Di Arie Tasting Room if you want to try some full-bodied red wines with gentle tannins. 

Terre Rouge Winery made the top 100 wines in the world in 2020, and their winemaker Bill Easton is a legend in the wine world. 

Story Winery also produces some excellent wines, but you can’t go wrong with any of the amazing wineries.

LOCAL TIP: On weekends in October, stop by Preston Castle if you want to visit a scary haunted house near this cave.

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park

• Distance from Sacramento: 84.2 miles
• Driving Time: 1.5 hours
• Cost: Spiral Tour ($22 for 12 and up, $16 for 3-11); Expedition Tour ($115 per person)
• Activities Offered: Guided tours, axe throwing, gemstone panning
• On-site Facilities: Gift shop, restrooms, picnic tables

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park is a great cave tour near Sacramento that attracts visitors for being the largest single cave chamber in California with a depth that reaches up to 410 feet. 

Visitors should check the spiral stairs that boast 144 steps and makes seven and a half rotations. 

This tour is perfect for families as it only requires moderate exertion. 

The cave’s temperature is 61 degrees all year round, but people who easily get cold should bring a light jacket.  

One of the best things about visiting this cave near Sac is the above-ground activities that they offer, such as ax throwing and panning for gemstones which are fun for the kids.

🧭 WHAT ELSE TO DO NEAR MOANING CAVERNS:

• Visit Angels Camp 

Angels Camp is a small town off Hwy 49 that is only a 10-minute drive from Moaning Caverns.

The historic downtown is part of the California Gold Country, and you can learn about the history by visiting the Angels Camp City Museum.

There are plenty of boutique shops and restaurants to check out as well as wineries if you want to do some wine tasting.

If you want to explore further, you can drive down to New Melones lake, which is one of the largest reservoirs in California, for beautiful views of the lake.

Coyote Creek Cave 

• Distance from Sacramento: 85.3 miles
• Driving Time: 1:40 hours
• Cost: Free
• Activities Offered: Swimming, Natural Bridges Trail
• On-site Facilities: Pit toilet

Just beside Moaning Caverns, Coyote Creek Cave is a must-do adventure when visiting the gold country of Calaveras County.

This cave is different compared to others on the list, as you can swim through it, which is very refreshing, especially in the summer. 

Coyote Creek Cave has free year-round access as the Bureau of Reclamation manages it, but parking will need to be paid in cash if you do not have an annual pass. 

Before enjoying this cave, you must hike the Natural Bridges Trail, a rugged two-mile out-and-back trail. 

There are no restrooms near the cave, so it’s better to come prepared. 

This cave is the perfect stop right after exploring Moaning Caverns, as it is right beside it.

California Cavern State Historic Landmark

• Distance from Sacramento: 78.6 miles
• Driving Time: 1.5 hours
• Cost: Trail of Lights Walking Tour ($19 for adults,  $11 for ages 5 to 12), Mammoth Cave Expedition ($89/person), Middle Earth Cave Expedition ($159/person for ages 16 and up)
• Activities Offered: Guided tours, cave expeditions, gemstone mining
• On-site Facilities: Restrooms, gift shop, picnic tables, volleyball court, nature trail

This cavern system is considered California’s longest, and the tour takes 45 to 80 minutes by walking through pristine stone formations and beautiful cave formations. 

The best thing about California Caverns is its extensive pathways and labyrinths throughout the tour. 

The tour guide may turn off the lights in some areas for an immersive cave exploring experience. 

This tour is not recommended for people with claustrophobia. 

But for people who love adventure, the two-hour Mammoth Cave Expedition or the four-hour Middle Earth Expedition is recommended. 

Aside from cave exploring, there are also other activities to experience, like gemstone mining and gold panning.

🧭 WHAT ELSE TO DO NEAR CALIFORNIA CAVERNS:

• Visit Calaveras Big Trees State Park

After visiting the cavern, you can drop by Calaveras Big Trees State Park, home to two groves of giant sequoia trees. 

Only a 45-minute drive from California Caverns, this state park is open year-round and is a great side trip while you’re in the area.

There are multiple hiking trails that you can explore, ranging from easy to challenging, so you can easily spend a couple of hours here.

Hiking along its trails will leave you in awe of the giant sequoia trees and provide you with an enjoyable experience here in the gold country of Calaveras. 

If you want an extended time in this area, you can easily stay at the campground and wake up with the sight of the redwoods.

