When the thermometer begins to soar this summer and you're dying for relief, why not try a cave? At 52 degrees year-round, it's a very cool option.
First, a little earth science: Pennsylvania is blessed with an abundance of limestone, formed hundreds of millions of years ago from the shells of marine organisms that lived in the shallow seas that once covered the state. Limestone dissolves easily, and rainwater mixed with carbon dioxide from the air creates an acidic solution that seeps into the ground and ultimately hollows out a cave.
Inside the cave, the steady drip, drip, drip of mineral-rich water is responsible for creating stalactites, stalagmites and other shapes that inspire our awe and wonder. Here's how to tell them apart: Stalactites (with the letter c) are the formations that grow down from the cave ceiling. Stalagmites (with the letter g) are the formations that grow upwards from the ground.
There are dozens of wild caves on private property in Pennsylvania, and eight “show caves” open to the public. Three of them are close to home and worth a visit to view the beauty underfoot. Be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes, a jacket or sweater and be prepared for wet floors and drips from above.
Crystal Cave
Everyone knows Crystal Cave—it's hard to miss the billboards while traveling west on I-78. And for many Valley residents, visiting the cave on a school field trip or family outing (with the promise of ice cream) was a rite of passage.
The cave was named by its first explorers who discovered “sparkling, diamond-like crystals” on the walls. A local jeweler quickly confirmed there were no diamonds, but the name stuck. There are, however, dazzling formations with curious names like Fried Eggs, Ear of Corn and Cave Bacon. A kid favorite is the Upside-Down Ice Cream Cone, with varying calcite colors of vanilla, chocolate and mint. When viewing these formations, bear in mind it takes 100 years for them to grow just half an inch.
Visitors must walk up a hill to get to the cave. There is a short (and very dated) film before the 50-minute tour. The most visited in Pennsylvania, the cave is also home to a family of about 40 brown bats who live in its lowest point, Devil's Den. But no worries—they're not active during operating hours.
963 Crystal Cave Rd., Kutztown | 610.683.6765 | crystalcavepa.com
Lost River Caverns
There are no bats in Hellertown's Lost River Caverns—just a mysterious underground river that runs through it. At one point in the tour,
the guide will stop and ask for quiet. After a few seconds, you hear the sound of rushing water. The spooky thing is, no one knows where the water comes from or where it goes. They've sent red dye and ping-pong balls with “please contact us if found” messages down the current, but nothing ever made its way outside.
The cave has a fascinating history. The largest cavern room, the Crystal Chapel, is so-named for the 100-plus weddings that took place there up until 2009. Remnants of metal candlesticks are still embedded in the rock walls. The room was a dance hall in the late 1800s—there was a wooden floor and musicians played from a well-placed recess up above. In the early 20th century, it was used by Lehigh frats for initiation ceremonies and by bootleggers to store Prohibition liquor.
The tour lasts 30–40 minutes and is a relatively easy walk down a well-lit and paved path. Outside, there's a nature trail through two acres of woods and a grove for picnic lunches. Kids can try panning for gemstones at a replica of mining tent from the 1800s.
726 Durham St., Hellertown | 610.838.8767 | lostcave.com
Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park
Getting to Penn's Cave in Centre County is a bit of a hike, but totally worth the trip. It's the only tour conducted entirely by boat. Visitors descend 75 feet down a dramatic 48 steps through the wide natural cave opening to reach the dock below.
The flat-bottom, electric tour boats are quite stable and the only items taking an unintended dip are typically cameras and phones. (The crystal-clear water is only about a yardstick deep, anyway.)
A guide piloting the boat points out rock formations along the way, notably the Statue of Liberty and Nittany Lion. The half-mile boat ride passes from the main rooms through a man-made opening at the rear of the cave to Lake Nitanee outside (conditions permitting). After a loop around the lake, it's back into the cave.
The tour is 45–50 minutes long and is not handicap accessible. For an above-ground experience, the 1,600-acre wildlife park includes a guided 90-minute wildlife, farm and nature tour.
222 Penns Cave Rd., Centre Hall | 814.364.1664 | pennscave.com
