Hiking Crystal Cave Trail
***June 2021 Update: The Crystal Cave trail is back open! After a long closure due to Covid-19 restrictions, the cave tour operations have resumed. Visitation is by reservation only.
Crystal Cave is a short and popular tour within Sequoia National Park. The tour features the park’s only commercial cave which is part of a larger cave system. Tours range anywhere from forty-five minutes to six hours as a guide takes people through the intricate cave system and explains the cave details and history. If you’re at all interested in booking a tour to see the inside of Crystal Cave, check out the park’s website. Tours range anywhere from forty-five minutes to six hours. I recommend going with the forty-five minute tour. It will tell you all you need to know.
Crystal Cave Fun Facts and History
Crystal Cave is what is known as a karst – a type of landscape layered with soluble rocks like limestone. The limestone can give way to sinkholes, sinking streams, underground drainage systems, and in this case, a cave. Between Sequoia and Kings Canyon, the two parks contain over two hundred and seventy-five cafes. In fact, in these two parks lay half of California’s caves and the longest cave in the state. Within the caves are delicate ecosystems full of unique animals, Pleistocene era fossils, and rare minerals.
The porous landscape that makes up Crystal Cave allows snowmelt and other water sources to flow within the cave. The cave’s water source helps to keep temperatures cool – especially during the summer. Crystal Cave features some exciting topography including speleothems (long curtains of eroded stone), stalagmites, pools of water, and angular curving growth forms.
On an interesting note, the first documented knowledge of Crystal Cave was on April 28th, 1918 by Alex Medley and Cassius Webster. Medley and Webster were two trail workers who were doing a little exploring on one of their days off. The two reported their finding to their supervisor, Walter Fry. Fry originally came to the area as a logger. However in the span of about a week Fry had immense guilt after realizing the significance of chopping down giant sequoias. Fry went on to become superintendent of Sequoia National Park and worked to create the National Park Service.
Some things to keep in mind when touring Crystal Cave:
Flash photography is not allowed. Prohibited items include purses, bags, backpacks, baby carriers, hiking sticks, tripods, monopods, food or flavored beverages (water is okay), or pets (service animals are okay).
Most importantly, any articles of clothing, shoes, or any gear that have ever been in any cave in any part of the world since 2005 are not allowed. This is due to white-nose syndrome. White-nose syndrome is a debilitating disease that has been killing bats who make their home in caves. The disease is spread by fungus and can be carried into caves on gear, clothing, and shoes. White-nose Syndrome is originally from Europe but has spread to North America since around mid-2000’s.
The fungus grows on the skin of bats while they hibernate during the winter. The skin becomes so damaged that their temperature increases and causes the bats to wake up. Their awakened state causes the bats to use energy that needs to be saved to last through the winter. In many instances bats die from starvation. In other instances when bats are awoken they think it’s time to go look for food. The bats leave the cave during winter and can die from hypothermia. White-nose syndrome is a sad but constant reminder that we as people need to take caution to not disturb natural ecosystems.
On A Personal Note:
Of all things to do in Sequoia National Park, a cave tour is not something I expected to do. I personally did the forty-five minute cave tour and thought that it was the perfect amount of time. The park rangers were incredibly informative about the cave history, cave species, and other fun facts. I highly recommend Crystal Cave as something different to do in Sequoia National Park.
Looking for another trail nearby? Check out the General Sherman Tree trail. This short and popular hike features one of the largest trees on the entire planet.Â
Do you have any updates to the hiking trail or want to share your hike/pictures? Please leave a comment below.
- Overall Difficulty: 35%
- Overall Views: 85%
Crystal Cave Trail Quick Facts:
- Elevation: 4,922 feet.
- Elevation Gain: 285 feet.
- Estimated Distance: 0.8 miles.
- My Actual Distance: 0.9 miles.
- Estimated Time: 45 minutes.
- My Time:Â 1 hour 29 minutes.Â
**Please note: My gps statistics might be a little off of the total elevation gain because of being out of range in a cave. My actual moving time was closer to thirty minutes with the standing around from the tour guide.**
Crystal Cave Trail Directions:
If your vehicle is longer than twenty-two feet, it is not allowed on the Generals Highway between Hospital Rock Picnic Area and Giant Forest Museum. It’s recommended that the northern entrance to Kings Canyon National Park on highway 180 be used instead of the southern entrance.
Crystal Cave Trail Pictures:
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- Looking down the short trail to Crystal Cave.
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- More of the trail – there is a small waterfall at the bottom of this trail.
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- The small waterfall at the bottom of the trail to Crystal Cave.
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- Near the cave entrance.
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- Some of the inside of the cave. Pictures were difficult to come by because of the low lighting.
Who Crystal Cave Trail Is For:
Advanced Hikers:Â This isn’t much of a hike or a challenge. However, the experience on viewing the park’s only commercial cave is incredible.
Expert Hikers:Â Same.
It’s always a good idea to be aware of what type of hiking level you’re at.
