11 Incredible Caves in and near Yosemite (From Popular Spots to Hidden Treasures)

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Nestled in the western Sierra Nevada of California, Yosemite National Park is a mindblowing jewel and an absolute bucket-list trip. When thinking of Yosemite, its stunning landscapes, vertical rock formations, and waterfalls come to mind. But beneath the surface lies a network of spectacular caves that beckon adventurers and nature enthusiasts. They offer a spectacular and more secret perspective on the park’s geological history. Keep reading if you want to discover the most beautiful caves of Yosemite and its surrounding areas, from popular spots to hidden treasures.

The Indian Caves are the most famous in Yosemite. They consist of fissures and cracks between boulders. The major one is nestled under the Washington Column — a high rock formation — and at the start of Tenaya Canyon is a low, broad, deep recess under a gigantic rock.

This cave supposedly got her name during the European takeover of Yosemite Valley by the Mariposa Battalion. The story says that an elderly Uzumati or Ahwahneechee woman hid inside this cave from the invaders. Legend also says the smoke of her campfire gave her away, and the cave then became the Indian Cave. Some theorize it was also a winter shelter when the Mono Lake Paiutes attacked it.

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Nowadays, the word Lah-koo-hah, often applied to Indian Cave, is a call meaning “come out,” referring to the hiding place.

Finding the Indian Caves is half the fun of actually exploring it. No directions are available in the park and remain very scarce online. Find the bike path headed to Mirror Lake, and stay on the track until you find the walking trail leading into the forest. Continue until you are standing in front of the best of Washington Column. You will then arrive at an expanse that you can’t miss. But don’t look for signs telling you you are at the right spot; you won’t find any. It’s then up to you to explore and discover it.

Visitors can explore the site by themselves or participate in interpretative walks, educational activities such as cave exploration, or learning games with the Yosemite Institute and the National Park Service.

Spider Caves are some of the most cherished in the Yosemite Valley. Found off the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, they offer stunning formations and intricate pathways. If facing Yosemite Falls, walk a minute to the left. They aren’t in plain sight, so you must look for them to explore. Be aware that you will likely have to hike and wiggle through narrow spaces!

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Lehamite Falls cave hides in the lesser-known Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park. A truly hidden treasure awaiting exploration. A cave with a unique system formed by the action of waterfalls. After a moderately challenging hike, this cave offers a captivating experience for those eager to combine cascades and caverns.

In the remote Lyell Canyon of Yosemite National Park is the secluded Lilburn Cave. The Cave Research Foundation manages it, and it keeps it from the public for research and scientific purposes.

With more than 17 miles of passage, this is the longest in California. Lilburn Cave is a complex and deep cave with a smooth stream leading back to the natural water source, the crystal-clear Big Spring. Walking inside will bless you with stunning black and white marble stripes and other colors from over 30 minerals. Those colors include black, blue, green, and yellow. The cave is rich in untouched passageways and formations and is home to rare cave-dwelling species.

Only a few people who also are experienced spelunkers are authorized to explore with a permit from the National Park Service. Thanks to the restrictions surrounding Lilburn Cave, it will remain a Yosemite secret and treasure.

You can find and explore a number of incredible caves that are just outside of Yosemite!

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Venturing north from Yosemite National Park, you will find Mercer Caverns. This extraordinary cave system is just a short drive from the park, and you will walk into a stunning cave composed of hundreds of stalagmites and stalactites.

In 1885, gold-seeker Walter J. Mercer found these caverns inadvertently.

Walter then explored the caverns and found the skeletal remains of six people, one child and one infant. After a lengthy examination, the remains were identified as members of the Miwok tribe who lived in the area from 1500 to 2000 years ago. In addition to the human remains, explorers found the remains of an extinct Sierra Ground Sloth, Megalonyx sierrensis. The creature lived during the last ice age and had a similar size to nowadays Giant Anteater, with a length of 7 feet and a weight of 140 lbs.

The discovery was an incredible opportunity for curious and adventurous seekers at the time. The name was switched from New Calaveras Cave and renamed in honor of the discoverer.

Walter built a house next to the entrance to welcome visitors and later sell admission tickets and gifts in a building that still stands today. The first guests were charged 50 cents for a two-hour tour, using ropes and holding lighted candles in their mouths. The Mercer family operated the business for 61 years, and the caverns remain privately owned today.

