Trip AdvisorMoaning Caverns Adventure Park
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. Visitors may view the cavern’s main chamber by walking and climbing the staircase to a flat platform 65 feet underground. From there, a ten-story spiral staircase leads down to a second platform at the base of the chamber. The unique 100-foot high spiral staircase has 144 stairs and spirals around 7½ times. It has allowed hundreds of thousands of visitors the fun and adventure of descending deep into the large single cave chamber.
Moaning Caverns also allows visitors more adventurous spelunking with its Expedition Tour. Most areas of this tour are undeveloped parts of the cave with no lights, stairs, or walkways. Instead, visitors explore by climbing and belly crawling with lighted helmets to find their way.
Expedition Tours are conducted by experienced, highly trained guides. No experience is necessary and all gear for the Expedition Tour is provided.
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With a 20-to-30-foot thick ceiling, the open area inside the chamber is, in fact, tall enough to hold the Statue of Liberty itself.Attraction Advice
The cave temperature is a constant 61 degrees. The cavern is open year-round and offers two types of tours. Admission for the Spiral Tour is $22 over age 12 and $16 for ages 3-11. Visitors under age three are free. This is the most popular family tour and the 45-minute tours leave promptly at the top of every hour. It is not accessible and requires moderate exertion. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Admission for the Expedition Tour is $115 each and requires participants to be at least 12 years old. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. This tour takes over three-and-a-half hours. Equipment includes a hardhat with light and gloves. The group size is limited to eight people. Members of the military and First Responders receive a 10% discount off both tours with a valid ID.
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- Sponsored by: Visit Tuolumne County
- Moaning Caverns Adventure Park
- Vallecito, CA
- (209) 736-2708