Mercer Caverns

• Distance from Sacramento: 84.5 miles
• Driving Time: 1:35 hours
• Cost: $20 for adults, $13 for ages 3-12 years
• Activities Offered: Guided tours, gem mining
• On-site Facilities: Visitor center, gift shops, restrooms

Mercer Caverns, located near Murphys, CA, is one of the best caverns near Sacramento. 

This cavern is famous for its beautiful stone formations, stalagmites, stalactites, and intricate passageways. 

Their guided tours will take you 161 feet underground into the cavern, which is equivalent to a 16-story building. 

There is a steep stairway with 440 steps, so it can be a bit strenuous for others.

Those with claustrophobia may want to skip this cavern as you might be required to do a bit of ducking and squeezing in some areas, where it can be fairly narrow.

This is a beautiful cave to visit if you are up for an adventure.

🧭 WHAT ELSE TO DO NEAR MERCER CAVERNS:

Go Wine Tasting in Murphys 

Wine tasting can be intimidating for the uninitiated, but in Murphys, several wine tasting rooms offer non-pretentious wine tasting. 

Drop by Tanner Vineyards, located in the Sierra Foothills, where they value quality over quantity. 

Lavender Ridge Vineyard is a perfect choice for wine and cheese pairings. 

If you’re looking for a lesser-known winery, make sure to check out Gossamer Cellars. 

READ MORE: You can easily add this stop on your road trip from Sacramento to Yosemite or vice versa. 

Other Caves and Caverns Near Sacramento (over a 2-hour drive)

Lake Shasta Caverns National Natural Landmark

• Distance from Sacramento: 178 miles
• Driving Time: 2:40 hours
• Cost: $35 for 16 and up, $21 for ages 3 to 15

Located on the north end of Shasta Lake is one of the most impressive caverns in Northern California.

Over 250 million years in the making, this cave near Sacramento can only be accessed by a guided catamaran boat ride on Shasta Lake, followed by a scenic bus ride into the cavern.

Inside the cavern, you will be able to explore eight different rooms that are full of stalagmites, stalactites, limestone, helictites, and dinosaur fossils.

Lake Shasta Caverns maintains a 58-degree temperature year-round, so it’s a great place to go to escape the summer heat in Sac.

READ MORE: You can easily add this stop on your road trip from Sacramento to Portland to break up your trip. 

Bear Gulch and Balconies Cave

• Distance from Sacramento: 185 miles
• Driving Time: 3 hours
• Cost: Pinnacles National Park Entrance Fees ($30/vehicle, $15/walk-in, valid for 7 days) 

If you want a more adventurous experience, the Bear Gulch and Balconies cave are the best places to go. 

Located inside the Pinnacles National Park are these two talus caves.

The huge boulders and rocks in both caves make them quite difficult and strenuous as maximum effort is needed in some areas as there is plenty of obstacles and climbing involved. 

This cave is not for families with small kids, and no guided tours are available. 

Despite that, these caves are clean, well-maintained, and perfect for thrill-seekers to explore. 

Subway Cave

• Distance from Sacramento: 206 miles
• Driving Time: 3.5 hours
• Cost: Free

Located just outside Lassen Volcanic National Park, Subway cave is known as one of the largest lava caves in the world. 

You can take the self-guided trail that stretches for one-third of a mile. 

It’s perfect for a chill cave exploration since no hardhats are necessary, and it only requires a minimum amount of effort. 

The temperature inside the cave is 46°F, so bring a light jacket and wear comfortable shoes for walking. 

Since the cave could be dark in some areas, bring a flashlight or a headlamp with you.

This cave is closed in the winter season due to snow and icy conditions, so plan accordingly.

If you’re staying in Sacramento, this cave is a 3.5-hour drive. 

Bower Cave 

• Distance from Sacramento: 132 miles
• Driving Time: 2.5 hours
• Cost: Free

Located in Coulterville, Bower Cave is more of an open limestone grotto with a 30-meter wide opening. 

People used to go here for dances and get-togethers and even served as a respite for travelers during hot summer days. 

There is a lake inside the cavern, which occupies about a quarter of the grotto floor, but you cannot try cavern scuba diving here since it could be dangerous. 

Bower Cave is now closed until further notice, and overnight camping and entry to this hidden cave are strictly prohibited. 

