The tour was a great and very educational. Going down the spiral staircase was a little scary but I made it down and up. ANGEL was the best tour guide. She was amazing. Tell her I said Hey!! read more

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Fun for a short adventure. Tour lasts about 45 minutes. I'm a little afraid of heights but I survived the spiral staircase. Well worth it. Really cool to be down there and see all of the formations. We also saw about 4 little frogs that made their way down. Amazing history there. read more

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Overall, It is a disappointed and pricy tour for what it brought to you. The whole tour is walking down a old staircase and then look at a small cave, listen to tour guide for about 10 mins of facts about the cave, each group take a picture (which when you go back to the gift shop you can choose to pay for $15 per picture) and then walk back to the surface. For a staircase that was build back during World War I, they have put too many people at one time to go down. It was a bit shaky and I was very worried if it will collapse. Due to they schedule too many people at one time for one tour which I have seen similar complains of other reviews, a lot of people were stuck in a very small space at the bottom of the cave and you have not much space to yourself. It is definitely not kids friendly, also could be challenging for people who has knee problems. The tour also felt rushed as they have other groups lined up to go down. I would not recommend this place at all due to the tour itself is short and boring, not much to see, and the safety concerns especially to young kids and senior people. There are many choices for this type of outdoor adventures, and this one definitely not worth the long drive and money. read more

What a wonderful adventure!!!!! We went spelunking and had the most fabulous time. I highly recommend. It is pretty scary at certain parts, but totally worth it in the end. read more

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This cave is really majestic inside. It really is worth seeing. You enter through some really narrow stairs, then descend down a long spiral staircase. Your depth perception is completely skewed in the cave. Everything looks way closer than it is. The calcite formations are really interesting. The tour guide does some history of the place. But they really let the cave speak for itself. There are other cave exploration tours available where you can crawl through narrow passages. The top part seems like a cheap amusement type of park. The cave itself is incredible. Definitely worth seeing. read more

There are two tours, the Expedition Tour includes the Spiral Tour (it begins at the room where the Spiral Tour ends). My brother and I opted for the more adventuresome Expedition Tour. If you have been on other cave tours, this is quite different. There are NO stairs or ladders once you get started, not really any "walking around" either. Almost all of it (well, the first half, at least) is crawling and sliding on and over rocks. You will get dirty, and likely damp, if not from the wet rocks then from your sweat. It is VERY strenuous, so if you are not comfortable doing something like a 1/4 mile obstacle course. You will be going down deeper, and crawling through small openings (e.g. you should be skinny and limber to attempt this). Our guide was knowledgeable and pleasant, but in the end, it was not something I enjoyed, rather endured (and only barely at that). read more

I remember coming here as a child and going down the cave to explore all the rocks and molds that were created by the water way under the ground. Amazing to see and explore. Not great if you are closer phobic. I hope to one day bring my sons here as they get older. Now they have activities other than the cave which is great. Can't wait to be back. read more

We stopped here and in of our vacation in we didn't know what to expect with the moaning caverns and it was a very very interesting tour about 200' below the surface and do some cavern and got to see a lot of neat things stefani worth the wait and the stop read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

Vertical cave, spiral staircase straight down & back up. We made reservations a day before, went midweek, late afternoon, only 5 total on our tour. Cavern is very interesting, good hist on the naming of it. There's a fossilized pile of human remains from years gone by, (miners, Indians, explorers), though some of it has been removed for museum purposes and scientific knowledge. It is down from your view, unless pointed out. Years ago Indians & explorers could hear the moans from at least a mile away. they're not from people, it was from water , wind, cave holes. Awesome formations, good history. Sufficient parking. Nice gift shop. We were not in any Covid restrictions or warning time. Did not see any sign of a zip line nor a rock climbing wall. There were two small cage units for axe throwing near the parking, but they were very small, set out in the sun, had dry grass growing all around, $20 for one person for 10 minutes, we declined it but would loved to have done it if the throwing area was more suitable. read more

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We had been to Mercer Caves previous so that was kind of what we were expecting. Moaning is an entirely different experience. It helped that Angel our tour guide was truly an angel. Funny knowledgeable and a little quirky, perfect for descending into the depths of the earth. One of our party couldn't go because she became claustrophobic and once we got into the cave and watched a number of people back out it was probably a good thing. Not for the meek of heart or claustrophobic. The staff were all very friendly and cave junkies. Overall a great experience. read more

