Underground adventures: Short distance from Bay Area

[photopress:cave2.jpg,thumb,centered]

We had gone to 2 caves in 2000 which are not that far away from the Bay Area and thought posting it here will help people who are looking for a quick 1 day adventure.

http://www.caverntours.com/ has 5 caves listed on its website. We had visited 2.
a) Moaning Cavern
b) Black Chasm

Moaning Cavern has a rappel option whereby you rappel down 165 foot into the huge cave. The rappeling experience is amazing and yet not so dangerous. You pass thru a narrow cave first which then widens into a huge main chamber. In the cave your legs are able to use the walls as a footing but as soon as you enter the main chamber its like hanging in air and you need to use your hands to push the rope up and thus pushing you down. Its simply amazing to go thru this experience.
Both me and Dimple did this option. I had no previous rappeling experience and was still fine.

If you dont want to rappel you can also walk down the stairs into the main chamber and see people rappeling down.

Black Chasm has a walking tour where the guide will walk you thru the caves.
[photopress:cave1.jpg,thumb,left]

Both the above caves and other mentioned cave have more adventurous programs for the brave hearted where you wear a special suit and actually spend 3-4 hours “crawling” thru various caves (guided of course).

The below pictures are taken from someone else and are of the moaning caverns. This is the rappeling that me and dimple did.

[photopress:cave3.JPG,thumb,centered] [photopress:cave4.jpg,thumb,centered]
Check the website for more details.

Its a good adventure for a day trip.

2 Comments:

  1. Similar caverns near
    – Mount Shasta . I think it is couple of exits before Mount Shasta

    – In Kings Canyon (East Ca near Sequia Natl forest)

  2. We have been to Moaning Caverns and the neighbouring Jamestown also is a good place to visit. This was the busiest hub during the Gold Rush. In Jamestown there are some guided tours that take you into a Gold Mine. This town is still like an old western town shown in Wild West Cowboy movies.

    I agree with Prashant, the rappeling experience is just AMAZING!!. As you rappel thru the narrow cave into the deeper but broader cave, the site is mind boggling and as you descend one realizes the depth of the cave.

    Here are some facts on the cave:
    http://www.caverntours.com/media_mcFACTS.html

Leave a Reply