California Cavern Middle Earth Expeditions and Mammoth Cave Expeditions currently available DAILY when reserved in advance. Walk tours available DAILY. Known by Native Americans for an indeterminate amount of time, there is some controversy about when exactly California Cavern was discovered by westerners. Some evidence points to 1849, and some to 1850. However, we do know that the discovery is attributed to Captain Joseph Taylor who was target practising on a rocky outcropping. Noticing that his targets were being moved by a breeze which seemed to emanate from the rocks, he investigated this curious phenomenon and discovered the entrance to the cave. We also know that California Cavern was the very first cave in the state to be opened to the public for guided tours in 1850. In the early days, the cave was known as "Mammoth Cave." The original tours, though impressive, were shorter than they are today, since more of the cave system has been discovered over the years. Click on the picture in this paragraph to go to our interactive map which compares the original historic trail to the current Trail of Lights. Early visitors included Bret Harte, Mark Twain and John Muir who wrote about his visit in "Chapter 15 - In the Sierra Foot-Hills" of his 1894 book "The Mountains of California" when it was called Cave City Cave. For 150 years, visitors have enjoyed the unique delicate beauty of the cavern's crystalline formations. Some speleothems, such as the beaded helictites found in the Middle Earth area are very rare. Others are so numerous as to be spectacular, such as the "Jungle Room's" array of stalactites. Besides 2 fun walking tours, we also offer the wonderful opportunity to participate in underground adventures - our professionally guided wild cavern spelunking trips - the Mammoth Cave Expedition and Middle Earth Expedition. Scroll down the page to learn more about each activity.. Check out the video below, to see a spelunker entering the "Womb Room" - part of the Mammoth Cave and Middle Earth Expeditions: Join Email List The Trail of LIGHTS Walk Tour - available DRY season only. This guided tour is suitable for the whole family and is only available during our dry season. In our wet season, the Trail of Lakes tour is available instead. The Trail of lights is approximately 60 - 80 minutes long, and meanders over nearly level, well lighted passages and walkways. Experienced, professional guides lead groups into the recently discovered "Jungle Room," named for the array of crystalline "vines" covering the ceiling, many of them several feet long. Groups learn about the rich history of the cavern and the surrounding countryside, and cavern formation and geology. For safety reasons, we do not allow children to be carried in backpacks on this tour. Small babies in front packs/slings are okay. To learn about fun activities you and your family can do while in the area, click on the "Links" button above. This will take you to a page full of links to other sites, including Calaveras & Tuolumne County's Visitors Bureau web sites. From either of these sites you can learn of nearby places to stay, things to do, and some history of the area. FACTS AT A GLANCE: Trail of LIGHTS Walk Tour Adventure Scale: 1.5 Availability DRY season only Regular cost per person $14.25 adult, $7.15 child (ages 3 - 12) Length of trip 60 - 80 minutes Group size Up to 25 people Underground temperature 55°F year round Making reservations Reservations necessary for GROUPS ONLY: call toll free any day of the week: 866-762-2837. Group discounts available. The Trail of LAKES Walk Tour - available WET season only. This guided tour is suitable for the whole family and is only available during our dry season. In our wet season, the Trail of Lakes tour is available instead. The Trail of lights is approximately 60 - 80 minutes long, and meanders over nearly level, well lighted passages and walkways. Experienced, professional guides lead groups into the recently discovered "Jungle Room," named for the array of crystalline "vines" covering the ceiling, many of them several feet long. Groups learn about the rich history of the cavern and the surrounding countryside, and cavern formation and geology. For safety reasons, we do not allow children to be carried in backpacks on this tour. Small babies in front packs/slings are okay. To learn about fun activities you and your family can do while in the area, click on the "Links" button above. This will take you to a page full of links to other sites, including Calaveras & Tuolumne County's Visitors Bureau web sites. From either of these sites you can learn of nearby places to stay, things to do, and some history of the area. FACTS AT A GLANCE: Trail of LAKES Walk Tour Adventure Scale: 1.5 Availability WET season only Regular cost per person $14.25 adult, $7.15 child (ages 3 - 13) Length of trip 50 - 60 minutes Group size Up to 25 people Underground temperature 55°F year round Making reservations Reservations necessary for GROUPS ONLY: call toll free any day of the week: 866-762-2837. Group discounts available. 2-3 Hour Mammoth Cave Expedition Groups explore the historic "Mammoth Cave" area and "Jungle Room," walking, crawling, wiggling, and squirming through natural passages that connect through thirteen chambers. This extended cavern trip is perfect for those who desire something more than a walk, but less stamina is needed compared to the other adventures offered. All tight crawl ways and squeezes are optional. Participants must be at least 8 years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. Trip time is about 2-3 hours. If you are interested in taking this trip, you will need to call 209-736-2708 to make reservations. To see how to prepare for your trip, HERE for Expedition Preparation. FACTS AT A GLANCE: Mammoth Cave Expedition Adventure Scale: 3.5 Availability DRY season only Minimum age 8 years if accompanied by parent Regular cost per person $130 per person Length of trip 2 - 3 hours Group size Up to 9 people Underground temperature 55°F year round Equipment provided Hardhat with lights, gloves, coveralls Making reservations Call toll free any day of the week: 866-762-2837. This activity REQUIRES advance reservations. Up to 4 Hour Middle Earth Expedition Groups explore approximately 80% of the cavern system from the east entrance to the western most exit. The circuit is about a mile long, so stamina is required! The first hour of the trip consists of walking, crawling and squeezing through the historic "Mammoth Cave" area. Then groups pass through the "Middle Earth" area which was discovered in 1980. Here there is mostly walking through nearly knee deep, sticky cave clay (high top shoes are a must) and the scenery is incredibly beautiful. The remainder of the trip consists of exploring the horizontal fissures in the "Cave of the Quills" area and a quick, 70-foot rafting trip across "Tom's Lake." The trip concludes with passages filled with "goo," more beautiful crystalline rooms, and then ascending ladders to sunshine and showers. Participants must be at least 16 years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. Trip time varies depending on the number of participants and ranges from 2-1/2 to a maximum of 4 hours. If you are interested in taking this extended cave trip, you will need to call 209-736-2708 to make reservations. To see how to prepare for your trip, HERE for Expedition Preparation. To get more of an idea of what spelunking looks like, click here to read an account of one Middle Earth Expedition and to see some amateur pictures. The Middle Earth Expedition makes an exceptional team building activity. FACTS AT A GLANCE: Middle Earth Expedition Adventure Scale: 5 Availability DRY season only Minimum age 16 years if accompanied by parent Regular cost per person $148 per person Length of trip Up to 4 hours Group size Up to 9 people Underground temperature 55°F year round Equipment provided Hardhat with lights, gloves, coveralls Making reservations Call toll free any day of the week: 866-762-2837. This activity REQUIRES advance reservations.