Hidden beneath the tallest woodland on the planet is a twisted network of glittering marble passages. After four years of closure, the popular basement series, mixed with crystalline layers under Sequoia National Park, is reopening to the public.
Starting May 23, 2025, Crystal Cave, known for its milky white dairy stones and other sparkling mineralogical features, will once again welcome visitors.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome visitors back to Crystal Cave,” Savannah Boiano, executive director of Sequoia Parks Conservancy, said in a news release. “This hidden underground Marvel is one of the most adoring treasures in Sequoia National Park, and its reopening offers an extraordinary opportunity for visitors to experience firsthand the breathtaking beauty.”
The cave was first closed in 2021 after a complex KNP wildfire damaged the area. In 2022 and 2023, severe winter weather reduced access roads and reduced behavior. Since then, the cave and its surrounding area have undergone extensive repairs and safety upgrades, including road fixing, removal of dangerous trees, and restoring the cave’s solar-powered lighting system.
Located about 45 minutes’ drive from the park’s main entrance near the giant forest, Crystal Cave has been around for millions of years by underground streams eroding marble. There are half-mile loops of strike rock formations, including curtains like dairy stones, flowstones and mineral deposits. Over the past few years, it has attracted tens of thousands of visitors each season. This is the second largest of approximately 275 known caves within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, and the fourth largest in California. (The National Park Service manages more than 4,700 caves nationwide, with many lesser known caves worth exploring.)
Due to the delicate nature of the crystallization, the caves are only accessible on a 50-minute guided tour. A guided underground journey led by naturalists at the Sequoia Parks Conservancy Field Institute delves into the unique ecology, geology and history of the cave.
How to Visit Crystal Caves in Sequoia National Park
Crystal Caves can only be visited on a guided tour with the park’s partner, Sequoia Parks Conservancy. In 2025, the site will be open from May 23rd to September 7th, with tours open from 9am to 3pm, and will be on sale on March 31st, for $21 for adults and $11 for children under the age of 10, and is available online only. These fees are in addition to the cost of an admission pass to Sequoia National Park (starting at $20). Tickets are available online 36 hours prior to the scheduled tour. However, the park recommends purchasing tickets two months before your visit, and the conservancy warns that “it’s often sold out in advance, so plan accordingly.”
It should be noted that although the tour is suitable for all ages (although baby backpack carriers and strollers are not permitted), the Sequoia Parks Conservancy is considered to be intense to and from the cave (with stairs equivalent to a 20-storey building) and is not recommended for those with limited mobility. Similarly, those experiencing claustrophobia or heart or breathing conditions should consider making this visit. Luckily, Sequoia National Park has plenty of ground views.
