Crystal Cave Tours Sequoia National Park
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
The dramatic landscape of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks testifies to nature's size, beauty, and diversity. Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, the world's largest trees, and CAVES decorate the landscape of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks! By some accounts, Sequoia National Park could have been set aside solely to protect the amazing caves found in this area.
Come and explore the underground world of Sequoia and Kings Canyon on a Crystal Cave tour. Join a tour and a cave naturalist will lead you on a journey through this beautiful cave of impressive chambers that are decorated with magnificent formations, rare minerals, unique animals, and a polished marble stream.
Crystal Cave will be open Thursday - Sunday ONLY and CLOSED Monday-Wednesday. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Sequoia Parks Conservancy Field Institute will only be offering the Standard Tour: Family during the 2021 season. We hope to bring back our other tours in 2022.
COVID-19 Safety
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the Sequoia Parks Conservancy urge you to follow National Park Service and CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Face masks are required inside of Crystal Cave regardless of vaccination status. Face masks covering the nose and mouth need to be worn at all times while inside Crystal Cave.
- If you feel sick, please visit another day.
- Practice social distancing. Keep both yourself and park employees safe, by respecting the 6-foot distance rule when you are interacting with them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
Your safety is our number one priority. The health and safety of staff and visitors alike is critical to us. Please follow COVID-19 safety procedures. In accordance with guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities in relation to the pandemic, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are working to increase access to facilities.
Fungal Disease Killing Bats - What You Can Do
White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease killing bats in North America. It has had the most impact in the eastern half of the United States and in Canada, killing millions of bats. The disease has now been detected in California. People can spread the fungus from one cave to another as it can be carried by shoes, clothing, or gear. If you have visited caves in other parts of the country, you must not wear the same clothing or equipment when visiting Crystal Cave. Learn more about how to help bats threatened by white-nose syndrome.
The dramatic landscape of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks testifies to nature's size, beauty, and diversity. Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, the world's largest trees, and CAVES decorate the landscape of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks! By some accounts, Sequoia National Park could have been set aside solely to protect the amazing caves found in this area.
Come and explore the underground world of Sequoia and Kings Canyon on a Crystal Cave tour. Join a tour and a cave naturalist will lead you on a journey through this beautiful cave of impressive chambers that are decorated with magnificent formations, rare minerals, unique animals, and a polished marble stream.
Crystal Cave will be open Thursday - Sunday ONLY and CLOSED Monday-Wednesday. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Sequoia Parks Conservancy Field Institute will only be offering the Standard Tour: Family during the 2021 season. We hope to bring back our other tours in 2022.
COVID-19 Safety
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the Sequoia Parks Conservancy urge you to follow National Park Service and CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Face masks are required inside of Crystal Cave regardless of vaccination status. Face masks covering the nose and mouth need to be worn at all times while inside Crystal Cave.
- If you feel sick, please visit another day.
- Practice social distancing. Keep both yourself and park employees safe, by respecting the 6-foot distance rule when you are interacting with them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
Your safety is our number one priority. The health and safety of staff and visitors alike is critical to us. Please follow COVID-19 safety procedures. In accordance with guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities in relation to the pandemic, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are working to increase access to facilities.
Fungal Disease Killing Bats - What You Can Do
White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease killing bats in North America. It has had the most impact in the eastern half of the United States and in Canada, killing millions of bats. The disease has now been detected in California. People can spread the fungus from one cave to another as it can be carried by shoes, clothing, or gear. If you have visited caves in other parts of the country, you must not wear the same clothing or equipment when visiting Crystal Cave. Learn more about how to help bats threatened by white-nose syndrome.
Need to Know
- COVID-19 Safety
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and the Sequoia Parks Conservancy urge you to follow National Park Service and CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Face masks are required inside of Crystal Cave regardless of vaccination status. Face masks covering the nose and mouth need to be worn at all times while inside Crystal Cave.
- If you feel sick, please visit another day.
- Practice social distancing. Keep both yourself and park employees safe, by respecting the 6-foot distance rule when you are interacting with them.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
Your safety is our number one priority. The health and safety of staff and visitors alike is critical to us. Please follow COVID-19 safety procedures. In accordance with guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities in relation to the pandemic, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are working to increase access to facilities.
- Crystal Cave Open Thursday-Sunday ONLY
Crystal Cave will be open Thursday-Sunday ONLY and CLOSED Monday-Wednesday.
- Standard Tour: Family ONLY
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Sequoia Parks Conservancy Field Institute will only be offering the Standard Tour: Family during the 2021 season. We hope to bring back our other tours in 2022.
- Tickets Required
All visitors must have a ticket, including infants.
- Tickets are NOT available at the cave.
- Tickets are available by online reservation only.
- From 180 days to 48 hours before the tour reservations can be made through Recreation.gov.