Let me start off by saying that Angel, our tour guide, was super awesome! Energetic, inclusive, and super friendly with the kids that were on the tour. The cavern is pretty amazing too! read more

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We did the spiral stair case tour. Great cave. Great formations. Great tour guides. Simple in and simple out. Right price for the right time length. Definitely a good first or second caving experience. read more

so much fun the one of the best caves we have been to. so beautiful and natural some of the caves that we've been going to in other states have it so it's paved inside for a walkway and Electricity put in and lights everywhere look tacky and smells weird not like a cave should. This is one of my favorite worth seeing. read more

Once in a lifetime experience! $15 for kids $20 for adults $50 for zipline We did the cavern which was quite a walk down & up. Up was way more difficult then down!! Up was a what was I thinking moment . So glad we did it though. Super cool. I also did the zipline which we had a ticket for free so my best friend & I only paid $25 each was totally worth it for that price. I WOULD NOT pay $50 for 1 zip because it was not worth it for that price. Staff was amazing! Super friendly & helpful! The staff alone makes this worth stopping by. read more

Went with my two kiddos and friend. It was a lot of fun going down the spiral staircase. The tour guide was very friendly and energetic. It was raining when we went so it was very cool to see how cold it was outside vs in the cavern. The gift shop was cute and had lots of neat things. The rock climbing, ax throwing, and zip lines were closed but that's ok. I highly recommend this place. Makes a great half a day or day trip. read more

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We went here while coming back from bear valley, and this seemed like a hidden gem. Kids had great experience going through cave and learning about it. Overall experience from buying the tickets to tour was seamless and great. Tour guide was high energy and answered all questions patiently, and took photographs foe families. read more

I did the Expedition Tour aka spelunking, yesterday, and it was a fun and exciting underground adventure. Tyler Cole, who was our guide, was very knowledgeable and clearly had a passion for the caves and the geological formations in them. He was also very good at providing instructions to the group as we maneuvered and contorted our bodies through the tight passages, and he kept a fun and playful vibe throughout the tour. This was my 2nd time doing this tour (the 1st one was more than 5 years ago) and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic adventure. read more

Fantastic day out. Staff are amazing and so lovely and follow all safety precautions for COVID. Sanitiser stations and masks. The tour was amazing for kids and adults. Gemstone discovery was also so much fun. We didn't have a reservation for the tour, but got lucky that they had some cancellations. Fun, fun, fun day out! read more

We took my grandson and daughter along with my husband . We have never been there before . The tour guide was amazing and answered all questions. He explained the history of the cave . We were able to see cave climbers when we were there. The climb down was far but easy . Going up was good too . I recommend to all ages. I'm 67 and made the stairs fine. read more

It was such a fun experience! Being able to get tickets online was super helpful. Had a great time! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Spiral staircase - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

Had a good time. Cavern is pretty cool. Our guide was awesome. Spent time talking with him between jaunts. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and conversive. The really cool thing was when we got to the bottom and he turned out the lights. It was a trip being in the dark and not hearing anything but the drops of water. Awesome! The place is cool, a bit pricey but worth it. read more

I came to Moaning Caverns ready for an adventure, and boy did I get one! I knew I would be repelling and crawling around in caves, but it was waaaaaaay more work than I expected. Our reservation was at 9:30, so we made sure we got there early to check in. There were only seven people in our group, but they can take up to ten people per tour. They have coveralls for you so you don't get your clothes dirty, but our guide said it can get really humid underground, so we didn't have to wear them. Nobody in our group used them...we all decided to get nice and diiiiirrrty. They also have a bucket of knee pads....use them! You watch an instructional video on how to rappel, and then they throw you down the hole and say good luck...see you at the bottom! Just kidding!!!....they make sure you have all your equipment on and explain things to you again....then you get thrown down the hole( http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/hEsgpeH5i8cKdSWC19XFIA/l ). Rappelling was awesome! It was a bit tough at first, but once I got the hang of it, I was able to enjoy it. The rocks were pretty slippery, so I had to make sure I had one hand out so my face didn't smash into the wall. The scariest part was when I entered the main cave and looked down and saw a big black hole. Uhh...where am I going??? But then I looked behind me and saw the guide who pulled my rope to the landing. *phew* Once everyone was safely down on solid ground, we began our spelunking adventure. We crawled and climbed our way through the caves, and it was awesome! At one point, our guide had us turn off all our lights, and it was pitch black. You actually start seeing things when you sit in the dark for a while. Some parts of the cave were really tiny....you definitely have to be a bit flexible to get through some of these spots. I have wide hips, so I would keep getting wedged in. Here's how the conversation would go with my friend..... Me: I'm stuck....I can't move my hips... Jen: Twist your hips sideways.... Me: ahhhh...I can move again...*wiggle wiggle wiggle*.... .....and repeat about 4 times..... You definitely need to have some upper body strength for this because you need to push and pull your way through the caves. At the very end, you have to climb up a wall, and the only thing you have to help you is a rope. I was so tired by the end, I had to keep stopping mid-way up the wall to catch my breath. It was an awesome but very tiring adventure. Next time I'll have to prep myself and do some push ups and pull ups first. And I'll have to wrap my knees/shins in bubble wrap. I ended up looking like I got beat up! read more

