There’s a crystal ice cave tour right here in Northern California and few people know it even exists. During the winter months, this underground cave creates the most beautiful ice formations. You’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to another world as the tour guide leads you through the depths of the cave. If you’re a fan of the weird wonders that our earth creates then you should absolutely sign up for this tour as soon as possible. It’s an experience you’ll definitely remember for years to come.
Lava Beds National Monument is a hotspot of Northern California’s most impressive geologic oddities. Wandering along the monument’s surface, you wouldn’t expect that just 100 feet below you is the most spectacular, ice-covered underworld.
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Most people are familiar with their many different underground caves, but few know that during the winter they offer a limited-time tour of their epic Crystal Ice Cave. For those who are familiar with the tour, this is a highly anticipated time of year.
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The Crystal Ice Cave undergoes an incredible transformation during the winter months. The tours are only available once it’s cold enough for the cave to create its unique ice formations. They generally run from January through March every year.
Lava Beds National Monument/Facebook
Tours of the cave are held every Saturday during these months at 1:00 pm. Visitors must be at least 12 years of age. This isn’t your typical cave tour. Lava Beds describes it as a strenuous experience that visitors should be well-prepared for.
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The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and requires visitors to crawl through tight spaces, ascend a steep grade while holding onto a rope, and carefully traverse icy patches on the ground. It definitely requires some effort, but the payoff is well worth it.
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You’ll be in awe at the otherworldly scene surrounding you. You’ll feel puny in comparison to the humongous ice formations looming over you.
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During the tour, you’ll get to see large ice stalactites, stalagmites, and ice waterfalls. Although the cave is only 960 feet long, the various levels nearly double the length of the cave. Every year the cave looks different. Different formations and rooms of the cave open up, allowing visitors to get a unique experience each year.
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Each tour is limited to just six people at a time. Limiting the number of people allowed in the cave helps protect the ice from melting due to temperature change from body heat. For this reason, tours fill up fast and it’s best to reserve your spot as soon as they let you (three weeks in advance).
Lava Beds National Monument/Facebook For more information regarding tour dates and required equipment to tour the cave, you can visit the Lava Beds National Monument website here.
What do you think? Would you sign up for a crystal ice cave tour? Check out these 11 Underground Adventures In Northern California for even more awe-worthy underground destinations.
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Michael McCullough/Flickr
For more information regarding tour dates and required equipment to tour the cave, you can visit the Lava Beds National Monument website here.
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