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    Lost River Caverns

    4.3 (91 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Lost River Caverns Photos

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    Jim R.

    The gift shop was fairly large with the usual collection of stuff but in addition had a large collection of various rocks and gem stones for sale. Our cave guide was enthusiastic and knew her stuff, handling questions as the tour progressed. If you've never been in a cave before you might be impressed but if you have , well I think you'll be disappointed. There aren't all that many types of formations to look at and those that are there are not all that impressive. We picked here because in our local area we have only been to Crystal Cave and thought we'd give it a shot. Glad we did but would recommend Crystal Cave over here. That said, if you've been to say Luray Caverns in Virginia then you won't be blown away by either of them!

    Matthew L.

    Lost River Caverns is a natural limestone cavern and tourist attraction located in Hellertown, Pennsylvania that has been forming for 250,000 years. Consisting of five chambers, the caverns were formed by the karstification or dissolving of the limestone by water. In the past, the cavern was also referred to as "Rentzheimer's Cave" or the "Lost Cave". The "Lost River", so named because the source and mouth of the river have not yet been discovered, flows through it. The temperature in the cave is consistently close to 52 °F (11 °C). The area on the surface of the cavern was a limestone quarry in the 19th century. In 1883, quarry workers ignited a black powder blast to remove limestone from the cliff face. In doing so, they discovered the entrance to the cavern. The first systematic exploration of the cavern didn't take place until three years later. In the years following the cavern's discovery, local residents found the underground spaces ideal for a variety of uses. During the late 1800s, a wooden dance floor was constructed in what is now called the "Crystal Chapel". Regular dances were held in the natural air conditioning of the cave. Irwin Gilman purchased the cave in 1929 and opened it to the public the following year. It is still owned and operated for tours by the Gilman family today. A small museum and gift shop stand above the surface of the cave entrance. From 1949 - 2009, the "Crystal Chapel" was available for weddings and other private ceremonies. Approximately 35,000 tourists explore the caverns annually. My family and I visited the Lost River Caverns this past summer while we were visiting relatives in the area. My wife and I had previously visited some natural caverns in upstate New York years ago. This was the first time that we explored caverns since we became parents. Both of our young sons loved exploring all of the various chambers. The tour was fun for the whole family. Our sons also enjoying learning about the different geological features such as stalactites, stalagmites, and fluorescent rocks. We even bought a toy miners helmet in the gift shop for our older son. If you're looking for a fun family activity to do in the Lehigh Valley, then we recommend visiting the Lost River Caverns.

    A little pricey for such a small cave. Gift store and all its chachkis were definitely dated with an odd, random mix of decorative pieces. The indoor sluice box wasn't working after we bought a bag of gems in sand, so we returned it since no one knew how to fix it. Overall, it was a good first-time experience for our 4-year old girl after I hyped her up by sharing my own experiences in caves. She's looking forward to exploring another cave in the near future.

    Wow--what a cool place! The Lost River Caverns in Hellertown are an absolute must -- this underground world is full of mystery and natural beauty. You get to walk through paved, well-lit pathways inside a limestone cavern where an underground river flows, and the constant temperature of about 52 degrees Fahrenheit adds to the atmosphere. The guided tour is fun and educational, with knowledgeable guides pointing out the geology, flowstone formations, and historic tidbits (the place has been open to the public since the early 1930s). It's a great outing for families, couples, or anyone looking to do something unique -- you'll be under the earth's surface and totally immersed in nature's work. The gift shop and picnic area across the road add to the charm. Highly recommend to add this to your route if you're in the Lehigh Valley area -- you won't regret discovering this hidden gem.

    Mark H.

    A reasonably priced, brief, and extremely educational activity to explore a cavern. What a great opportunity to have in the Lehigh Valley. The tour guides are highly informative and engaging which shows their genuine concern for a successful tour. The gift shop offers a high variety of stones, gems, and typical gift shop souvenirs. Check out Lost River Cavern for a worthwhile exploration!

