Featured Destination Story

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park

Vallecito, CA

Moaning Caverns was discovered in the 1840s by gold miners The name comes from the moaning sounds that echoed out of the cave but arrowheads and other pointed tools date the cave back thousands of years, revealing that the first humans on the continent may have lived near Moaning Caverns. A necklace, found in a clay layer and displayed at its visitor center, is estimated to be over 8,000 years old.

In their search for gold, they explored the cavern, entering through the small natural entrance and then lowering themselves to the floor of the main room by means of a large ore bucket on a winch. They used candles and whale oil lamps for light.

Today, visitors can explore Moaning Caverns on a cave tour that goes deep underground. Home to the largest single cave chamber in California, the massive room extends into the marble deposit of the Calaveras Formation over 180 feet before funneling into smaller passageways.