|
Caves & Mines |
SCOUT OUTINGS |
|
Aviation Space Automobiles Ships & Naval Trains Canoeing Kayaking Rafting Sailing Windsurfing Regional Scout Camps Camping Websites Federal State Regional Youth Hostels Rock Climbing Indoor Climbing Climbing Courses Road Cycling Mountain Biking Lakes & Reservoirs Rivers & Streams Bay Ocean Identification Local Historic Hikes Local Hikes Rim of the Bay Folsom Lake Treks Bay Area Ridge Tahoe Rim Pacific Crest Yosemite Valley Santa Clara County Peninsula Open Space Alpha List Day Outings Horseback Riding Archery Shooting Special Overnight Scuba Surfing Swimming Ice Skating Tubing Snow Mobiling Snow Shoeing |
Caves Caving can be a hazardous activity when the proper equipment, skills, and judgment are not used. Trips that are led by adults inexperienced in caving and trips containing large numbers of persons compound the hazards already inherent in the activity and create a potentially dangerous situation. Read the caving guidelines from the BSA Link:BSA & Caving Located in California's Gold Country, it's about a 3 hour drive from the San Jose. 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! 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. RAPPEL NO LONGER BEING OFFERED Comments: No longer offered due to liability issues Black Chasm National Natural Landmark 15701 Pioneer-Volcano Road, Volcano, California Established as a National Natural Landmark in 1976, this stunning cavern with its spectacular foot-long crystal formations, huge rooms and deep lakes is a must see for cavern enthusiasts. The Colossal Room is 100 feet across and 150 feet deep with giant rock bridges lodged high above deep, dark lakes. The Landmark Room is famous for its massive arrays of twisting, looping helictite crystals. The giant Hall of Arches is a complex maze of marble arches which span wall to wall over and under each other. http://www.caverntours.com/BlackRt.htm Boyden Cavern Cavern is located in the deepest canyon in the United States, the spectacular 8,000 feet deep Kings River Canyon of Sequoia National Monument, and lies beneath the massive 2,000 foot high marble walls of the famous Kings Gates. Please be aware that to get to Boyden Cavern, you must drive into Sequoia National Park where the National Park Service charges each vehicle $10. This fee is not associated with Boyden Cavern. You will still have to pay an admission price at the cavern. http://www.caverntours.com/BoydenRt.htm
Crystal Caves Crystal Cave is located off the Generals Highway in Sequoia National Park, between the Ash Mountain entrance and Giant Forest. Crystal Caves features a regular tour and a ’wild tour’. The wild tour: Crawl through narrow tunnels, over steep drop-offs, and past intricate formations within this cave of marble. Experience total darkness and silence interrupted by the rhythmic sounds of dripping and flowing water. Crystal Caves Lake Shasta Caverns offers a 2 hour tour which includes roundtrip boat and bus transportation to the well-lighted caverns. open daily, located 1 1/2 miles east of I-5 at O'Brien/Lake Shasta Caverns Rd. exit. The spectacular limestone and marble formations are surrounded by waterfalls and embedded with sparkling crystals. Lake Shasta Caverns Lava Beds National Monument At the last count, there are over 435 known lava tube caves within the boundaries of Lava Beds National Monument. The caves vary widely in size and length. Some caves are so small that a would-be explorer must crawl the entire length, while some caves are more than 60 feet in diameter. Two dozen of the caves have been developed for public use, with ladders or steps for access and cleared paths through rubble fields. Most of the "public" caves are located along the Cave Loop Road near the Visitor Center. http://www.nps.gov/labe/planyourvisit/caving.htm Mercer Caverns Murphy, CA Cave tours only. The tours are approximately 45 minutes long and are guided. You descend the equivalent of about a 16 story building by way of stairs and walkways and you ascend the same as you leave the caverns. During the tour you will see various formations that have developed in the caverns over time. http://www.mercercaverns.com/
Comments: The cavern is on a hiking trail and there isn't much room to explore without blocking the trail. For younger scouts, this is a real adventure. For older scouts, it ends all too quickly. You will need to bring a light to go through the cave and headlamps are preferred to let you use your hands. https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/nature/cave.htm
Mines
Empire Mine SHP Empire Mine State Historic Park is the site of one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California. It is located in Grass Valley. Empire Mine SHP website Malakoff Diggins SHP Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park is the site of California’s largest hydraulic mine. Visitors can see huge cliffs carved by mighty streams of water, results of the gold mining technique of washing away entire mountains to find the precious metal. Malakoff Diggins SHP Sutter Gold Mine 13660 Highway 49, Sutter Creek, California This real mine experience begins with gearing up in hard-hats and tagging in, then stepping aboard the Boss Buggy Shuttle for a historic journey deep underground. Learn about Gold Country geology and mining technology as you traverse beneath thousands of tons of native rock, viewing mining equipment from the smallest drills to the massive 15-yard haul truck. http://www.caverntours.com/sgmt.html |
|
Modified July 11, 2020 |
Previous or planned outing