- Visitor Centers cannot make changes to existing reservations.
- Printing Tickets
Visitors DO NOT need to print a ticket prior to arriving to Crystal Cave. Please present your confirmation email to Crystal Cave staff upon arrival to the parking lot.
- NO Walk-Up Tickets
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are NO WALK-UP TICKETS in the parks. Tickets are only available online. Tickets are NOT available at the Crystal Cave site.
- White Nose Syndrome Fungal Disease Killing Bats - What You Can Do
White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease killing bats in North America. It has had the most impact in the eastern half of the United States and in Canada, killing millions of bats. The disease has now been detected in California. People can spread the fungus from one cave to another as it can be carried by shoes, clothing, or gear. If you have visited caves in other parts of the country, you must not wear the same clothing or equipment when visiting Crystal Cave. Learn more about how to help bats threatened by white-nose syndrome.
- No refund for missed tours
- Meet at the Cave Parking Lot
The tour group meets in the Cave Parking Lot at the time of your reservation, after a short safety talk the group walks down to the cave. The offical tour begins about 30 minutes after your ticket time.
- Environmental Hazards
Crystal Cave is located at 4500 feet, the area is known to have poison oak, rattlesnakes, and occasional rockfall. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are also known to have poor air quality during the summer. High ozone levels may be the most harmful pollutant here. In summer months, concentrations often exceed the federal ozone health standards.
- Prohibited Items
Bags, purses, backpacks, baby/child carriers, flash photography, hiking sticks, tripods, monopods, food or flavored beverages (drinking water is allowed), pets (service animals are allowed), any articles of clothing that have been in a cave or mine since 2005.
- Be Prepared
Bring a light jacket. The cave temperature is 50F/10C. Bring drinking water. There is no water available at the Cave. Cameras are allowed, but no flash photography.
- Seasons and Tour Availability
Tours are available at Crystal Cave from May until November. The approximate availability of specific tours is as follows:
Standard Tour: Family- daily, all season long
- Accessibility and trail conditions
At the time of your reservation, the tour group is assembled in the Crystal Cave parking lot and starts down the trail to Crystal Cave. The hike is not a part of the 50-minute tour. Visitors must hike down in 20 minutes, most take about 30 minutes to return to the parking area after their tour. This trail is a strenuous ½ mile hike, and not recommended for recent surgery/cardiac patients or those with limited mobility. Along the trail, there are areas of rockfall, poison oak, and rattlesnake habitat.
Inside the cave, the path is mostly dry concrete with some wet areas. The cave is dim and visitors may bring a flashlight, but it is not necessary to do so. The trail through the cave is quite narrow in some places and is not recommended for those with severe claustrophobia.
- Drive Time and Road Conditions
Please allow 60 minutes to get to the parking lot from the Foothills Visitor Center or 45 minutes from the Lodgepole Visitor Center and 30 minutes from the Giant Forest Museum. The road through the park is narrow, winding, and steep. Vehicles over 22 feet (6.7 meters) and towed trailers are not allowed on the Cave Road. Stop at the visitor center for current information and road conditions.
- Arrive Early
Arrive at the parking lot 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. Late arrival may result in forfeiting your tour. There are no refunds for missed tours.
- Emergency Closures
Be aware that due to its wilderness location Crystal Cave may close unexpectedly at any time. In the case of an emergency closure, we will do our best to reschedule your tour or an automatic refund will be issued. Crystal Cave may close at any time due to weather or other circumstances.
- Pets
Throughout the park pets are not allowed on trails- this includes the trail to the cave as well as inside Crystal Cave. Pets may not be left unattended in your vehicle. Service animals are allowed.
- Sequoia Parks Conservancy
The non-profit Sequoia Parks Conservancy (SPC) operates Crystal Cave in partnership with the National Park Service. Please visit the SPC website to learn how you can become involved in helping protect the parks for future generations! Sequoia Parks Conservancy website
- Entrance Fees Apply
You must pay an entrance fee into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. We encourage you to pay in advance at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/72471.
Vehicle Pass - $35.00
- This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling in a single vehicle for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.
To learn more about Park Entrance fees visit the park's website https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Booking Windows
Visitor can purchase tickets 180 in advance and up to 48-hours of a desired tour.
Changes and Cancellations
Tours can be booked up until 48-hours before the tour time. All tours can be canceled for a full refund (less the $1 non-refundable reservation fee) up until midnight two days prior to the tour date.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
47050 GENERALS HIGHWAY UNIT 10 THREE RIVERS CA 93271
Available Tours and Tickets
- Standard Tour: Family - Cave Closed 2022
- Wild Cave Tour: Family - Cave Closed 2022
- Discovery Tour - Cave Closed 2022
- Wild Cave Tour: Adult - Cave Closed 2022
- Standard Tour: Adult - Cave Closed 2022
- Life on Other Worlds - Cave Closed 2022
