If you’re up for an adventure, exploring caves is something you can do in many places in Northern California. It’s one of those unique terrain features that makes this part of the state especially exciting.
In today’s article, we’ll walk you through 9 of the most amazing caves in Northern California and what to expect in each one of them. If you haven’t been in a cave before, you’re in for some real excitement.
» Check out these 10 Great Hot Springs, RV Camping, and Campgrounds in Northern California.
» Looking for more inspiration along the route? Check out all our guides to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Diego. Find the best beaches in Monterey, waterfalls in Southern California, and national parks.
Amazing Caves in Northern California
1. Lava Beds National Monument Cave
- Address: 1 Indian Well, Tulelake, CA 96134
Kicking off the list with one of the most popular caves, not only in Northern California but in all of North America!
The Lava Beds National Monument Cave is located in an area that connects both Modoc and Siskiyou counties on the Northeastern part of Medicine Lake Volcano.
Despite being a remote area, the natural cave is one of the most popular due to its vastness! The Lava Beds splits into over 700 to 800 lava tube caves. However, not all of them are open for exploration.
Around 20 to 25 of these lava bed caves have marked entrances and are relatively easy to explore, as they have developed and well tended trails that give access to the general public for exploration.
You can easily get a free caving permit to enter the cave from the visitors center near the cave, which is necessary to visit any caves.
Besides lava tube caves, the National Monument also includes the Petroglyph Point, which is one of the largest Native American rock art in the country. There are also several attraction points that add to the cave’s historic and cultural background.
Entrance fees to the area around the cave start from $25, but make sure that you bring cash, as the operators don’t accept bank cards because of the remote nature of the region.
2. Lake Shasta Caverns
- Address: 20359 Shasta Caverns Rd, Lakehead, CA 96051
Formerly known as “Baird Cave” and “Chalk Cave”, Lake Shasta Caverns is located at the base of Mt. Shasta near Shasta Lake and McCloud’s arm.
The natural cavern was declared a National Natural Landmark in mid 2012. Since then, the cave has attracted thousands of tourists every year!
After reaching the area, you’ll need to take a catamaran cruise across the lake, then a bus ride that goes up towards the entrance of the cavern.
The cavern is made up of a network of caves that are made of limestone and has a huge variety of rock formations inside.
The cave is well preserved and safe to explore. The entire tour from the bus takes around 2 hours, but the cave tour takes about an hour.
The entry tickets are $26 for individuals above the age of 16 and $15 for children above two years old, but children younger than 2 don’t need tickets to enter, although not recommended in such a tour because it’s lengthy with little private spaces or restrooms.
3. Moaning Caverns
- Address: 5350 Moaning Cave Rd, Vallecito, CA 95251
The moaning caverns were discovered back in the mid 19th century during the gold rush of Northern California.
The cave gets its name from the iconic moaning echoes that are heard near the entrance. This is mostly due to the layout of the cave, which features one of the largest single cave chambers in all the caves of America.
The Moaning caves have historic and archaeological significance because some of the oldest human remains on the continent were discovered in these caves.
The cave operators offer two different tour packages. One is more family-friendly and the other is a little more challenging for those who are into deep exploration.
The simple tour costs $22 for individuals aged 12 or older while children from 3 to 11 are only $16.
The adventurous tour ticket costs $115 and is only available for individuals older than 12. There are also military discounts (10%) for all tour tickets.
4. Subway Cave Lava Tubes
- Address: 50 miles east of Redding, Old Station, CA 96071
This highly underrated cave is located in the Lassen Volcanic National Park, boasting unique underground tube formations where lava used to flow as recently as 20,000 years ago!
The tube-like cave has a self-guided trail, so it’s usually recommended for those with previous experience with cave exploration.
The trail is only 1/3 mile long but the cave is slightly underdeveloped and has no lighting, so you need to bring flashlights while you’re inside. The good news is that Subway Cave has no entrance fees!
