Crystal Cave is among the most beautiful of the nearly 100 marble solution
caves in the parks. Among readily accessible caves in this region, it offers
relatively undisturbed formations. Other larger caves in southern California,
Libern and Church caves, are not readily accessible. Crystal Caves estimated
10,000 feet of passageways occur in a formation of limestone that has metamorphosed under
tremendous heat and pressure into marble.
Crystal Cave is maze-like in character. Marble Hall measures 175 feet long,
60 feet wide, and is 30 to 40 feet high in the area that visitors tour. Regular
cave tours are operated in summer for a fee by the nonprofit Sequoia
Natural History Association. Tours last 50 minutes and cover 1/2 mile
via a loop trail, inclding the popular Organ Room and Dome Room formations.
Tour leaders explain the geology and biology of the cave. It is a steep half-mile
walk one way from the parking lot to the cave entrance. The trail is not
recommended for persons in poor physical condition.
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