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The group had a lot of fun here. It's a destination location for sure, we didn't find much else to do around it, but that was ok. The cave itself is amazing. While the many young kids on the tour changed it a bit, it was awesome to see the cave and to learn more about it. Ax throwing, rock climbing wall, searching for gold, the cable thing and all of the fun stuff to do here entertained the group; there was something for everyone. Plan for a slow paced day here and it's even better. We enjoyed the time outside with all that the Moaning Cavern offered. Recommend bringing a picnic and snacks! read more

Loved it! Great experience! Tiring climbing all those stairs and got a little claustrophobic when first entering, but it was great exercise! Our tour guide was awesome, informative and had a great sense of humor! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - The staircase that lead us 100 ft down into the cave. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

The 2nd stop in our Gold Country tour was for the Cave Adventure Trip at Moaning Cavern! This included the 165ft nerve racking rappel into the main cavern, and several hours of guided spelunking after! Be advised that although the webpage says it takes 3hrs for this option, prepare to spend about 5hrs at Moaning Cavern in all. There are bathrooms at ground level for you to change. Take clothes you are comfortable tossing afterwards because the clay-like dirt will permanently stain them. The adventure begins with a quick safety video (don't put your fingers in the J rack). From there you are fitted with rappel equipment, everything double checked by your guide. We were lucky enough to have Tim as our guide! In that room is the entrance to the cave, which doesn't have much to see, other than a twisting dark hole for about 30ft. Tell your friends/family to wave goodbye to you as you fade into the abyss, in case they never see you again ;-) The first 30ft of the rappel is quite dark and tight with very little to see. HOWEVER, once you pass through the small opening below you will find yourself rappelling into the main cavern, which is sure to shock even the bravest most non-height fearing folks on your tour!!! If you're able to calm your nerves you'll be able to admire a truly amazing view of the cave all the way down. The last half of the descent is without your feet on the wall (you're lowering yourself, dangling there like bait on a hook). Takes a bit of nerve to do the rappel, but if you can muster the courage I highly recommend including it! After the rappel Tim guided us through the various narrow passages and crawl spaces within the cave, each with an interesting name: roach motel, meat grinder, pancake, birth canal, godzillas nostril. We sucked in our guts, slapped on our smiles and contorted our bodies through the narrow caves. In addition to the various calcite structures you may very well find bones from the previous tour group, LOL. Not really, but there are bones of both animal and human down there. If you collect some make sure to ask your tour guide where to put them. We crawled about for a couple hours asking to see every single space available. However, don't feel obligated to finish the tour. If you are tired, or if the tight spaces are getting to you take one of the many exits along the way that bring you back into the main cavern. I haven't mentioned Tim enough in this review but he was a huge factor in why we enjoyed this experience so much! He was extremely knowledgeable about the caves and surrounding area and I really enjoyed how funny he was. If you can request Tim do it!! One last note is that, surprisingly, there is very little warning at how physically tough this adventure was. We were both in decent physical shape but I'd recommend you be in at least average physical shape if you want to finish the spelunking. You will be crawling around on your knees, pulling yourself up with your arms, squeezing into and out of tight spots. It's certainly a workout in it's own right! Enjoyed the "punch card" we got after that goes towards a free trip! Also, they said you can do the rappel or zipline for free on your birthday!! Noice! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Cave entrance - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