    My boyfriend and I came today and had a great time! Our tour guide, Connor, was very informative and he had some great jokes along the way. Definitely recommend! The cave was beautiful and has some great stories through its long history. 5 stars

    Cool formations.
    Ron D.

    Wonderful tour at an interesting site. The guide was cordial and well informed. Parking was free and easy, too. Perfect for a hot day with temperatures there at least 15 degrees cooler than on the surface.

    Dane S.

    Such an amazing experience. My daughter and I took the caverns tour today. Our tour guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. A very big gift shop that anyone will find a souvenir at. A part of the tour was closed off where the bridge was due to flooding. Without any notice they gave a small refund which they didn't need to do to make up for it. Awesome place! They also have a little hiking trail out front with trivia questions all over the place. All around the gift shop on the walls it looks like a museum with artifacts and stuff everywhere. Great place to bring the family.

    Cave entrance
    Andrew C.

    Very cool experience. About an hour from start to finish. Guides were super informative about cave structures and the history of the cave. An amazing experience for all ages! Cave is a bit chilly in the winter so be prepared with hats and jackets at least. Definitely worth the price though. Afterwards, there is a gift shop where you'll find souvenirs and gems from all over.

    A special formation.
    Alan A.

    This is an excellent day trip for all ages. Takes about an hour including the fun gift shop. Try it!

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    5 years ago

    Nate was an excellent tour guide. Informative tour--about 45 min. Beautiful underground cave. Recommend!

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    5 years ago

    The tour is amazing!!! The formations and the rocks are so pretty. Everyone is so nice.

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    13 years ago

    Visiting grand kids in the area, and needed to entertain a 10 and a 12 year old. They loved it! Not too expensive, fun and educational!

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    20 years ago

    This place is as kitschy as can be, and that's half the attraction. I haven't been here since I was kid, but back then it was always fun.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Lost River Caverns

    Review Highlights - Lost River Caverns

    Shorter guided cavern tour, which was original the Heller town Cave and then became Lost River Caverns.

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    Sky River Helicopters

    Sky River Helicopters

    5.0
    (5 reviews)
    18.7 mi

    Had the privilege of going up with the fine folks at Sky River on Sunday, December 6th 2015…read more Pure professionals all the way. Upon arrival my fiancée and I were greeted by our pilot, Mark, as well as the owner and his wife. Very friendly and made us feel welcome! We didn't waste much time, and I had the privilege of watching pilot Mark do his pre-flight. He was very thorough and I could tell the bird was immaculately maintained. Shortly thereafter we were strapped in and on our way! Having only been my 2nd helicopter flight, I was geeking out the whole time, and Mark was on top of his game. Soon we were circling around the statue of liberty and on our way up the Hudson. Great views of the Freedom Tower and we went north, uptown and over the GWB before starting our return to Pittstown. Landing was flawless, came in with plenty of ground speed before smoothly exiting the active and calling it in. Pro. Pictures and words don't do it justice, this was one of the greatest experiences of my life!! Highly recommend stopping in for a quick flight (or lessons, or a license)!

    Bought a flight lesson off of Cloud9Living for my bf's Birthday as a surprise. I had a choice for…read moreUpstate NY (45 mins away from home) or Pittstown location (1 hr and 50 minutes drive). Because of the reviews about the instructors...I went with the further location. Wade Krepps was our pilot and he was absolutely amazing. Off the bat, you can see his passion for flying and was easily sociable. My bf was nervous at first but with Wade's positive feedback and encouragement made the flight an excellent experience. Thank you Wade, you've made this experience a very memorable one. We will definitely recommend to our friends and family! OH! And the owner, Maria...was easily reachable. She gave me her personal number because I was a little worried about the weather last week. Also, we were running 10 minutes late. She was very accommodating about it as well.

