Cave Tour Safety

Children: For their safety, children must be at least 42 inches (107 cm) tall to take a tour. The cave route is not safe for small children. Children cannot be carried through the cave. Visitors age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult age 16 or over. To participate in a Candlelight Tour children must be at least 10 years old. To participate in an Off Trail Tour children must be at least 15 years old.

What to Wear: Good walking shoes – do not wear open-toed shoes, flip-flops, or sandals. Warm clothing; the cave is 44 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).

 

Example of the uneven and dimly lit stairs in the cave

NPS

Physical Considerations: Please be aware that the cave tour is physically demanding. It requires the ability to walk and stoop through narrow, twisting passages, including an 88-foot (27m) passageway with ceilings as low as 45 inches (114 cm), and the ability to ascend and descend over 520 steps, many of them steep, uneven and/or without handrails.

To ensure the safety of the entire group, all visitors are asked to demonstrate the physical ability to navigate the cave tour route. During the introduction, the guide will ask visitors to crouch down to approximately 45 inches (114 cm) and take several steps. If a visitor is unable to do so, they will be invited to visit Watson’s Grotto, the first room of the cave, but may need to exit at that point. (Watson’s Grotto is 75 feet [23 m] from the entrance and requires stooping as low as 51 inches [130 cm]).

To protect the resource, visitors are asked not to touch the cave walls or features along the tour route. An exhibit in the visitor center does provide an opportunity for a tactile experience of the cave.

Physical Health: This tour is moderately strenuous and not recommended if you have a heart condition, breathing issues, poor balance, trouble walking, issues climbing stairs, or have back, knee, hip, ankle, or foot problems.