Explore Crystal Cave as it reopens at Sequoia National Park for this season

Yahoo

24-05-2025

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After a four-year closure due to natural disasters, Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park reopened to the public this weekend in time for Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer.
Crystal Cave is located near the Giant Forest area and has been one of the most popular visitor destinations in the park since it opened for public tours in 1940.
Since the announcement earlier this year that the cave was reopening for the 2025 season, 'the response from the public has been overwhelming,' said Nicole Stivers, marketing and communications director for Sequoia Parks Conservancy.
'It's a beautiful reminder of how people value these experiences in our national parks,' Stivers said.
For people in the Central Valley, Crystal Cave has been just more than a tour or a rite of passage.
'It's a portal to something extraordinary,' Stiver said. 'A hidden world beneath the forest floor with cool air, sparkling formations and fairy pools.'
Guided tours tickets for the first several weeks of the 2025 season — which runs from May 23 to Sept. 7 — are sold out, Stivers said. She said one-third of the entire season has been sold as of May 22. Tours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and can be booked online only. Tickets will not be available for purchase onsite.
Before its closure due to wildfires, floods and other nature incidents, an average of 51,000 people visited the cave each summer, according to the conservancy.
Clay Jordan, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks superintendent, said the reopening of Crystal Cave is not only a milestone but a big step toward recovering from 'the most unprecedented national disasters in the park's 135 years history.'
For example, the road and infrastructure leading to Crystal Cave were greatly impacted by the KNP Complex wildfire in 2021, and again during the severe winter storms in 2022 and 2023, which created unsafe conditions for visitors.
The cave closed in 2020 due to COVID and was affected by the Castle Fire that year, as well. While the cave reopened for the 2021 season with limitations due to COVID mitigations, the season was cut short because the KNP Complex fire left 'a much more catastrophic impact to the park's infrastructure,' Jordan said.
According to Jordan several projects over the last three to four years helped restore access, including power line replacement, road stabilization, and clearing hazardous trees along Crystal Cave Road. About 4,800 hazard trees have been removed along the route to the cave.
'Although we are still under construction, we are happy that we could get this open at the earlier possible time in order to restore access for people to be able to experience (Crystal Cave,' Jordan said.
As crew continue to remove felled hazard trees along the roadway, visitors to the cave can expect traffic delays throughout the 2025 season. Road construction and other projects are expected to continue after the season ends.
The reopening of the cave is 'a celebration of resilience and the deep love so many people have for this National Park and this place,' Stiver said.
'This moment in time, has been a labor of love to get here,' said Savannah Boiano, executive director of the Sequoia Parks Conservancy.
Boiano called the reopening a 'historic moment' that represents the next chapter in the legacy of the national park.
'Crystal Cave is not only a source of inspiration to visitors. It's a place where they become active participants in conservation and stewardship,' said Boiano. 'We're not just restoring access today, we're ensuring the sustainability of this ecosystem for future generations.'
According to Boiano, more than 450 visitors a day will be able to experience the cave this season.
The cave is operated by Sequoia Parks Conservancy, the nonprofit partner of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks that manages the park stores inside the visitor centers. The conservancy has served as the tour operator for Crystal Cave since 1982.
Is This Tour Right for You?
Crystal Cave does require physical exertion. It may not be suitable for everyone.
The cave trail is a challenging and steep hike.
Visitors with claustrophobia, heart/respiratory conditions, or recent surgery should reconsider the tour.
Young children must be able to walk on their own (no strollers or baby backpacks allowed).
All visitors assume the risk for personal injury and property loss. The park is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Trip Preparation Checklist
Tour duration: 2 hours total
Hike: 1⁄2-mile round trip with steep terrain and stairs
Inside the Cave: Cold (50°F), damp, and dark
Before You Go
Crystal Cave tour ticket does not include park entry fee.
Buy your park pass in advance at nps.gov/seki.
Fuel up. There's no gas in the parks.
Stay hydrated. Bring your own water — none is available at the cave.
Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes. The trail and cave can be slippery.
No pets. They're not allowed on trails, in the cave, or left in vehicles.
Dress in layers. It's cool in the cave, even if hot outside.
Flashlights and sunscreen are optional.
Getting There
Crystal Cave is near Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park.
Drive with care. The area was heavily impacted by wildfire and storms. Restoration is ongoing.
The cave road closes 1 hour after the final tour.
Check-In Process
Arrive 15 minutes early with your confirmation email or QR code.
Restrooms are in the parking lot (none on the trail or in the cave).
Leave bags and hiking sticks behind before entering the cave.
Photography is allowed, but no flash, tripods, or selfie sticks.
Before entering, you'll step in a solution to protect bats from White-nose Syndrome.
The Trail
15–20 minute hike to cave entrance.
Steep, paved trail with stairs — not wheelchair accessible.
Watch out for poison oak, bees, rattlesnakes, and falling rocks.