After decades of exploration, it is estimated that the caverns began forming approximately 12 million years ago. They were mapped for the first time in 1985 to a length of 3389 feet and a total depth of 192 feet.

Nowadays, Mercer Caverns offer guided tours where visitors can observe breathtaking calcite formations and learn about the cave’s geology and history.

Near the charming town of Angels Camp lies California’s most impressive and diverse cave systems. California Cavern is a limestone cave with the distinction of having the most extensive passageways and caverns. This cave offers adventure expeditions, witnessing stunning formations and crawling through narrow passageways.

Discovered by Captain Joseph Taylor in 1849, he opened it for public tours by 1853, becoming the first show cave in California. Early visitors used nails to carve their names on the cave walls, resulting in 5000 historic signatures visible today. Early visitors included Mark Twain, Bret Harte, as well as John Muir, who wrote about this visit in his 1894 book, The Mountains of California.

Tours are available if you want to step foot in one of the most beautiful caves in California.

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If you know about or have seen stalactites and stalagmites, you should stop by the Black Chasm Cavern to discover helictites.

This cavern showcases an incredible variety of speleothems, but the highlight of the visit is the rare and beautiful displays of helictite formations. These crystals twist and curl from the walls in every direction. On Earth, only 5% of known caves contain helictites! Inside this cavern, helictites grow in every chamber and in such a large abundance that Black Chasm became a National Natural Landmark in 1976.

On the guided tours, guests will observe hundreds of thousands of helictites, including some with strange shapes that can be reminiscent of animals, butterflies, raindeers, or even candy canes. And the cave mascot, a dragon.

In addition, visitors can explore the Miners Trail on the property. This cave was discovered by gold miners in 1854, and they used hydraulic mining extensively during the Gold Rush. Millions of topsoil were washed away into Sutter Creek and uncovered an area of convoluted marble monoliths.

This exceptional area is still visible, and visitors can access it with a self-guided walking tour.

©Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz/Shutterstock.com

A short drive from the California Cavern lies the Moaning Cavern, take a tour into a stunning marble deposit cavern 165 feet below the surface and deep enough to fit the Statue of Liberty!

This cave is also an archeological site, as human remains have been found and estimated to be at least 12,000 years old. However, scientists found no remnants of tools next to the remains. The entrance to the cave is extremely steep, and most of the bones were found shattered, leading scientists to believe the bones’ presence was due to accidents.

Discovered by gold miners in 1851, the cave takes her name after the moaning sound that echoed out of the cave, luring people to the entrance. However, the expansion of the opening to allow access for the public disrupted the sounds. The Miwok tribe legend said a stone giant named Yayalli lived inside and used the sound the lure people to their deaths. Listen carefully if you decide to visit!

Walking tours and spelunking are available on-site, but you can also try axe throwing and pan for gemstones.

Crystal Cave is one of the crown jewels in California. Nestled in a less-visited park area, it offers a breathtaking experience.

Accessible only via guided tours, guests will walk through the three miles of carved passages and observe formed speleothems, including rarely formed “shields” and “raft cones.” If you are lucky, you might even spot aquatic isopods living in the river streaming through the cave.

The cave’s main highlight is the “Frozen Niagara,” a massive cascade of calcite formations.

Nestled within the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park, Boyden Cavern is another unique cave system near Yosemite. The water on marble rock formed the cave resulting in intricate formations. Guided tours are available, and visitors will discover the magic of stalactites, helictites, and draperies that beautify the cave’s interior.

Located in the heart of the Sequoia National Park, they comprise more than 30 caverns, 15 springs, blind valleys, sinkholes, and sinking streams. Progressing through this extensive system, you will be hiking along rocky terrain while exploring the river with stunning blue waters. This cave offers towering rock formations and even a cave with an all-ice floor!

If you want to see more, you can make your way from Mineral King to other caves like Batslab, Never Seen, and Seldom Seen.

The possibilities to visit caves are almost endless in the California Sierra Range. But one thing is sure, you won’t see all of them in one trip. Some in Yosemite National Park are well-kept secrets and can only be found by freely exploring the stunning landscapes. Sequoia National Park is a better option if you are already a fan of cave exploration, with an extensive list of caves to explore.

But as you embark on your explorations, remember to respect the delicate environments and obey park guidelines to preserve these wonders for future generations.

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