After a long hiatus, Crystal Cave in Sequioa National Park is reopening to guests next month with guided tours. It had closed after the road, trail and visitor facilities were damaged in the 2021 KNP Complex wildfire and damaged again from harsh winter weather in early 2023. It’s been four years… and now again we get the chance to enter this incredible underground cathedral! Here's all the information we know so far.
When will Crystal Cave reopen?
The cave system reopens on May 23.
How to get tickets for Crystal Cave and when to visit:
Visit the Sequoia Parks Conservancy website to get tickets for the tour. You can visit from May 23 through September 7, 2025. The tour times are between 9am and 3pm. The parks conservancy recommends you purchase tickets 30 days in advance due to demand. Summer months will be especially impacted.
How much does it cost?
The tickets are $21 for adults and $11 for children under 10. You must also pay a fee to enter the national park: $20–35 for a standard pass, $70 for an annual pass, and $80 for the America the Beautiful pass, which opens the doors to all national parks for a year. Right now, no reservation is required to enter Sequoia National Park.
Is it worth it to tour the cave?
People say it’s astonishing inside. It’s one of the most visited caves in the U.S. with beautiful calcite formations and huge interior rooms. There are three miles of lighted passages inside and the chance to feel a sense of awe and history so deeply underground.
Is it easy to tour the cave?
Depends on your level of athleticism. The tour lasts 50 minutes and involves physical exertion. People with claustrophobia or difficulty walking should not attempt it (nor those with heart/respiratory conditions or those who have recently been sick or undergone surgery). Children must be able to walk on their own; there’s no room for strollers or baby backpacks.
And just to throw this into the mix: the half-mile trail to the cave entrance is steep and strenuous. It’s described as the equivalent of climbing the stairs of a 20-story building. You must be able to do this part of the tour in 20 minutes (not part of your 50-minute tour) after meeting your group in the parking lot.
Also, it’s cold inside (50 degrees Fahrenheit), so wear a sweater or jacket.
Is the cave wheelchair accessible?
Unfortunately, no. The trail to the cave and the cave itself cannot accommodate people using wheelchairs or walkers.
Do you have any other important info?
Build in lots of time to get to the Crystal Cave. The road through the national park is narrow and winding and you have to drive it slowly (plus, there may be slowed traffic depending on the time you go). You’re advised to allow at least an hour to drive from the visitor center to the cave parking lot, and to be there 20 minutes before your tour starts. No pets are allowed, and you’ll need to get all food or aromatic items out of your car and safely into bear boxes before you depart.