Moaning Cavern Adventure Park is one of the more interesting caving experiences in the Sierra Foothills. The park is conveniently located between Murphys and Sonora and incorporates zip lines and other adventure activities on the surface. This cavern is recommended especially for more extreme visitors interested in more than just a cave walk. This is a vertical cavern requiring a lot of climbing down and up stairs. The cavern is usually accessed by navigating steep steps through a narrow passage then a massive steel spiral staircase to the bottom. If you have issues with heights or narrow spaces, this is not the cave for you. As an alternative, the facility offers rappelling from the surface to the bottom and climbing around the cave walls. The cave has some good features, however you will not be as close to them as other caverns. This results in a rather short tour, but combined with other options you may spend a lot of time and money here. There are better caves in the region, but it is hard to beat the combination of caving and adventure activities at Moaning Cavern. read more

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I will start this off with 3 very important statements: I am moderately afraid of heights. I don't like being confined in small places ... (hyperventilating and nap time occur usually when I am in these places). I am not a small person. With that said, I heard about this place with it's amazingly large and high chamber and then it's little narrow tunnels right in CA. So I figured this will get me over a few fears or at least help me deal with them. So my friends made the long drive and faced this adventure. First off definitely do the repelling (Even if you are afraid of heights). At the top of the repel you might be like "What? this looks like 10 feet into nothing?" And then you go around the first turn and WOW. It's a beautiful chamber that you repel into that the view from the stairs and ground do not do it justice. It's amazingly breathtaking as you dangle from the ceiling of this 20 story chamber. The sparkling limestone and just the sense of awesomeness you get is really something. The rickety looking iron spiral staircase that was made to return is pretty amazing too from this vantage point. Don't look down while on the staircase though, something about the spiral design will give you vertigo :) Next came the part I was dreading ... the tunnels. I went with 2 very slender women (one kid sized and one adult sized) and some other guys of which a few were of similar build to myself. The 2 women made it look like an amusement part of slides and jungle gyms. However, I soon learned that doing a somersault and a crab walk through the "Meat Grinder" would not be possible for someone my size. It's basically a group of very close together turns, so you end up contorting your body into many shapes (Downward facing dead dog). But the grinder was cake compared to the other places. And there was a little slide at the end too .. Wheee! Next we were told to turn our headlamps off and experience complete darkness ... trippy. Then our guide pointed us at the hole in the ground that apparently leads to a cavern where only maybe 4 people can stand straight up and side step against a rock and another rock. ... I said no and let 4 others go :) (The 2 girls, the guide and the slender male in our group ... go figure) Next came the "Pancake Maker" ... which was probably one of the most uncomfortable situations I have ever imagined. Imagine laying down on the floor and someone took a parallel board and placed it over you, so close that your head could only fit sideways. I will admit I got really really scared here because I couldn't stand or even lean up. But I conquered it in the end with some help from friends and a nice hold that I blindly found in a flailing moment. I then met my new nemesis ... the "Birth Canal" Again with the 2 slender women ahead of me whom were just like, "Look a rope climb, Whee this is fun!" I was told to place your arms up through a rock tube and do not bend your elbows (or you will get stuck and have to go back down a bit and try again) and then pull yourself up a rope with pretty much a tiny bit of elbow, your wrist and basically just your hands. ... WTF? Oh yeah and my shoulders didn't fit through the tube so I was giving myself a mini bear hug the whole time. ... Thankfully some other friends of mine, in a similar situation as me were directly behind me and helped push. I later helped pull but I was quite pleased to get out of there. There is also the "Chimney" which I would have liked to go in, but I needed some fresh air. I would definitely do this again too. The names of the caverns are a little scary themselves but they at least prepare you for what is to come. Some of the caverns themselves scared me to death but it was a great experience overall (no passing out, no hyperventilating .. win!). I sort of can accept my fear of heights now and compare my claustrophobia now to this experience. If it isn't worse or as closed in ... I am fine now :) The sense of accomplishment was great, especially after the guide told me and my friend that we were probably the largest guys he has ever seen go through the caverns. There is also a zip line which we couldn't go to because there was a lightening storm coming in. Oh well. Definitely a great find. Wear some old cloths (don't get the coveralls as they just make it harder to move) and remember to be hydrated. It's well ventilated but it can be a little overwhelming at times. read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - spiral staircase - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