5. Balconies Cave
- Address: Pinnacles National Park, CA 95043
The Balconies Cave is one of the southernmost caves on the list, as it’s found about five miles east of Soledad near the Salinas Valley.
When driving to the park, keep in mind that there are no through roads that connect the west and east gates of the park, so the quickest route is through the town of King City on highway 101.
The cave features some of the most unique boulder-filled gorges, talus caves, and more impressive rock formations in the state.
Luckily, you don’t need a permit to take a hike through the cave. However, you still need to pay an entrance fee of $20 to get inside. Keep in mind that the entry stations are only open from 7:30 am to 8 pm every day.
6. Mercer Caverns
- Address: 1665 Sheep Ranch Rd, Murphys, CA 95247
Mercer Caverns is a network of caves that are located in Calaveras County, around 1 mile north of Murphys town.
The cavern is named after Walter J. Mercer, a popular gold prospector that discovered and filed a claim about the cave back in 1885.
The cave network features a wide variety of rock formations, including stalactites, speleothems, and stalagmites.
The most notable aspect of these caves is the frost-like aragonite, known as “flos ferri”, which ended up winning multiple prizes in worldwide expositions.
The admissions prices are as low as $13 for children aged 3 to 12 years and $20 for any individual that is 13 or older. However, groups of 10 or more people get special rates and discounts.
7. Black Chasm Cavern
- Address: 15701 Pioneer Volcano Rd, Volcano, CA 95689
The Black Chasm has been significant among the Miwok tribes for a long time. However, it became popular after gold miners discovered and explored the cave back in 1854.
The cavern has a wide variety of single cave chambers that are either very small or large enough to house entire trees!
The cave operators offer a 50 minute tour where you’re able to explore the beauty of the caves and enjoy geode cracking, gemstone mining, and gold panning.
The Black Chasm has a nearby visitors center along with a gift shop and hosts many picnics, making it ideal for large groups as well!
Admission costs to the cave are usually $11 for children aged 5 to 12 and $19 for anyone above 13 years old. Children below 5 can enter for free.
8. California Caverns
- Address: 9565 Cave City Rd, Mountain Ranch, CA 95246
This one is a limestone cave that is located at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The cavern features a series of interconnected caves and has one of the most extensive systems of passageways and caverns in the state, allowing them to become the first tourist attraction caves in the region.
A common ritual for those who fully explore the cave is to carve their names on the walls, and the cave now has over 5,000 signatures, including some notable names like Mark Twain and Bret Harte.
The walking tour tickets are $7.95 for children aged 3 to 12 and 14.95 for adults above 13 years old.
There are also more challenging expeditions that are available for $99 and $130 for experienced explorers!
9. Gold Bug Park and Mine
- Address: 2635 Gold Bug Ln, Placerville, CA 95667
Unlike all other natural caves in Northern California, this one is man-made. The Gold Bug Park and Mine are one of the most iconic mines that were developed during the Gold Rush. Visit other gold rush towns around California to soak up this important history.
The park around the mine offers both guided and unguided tours that will give you a very good insight into the lives of miners during the 19th century.
Additionally, there are audio tours that walk you through the process of gold mining and gold panning.
In addition to the historical and cultural significance of the mining cave, it also has a remarkable and unique geographical appeal to explorers.
Entrance to the park itself is free of charge for all ages, including trails and picnic areas. However, the entrance to the cave system is $12 for adults between 17 to 54, $10 for seniors above 55 and military, and $6 for children aged 6 to 17.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there’s a wide variety of amazing natural and man-made caves in Northern California with a lot more to see in each and every one of them.
However, some caves are more challenging than others, so make sure that you do your research before starting your trip!
Like this article? Save it on Pinterest so you can find it again.
FOLLOW US on Pinterest and Facebook for more California travel inspiration and tips!
Angie is a long-time California fan, having lived in the Monterey area for many years. She loves reading, cooking, and hanging out with her two kids.