Sea Caves near Sacramento

• Mendocino Sea Caves – visit this California coastal town and get on a kayak to visit these sea caves.

• Secret Cave of Seven Mile Beach – check out this secret cave located in Santa Cruz’s Seven Mile beach.

Map of Caves near Sacramento

What is the best time to visit the caves near Sacramento? 

The best time to visit caves near Sacramento is from April to June or September through November. 

Most caves maintain around 50°F to 58°F in temperature, even if it’s 100°F outside.

If you’re staying in Sacramento, then visiting the caves makes it a perfect escape from the summer heat.

During the months of December to March, heavy rainfalls are expected. 

Since caves can be prone to flooding, better avoid these months for cave tours near Sacramento.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Caves near Sacramento

Dress appropriately

Visiting caves can be really enjoyable if you are prepared and dressed appropriately. 

Caves can be humid and cold, so your outfit will need to depend on what kind of cave you will visit. 

But the basic cave exploration outfit would be light and comfortable clothing that you wouldn’t mind getting dirty.

Having a light jacket with you is also a good idea since temperatures can be a bit chilly. 

Clothes that do not dry easily, like cotton, should be avoided. 

Closed-toe shoes with good traction are recommended since the terrain is uneven, rocky, and often wet. 

Accessibility is limited

Since caves are natural openings on the ground, accessibility can be limited. 

Most caves have low ceilings, so watch your head to keep from bumping into the rocks and damaging the stone formations. 

Paths can be small and uneven; thus, wheelchairs and trolleys are not recommended. 

People with claustrophobia must also take note that some caves have small and limited space inside, so decide ahead of time if you really want to enter. 

Dogs are not allowed

Dogs or any pets are not allowed inside most caves as the spaces and stairways are narrow, and leashes can be a tripping hazard. 

If you plan to bring a dog, you will need to leave someone behind to attend to your pet.

What to bring when visiting a cave

Bringing proper equipment is important to maximize your time inside the cave fully. 

So better do your research if you plan to go inside a wet or dry cave. 

A small fanny pack or waist belt instead of a purse or backpack is recommended to carry any essentials and you can keep your hands free. 

If you are going inside a wet cave, have an extra change of dry clothes in your car. 

Also, bring a headlamp for safety, as the caves can be pitch black, and the ground is uneven. 

What NOT To Bring When Visiting the Caves Near Sacramento 

As visitors inside these caves, we just do our part in preserving these natural sites for future generations. 

Aside from preservation, not bringing these items inside the cave also promotes safety for everyone. 

• Large backpacks/purses – Bulky items can scrape the walls of the caves, so better pack light. 

• Tripods/selfie sticks – These items are also prohibited since these could also accidentally come in contact with the stone formations and accidentally damage the caves. 

• Food/drinks – Depending on how strict the cave is, food and drinks are usually not allowed because spilled food is difficult to clean, missed particles can grow mold, and lingering scents can attract other animals.

Caves vs. Caverns: What’s the Difference?

Caves and Caverns are words often used interchangeably. But geologists quipped that they only have slight differences. 

For instance, cave entrances are on the earth’s surface compared to a cavern where their openings are underground. 

Based on how they are formed, both are formed from lava or the dissolving of limestone, gypsum, dolomite, or salt with acidulated water. 

All caverns are caves with speleothems. On the other hand, caves do not have speleothems all the time. 

To put it simply, all caverns are caves, but not all caves are caverns.

FAQs

What is the largest cave in California?

The largest cave in California is the Moaning Cavern, located in the gold country of Calaveras County. 

It consists of a vertical shaft 165 feet tall, and the cave’s depth measures up to 410 feet. 

How many caves are in California?

California has well over 1000 caves between those found at Lava Beds National Monument and Sequoia National Park. It is suspected that there are even more that are yet to be discovered.

Wrap-Up: Caves near Sacramento

While there are no caves in Sacramento, there are plenty of options to choose from that are within an hour’s drive.

These caves near Sacramento serve as the gateway to a great adventure. Whether you prefer guided tours or you want to explore on your own, you will find the perfect cave for you. 

There are also wet caves and dry caves, each perfect for different types of thrills. 

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a cup of coffee for the ride and pack up some snacks and your caving gear, and head to one of the best caves near Sacramento.

Here are more Sacramento articles you should check out:

• Best Beaches near Sacramento
• Best Ski Resorts near Sacramento