MOANING CAVERN
Guided walk tours and expeditions available every day of the year.

Moaning Cavern holds the largest vertical chamber in a public cavern that you can see in California. In fact, it's so big, it could hold the entire Statue of Liberty!

We offer guided Walk Tours, which are suitable for the entire family, 165-foot rope Rappels into the cave, which are the most thrilling way to see the main chamber, and challenging 3-hour caving Adventure Trips beginning with the optional rappel. Experience Moaning Cavern's thrilling new above ground activity... the ! Click HERE to see videos of the zip lines in action!

Scroll down the page to learn more about each activity. Click HERE to learn about the zip line.

If you are visiting from out of town, please click HERE to go to Moaning Cavern's links page giving you detailed information on the local area - things to do, places to stay and more to see and enjoy.

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The Walk Tour

This popular 45-minute tour into the cave is suitable for the whole family. Professionally guided, the tour descends through well-lighted marble passages into the magnificent natural wonder. Descending down 234 stairs to a depth of 165 feet below the ground, the tour ends on the spot were scientific excavations revealed the bones of prehistoric people who had fallen into the cavern thousands of years ago. Guides explain the history and geology of the cavern, and discuss the explorations that have traced the cavern to its current depth of 410 feet. For safety reasons, we do not allow children to be carried in backpacks on this tour. Small babies in front packs/slings are okay. Please note: caves are naturally muddy and humid - please dress appropriately.

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Walk Tour
Adventure Scale: 1.5
Availability	Daily, year round
Regular cost per person	$14.25 adult, $7.15 child (ages 3 - 12)
Length of trip	45 minutes
Group size	Up to 40 people
Underground temperature	61°F year round
Making reservations	Reservations necessary for GROUPS ONLY: call toll free any day of the week: 866-762-2837. Group discounts available.

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The Rappel

Descend by rope 165 feet into the huge main chamber of Moaning Cavern! No experience is necessary, and gloves, hard-hat, and the highest quality rappelling equipment are provided. Adventurous people from all walks of life are thrilled by this unique and exciting opportunity to try something new! Total trip time is approximately 45 minutes.

Participants must be at least 12 years old, and special restrictions apply. There are five ways a minor child (aged 12 to 17) may rappel at Moaning Cavern:

1. Their parent or legal guardian is present to evaluate the rappel and sign the waiver.
2. They bring a signed waiver that has been notarized.
3. They bring a signed waiver that has been witnessed by another adult who is present at the cavern and can verify the signature.
4. They bring a notarized letter from a parent or legal guardian authorizing another adult who is present at the cavern to evaluate the rappel and sign the waiver.
5. They bring a signed letter from a parent or legal guardian which includes a witness signature of another adult who is present at the cavern who can verify their signature, authorizing that adult to evaluate the rappel and sign the waiver.
   

Open the waiver in html format - this will open a new page in your web browser. To get back to this page, just close the release & waiver of liability form page.

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Rappel
Adventure Scale: 4.5
Availability	Daily, year round
Minimum age	12 years if accompanied by parent
Regular cost per person	$65
Length of trip	Approx. 15 minutes per person
Underground temperature	61°F year round
Equipment provided	Hardhat , gloves
Making reservations	Reservations necessary for GROUPS ONLY: call toll free any day of the week: 866-762-2837. Group discounts available.

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The 3-hour Adventure Trip


Click on the testimonial above to go to Michelle & Michael's web page with pictures of their recent Adventure Trip.

Energetic cave explorers can begin this exciting expedition with the 165-foot rope rappel, followed by one to two hours of exploration through deep chambers and passages. (The trip is also available without the rappel.)

Most areas are undeveloped, so there are no lights, stairs, or walkways. Instead, visitors daringly explore by climbing and belly crawling with lighted helmets to show the way. This trip is offered all year by reservation, and is conducted by experienced, highly trained guides. No experience is necessary. Gloves, hard-hat with light, coveralls from size 36 adult, and rappelling gear are provided.Participants must be at least 12 years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. The same restrictions on the rappel as listed above apply to an Adventure Trip which includes the rappel.Total trip time is approximately 3 hours. If you are interested in taking this trip, you will need to call 209-736-2708 to make reservations. To see how to prepare for your trip, click HERE for the Expedition Preparation page. To get more of an idea of what spelunking looks like, click HERE to "Meet a Tour Guide." This takes you to the website of Bruce Brand, manager of Moaning Cavern, and is full of pictures taken on his expeditions.

The Adventure Trip makes an exceptional team building activity.

Open the waiver in html format - this will open a new page in your web browser. To get back to this page, just close the release & waiver of liability form page.

FACTS AT A GLANCE: Adventure Trip
Adventure Scale: 4
Minimum age	12 years if accompanied by parent
Regular cost per person with rappel Per person without rappel	$130 $76
Length of trip with rappel Length of trip without rappel	3 hours Approx. 2-1/2 hours
Group size	2 - 8 people
Underground temperature	61°F year round
Equipment provided	Hardhat with light, gloves, coveralls
Making reservations	Call toll free any day of the week: 866-762-2837. This activity REQUIRES advance reservations.