Snapshot: Explore the Moaning Cavern

Its haunting moans was said to have lured many to its entrance. First explored by gold miners in 1851, the Moaning Cavern near Vallecito, California is also an archaeological site where a few of the oldest human remains in America were uncovered.

Today, the cavern is a popular tourist destination. It lays claim to the largest single cave chamber in California, so big it’s estimated to even hold the statue of Liberty. The massive chamber then splinters off into smaller passageways.

The fluid wave-like marble formations of the cave’s inner walls make a mesmerizing site, and visitors can opt for a walking tour through the chamber to admire them. The 45-minute guided walk takes you down 234 stairs to the chamber’s floor, a good 165 feet below the entrance. At the base, there is a display of excavations where the bones of prehistoric people were found. They were believed to have fallen into the cavern centuries ago. Here, you can also learn the geology and history of the cavern.

Tip: the cave is muddy and humid, so dressing appropriately is important.

But walking is just boring. A more exhilarating way to enjoy the cave is to rappel. The cave’s entrance was converted into a rappelling route in the 80s, and now visitors can dive down 16 and a half stories down to the floor, no experience required. The rappel itself takes around 10 to 12 minutes.

There’s also an Adventure Tour where you get to explore undeveloped areas with no stairs, walkways or lights. You can unleash your Indiana Jones by climbing, belly crawling around these areas. This tour takes about three hours.

Have you ever been to the Moaning Cavern before?