Moaning Cavern Adventure Park left us with such a memorable experience! Five Stars & Two Thumbs Up!!! The entire staff, especially Keith & Hayley (& Smokey the gift shop cat), were so friendly and personable! My son asked to go spelunking again for his 13th birthday, so we jumped at the chance to add the rappel for that extra thrill factor! First we rappelled 165 feet down into the cavern (AMAZING!) and then went on the Adventure Crawl through the caves (even more AMAZING!). Our guide Hayley was THE BEST! She is so knowledgeable, friendly, kind, and FUN! The history of the cave is very interesting and to crawl through those tight, dark spaces...well, it was the most empowering thing I've ever done in my life! I feel like I can do anything after surviving the crawl! The crawl is definitely not for the claustrophobic - although, I am somewhat, and I was able to deep-breathe and focus, mind-over-matter, to keep my emotions in check. I'm not gonna lie, there were a couple of moments when I thought I couldn't do it...my imagination took over and I started freaking out a bit, but thanks to Hayley for talking me down. She really helped me relax and encouraged me to keep going. FYI: The crawl requires A LOT of upper body strength! And the tunnels are very slippery so make sure you have proper climbing shoes. They provide you with coveralls, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, and a helmet with a light. After resting for a couple hours, we decided to hit the zip line. I did the tandem zip with my 8 year old son. While our group all got harnessed up, the zip crew kept us laughing which really helped ease our nerves! A little nerve wracking sitting in the harness waiting to go, but once you lift your feet off the platform, you take off so fast! It's absolutely exhilarating! When we hit the landing tower, my son & I both wanted to run all the way back up the hill and do it again! We can't wait to go back for more! =) read more

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$130 for rappelling and adventure tour. We had Jeremy for our tour guide and he was spectacular. Super informative and friendly. He guided us down the rappel system by first explaining to us what to expect and then ran through the procedures before we proceed. After the rappel experience we went down the Black Hole, there he pointed out bones-skull and teeth. We went through several obstacle including the "meat grinder", the "guillotine", and "Santas worse nightmare". He often offered the emergency exits just in case of someone in the tour no longer wanted to proceed. Jeremy was an excellent tour guide and I highly recommend requesting him! I am giving it four stars bc I think they should offer photos to be taken during the rappel activities. Unfortunately we did not get any photos doing the rappel bc electronics were not allowed. It would have been nice if one of the staff members could have snapped a couple shots standing at the top near the stairway or the member standing at the bottom. read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Some take the stairs, others rappel - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

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Fue una experiencia super padre, quien le gusta la aventura esto es ideal. Les va a encantar el tour de 3 horas! read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

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Brace yourself for some CHEEEEEESY jokes and to test out your sensitivity to claustrophobia and heights.... perhaps also do some stair master to make sure you have enough stamina to make it back up the stairs ------ 400 ish steps round trip. The tour was just under an hour and, not knowing what to expect, I wasn't prepared to have to walk underground in a VERY narrow wooden staircase..... I'm 5'2" and 115 and I had a challenging time squeezing myself through there. Then, you'll have a slight break where they'll tell you about some of the formations and then you get to make your way down a crazy, rusty n old spiral staircase (and, trust me, if you want to get down fast, GO FIRST cause otherwise you'll be lined up on that thing for upwards of 30 minutes just waiting for the rest of the ppl in your tour group to move down.) Also, if you're hold the railing, (most ppl were clinging on to it for dear life cause you'll be staring down through the steps) you'll want to keep some ***hand sanitizer*** in the car to rid yourself of the years of built up grime n the stank of rust. HOWEVER, when you get to the bottom, they'll tell you more about the cave and the nick names they've given to some of the formations and it's kinda cool/eery when they shut off all of the lights in there. Though, I suppose I could get that experience under my covers too. hahaa it was pretty cheap to go check it out there and worthwhile since there isn't much else to do. Though, if you're only up there for a short getaway, it's probably more exciting to find some good hikes in the area.... unless it happens to be your birthday and you get to do the zip lining or the tour for free. read more

Guide was great...unfortunately my companion was afraid to go on the spiral staircase to the bottom, so we stopped at the 65' platform.