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    Sky River Helicopters
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    Eight Oaks Farm Distillery

    Eight Oaks Farm Distillery

    4.4
    (46 reviews)
    23.1 mi
    $$

    Our first experience was at the Steel Stacks Christmas market in 2025. The tasting crew was…read moreenthusiastic and helpful and we purchased product. In the Summer of 2025, we made a road trip from Warwick PA, (approx. 50 miles each way), to support PA made products and had a pleasant, experience. Yesterday, we made a road trip and purchased over $350 of product on my daughters' credit card but were treated with indifference. We carried bottles to the bar counter and felt we were in the way. We tried to purchase t-shirts which were virtually out-of-stock. Overall, we felt that the sale did not matter. We like the products, but will be on a quest to find a PA distillery which will also appreciate our business. Customer service training is Paramount! Thank you, Charles Fell.

    We drove up to meet friends at Eight Oaks. It is wintertime and our first time there, but we plan…read moreto return in the summer. The place was so nice even in winter and you could really see how great it is in nicer weather. It's really cute inside and you can see the distillery through windows, they have a nice merch section, and a big wedding tent set up, with its own bar and a window for the food truck. It was plenty warm and comfy even on a cold day. We tried some cocktails and they were delicious and fun! We tried an appetizer and it was great. Dog and kid friendly and a very mellow vibe.

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    5:00 somewhere cocktail
    5:00 somewhere cocktail
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    Jim Thorpe River Adventures

    Jim Thorpe River Adventures

    4.0
    (53 reviews)
    26.3 mi

    This review will focus on the overall experience and the Intro to Whitewater experience. First off,…read moreANYONE can do this trip, do not bother with the beginner trip down the river. Unless you are medically unfit, you can do this. Exceptional customer service sums up the team at Jim Thorpe River Adventures (aka LOC). They are extremely well organized which makes for a great trip. Everyone from the moment you enter LOC until the very end was polite, professional and wanted to make sure you have a great time. Some tips to follow: you only need to arrive 15 minutes before your group time, this allows ample time to get situated. Buy their pre-made lunch, it is well worth the 10 bucks, bring extra water on the raft (especially in the summer). Use the bathroom before you get on the bus (and be quick). They give you a dry bucket for your lunch and items, yes you can bring your phone in a dry pouch. Wear a hat and a sun shirt, it is hot and sunny, without much shade. Jump in the water when you have the chance !! If you are a "full figured" person it will be difficult to re-enter the raft, be aware. The trip down river is very safe and well organized. The guides are VERY safety aware ! If you are nervous and listen to them, the team will get you down the river without a hitch ! A few suggestions: don't go on a busy holiday weekend, it can get crowded on the river, the safety briefing takes a long time and you a sitting in the sun (remove your vest and drink water), during July and August I would imagine the water is very low and slow (if it is a dry summer)...best only if you want to have a relaxing rafting trip. Overall, a bunch of fun. The entire family had a great time.

    Went there this past Sunday. Was the 11:20 group. Monica, Penny, Justin aka Jesus, and two other…read morepeople were our guides. We all are in horrible shape. These guides were so sweet and so professional. At one point we accidentally ran over Monica with our raft. She just smiled and said to be more careful. Then, we can her over again. It was not intentional. That woman needs to be canonized as a saint after putting up with our group. The trip was awesome. Just about anyone could do it. There is this one part where someone comes and takes your picture as you're paddling. Made sure to get a copy of that. Can't wait until it arrives in the mail. Am extremely impressed with this place, in particular with Justin aka Jesus. That kid is so sweet and helped our little raft out so much. JustinSaves

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    Smart, funny, and yes - patriotic Trip Leader Don Harris keeping it fun!
    Smart, funny, and yes - patriotic Trip Leader Don Harris keeping it fun!
    The Lehighton Outdoor Center
    The Lehighton Outdoor Center
    Exploring on 2-wheels = smiles!

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    Exploring on 2-wheels = smiles!

    Lost River Caverns - museums - Updated July 2026

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