I had visited the Moaning Caverns when I was a kid - decided to make a trip back when my boyfriend and I were exploring the area the other day. We stopped by around 11:20 and there were quite a few people there. We got tickets for the noon tour down into the cave. There isn't much to do while you're waiting that doesn't cost more money but they have plenty of picnic tables and places to sit in the shade while you wait. The tour itself is simple - nothing fancy. But going down into the cavern and see the majesty of nature was just as awesome and I remember it as a kid. This tour isn't for the claustrophobic or those afraid of heights (or depths). But the cavern is stunning (and a great leg workout)! Overall, my boyfriend and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Moaning Caverns. There's nothing better than nature. read more

FREE ZIPLINING ON YOUR BIRTHDAY! How awesome is that!?!?! :) My bestfriend decided to drive me 2 hours out in the middle of nowhere on my birthday for a super secret surprise. I had no idea where we were and what we were about to do until we stepped into their office and I saw the ziplining sign. Regular price, one time ziplining costs $44 and then it goes down to $24 if you want to go again. The flight down takes less than a minute and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be (and I am pretty easily scared). It literally felt like you were just swinging downwards and there was none of that butterfly feeling that you get from rollercoasters. The staff was friendly and reassuring and they were very thorough with making sure our safety equipment was nice and secure. One of the guys also reassured my fear of falling & dying by telling me that my gear can handle 200x my size without breaking :) They also have an option to zipline "Superman style" which is exactly how it sounds (you slide down horizontally rather than sitting down). I would want to try that next time if I'm ever in the area! NOTE: Make sure to bring a camera with a hand strap if you want photos of your ziplining experience. They don't let you have cameras without a strap on you before you go up. read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - Free ziplining on your birthday! :) - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

Greeted with smiles! Great information given by the tour guide!

My husband and I have been here a couple of times before, but we brought our kids and friends with us. We all had a blast. You do have to recover from the 262 steps down and 262 steps back up. It's still definitely worth the trip. It's not for the feint of heart. read more

We had a great time visiting the caverns. The staff at the park are very informed and pleasant to interact with. We also did the fossil and gem sifting as well as the axe throws which added to our experience and made the road trip worth it. The cavern is beautiful and the stairway down isn't all that bad. Just go slowly and you'll be fine. Once you reach the bottom you can take in how big the cavern is and just how well preserved it is. read more

Just stop right here, and don't even read the review. Just go. This was the highlight of eight days in gold country for my family. If you have rappelled before, then you might not be so excited, but it was our first time. My dogs, two big labs, weren't up to date on their shots, so we couldn't board them as planned. We took them along with us to Moaning Cavern, and took turns watching the pooches. The very friendly staff told us that the dogs were welcome inside the gift shop / visitors center, and even offered to watch our dogs while we all went down into the cavern. One of them is a pound rescue, and still a little problematic with other dogs, so we declined, but were so impressed with how nice everyone was. There is a nice picnic area just outside, with a hot dog / sausage stand. These run from 2 to 4 bucks depending on what you get, a fair deal. The cavern: You have a $14. option of just going down into the huge cavern via an old spiral metal staircase. This is pretty impressive, but a 45 minute tour for just one space is a bit long, and not too exciting if you've seen any of the other caverns in the area. There is also a three hour crawl tour that we didn't do, but will definitely do next time, if not burdened with the dog sitting. The rappel though, is an absolute must-do. My wife is afraid of heights, but she did it, and was glad she did. My three kids: 17, 15, and 13 all did it too, and loved it. For me, it was one of the most awesome things I've ever done, but I do love caves. You get a brief lesson on the rules and how to rappel via a 10 point video. Then they quiz you on the rules, number one being "don't let go of the rope!" I asked what happens if you let go, and the reply was that you die. He said this with a smirk though. They are not allowed to tell you that it is safe, and you have to initial several items about injury and death waivers. I did squeeze out that no one has ever died doing this, not on the tourist rappel anyway, and that they have several safety redundancies built in so you don't plunge to your death into the 165 foot deep cavern. The descent begins after they harness you up, and the beginning is a little tough. Leaning back is a little counter intuitive, and the initial drop is pretty tight if you are claustrophobic, like my daughter. The first 30 feet puts you onto a wide ledge, and you have to turn around and move a few feet to continue the descent into the main cavern. Dropping into that begins with going down the limestone face, feet against the rock, and in a reclining position. Feed the rope into the "J box" and continue dropping until you are hanging in mid air, with stalactites and flowstone all around. Look down the hundred or so remaining feet and see the tourists on the bottom getting the tour. This was just amazing. I can't say enough how fun this was. My wife though, was a bit terrified, and took quite a long time coming down. Once at the bottom, but still with quite a drop to go, the guide pulls you in to a rail, and you are done, and then climb all those stairs to the top, and make your way to the zip line. The zip is a twin line, so you can race. It's 1500 feet long, and goes pretty fast, but not as fast feeling as it looks from the observer on the ground. Weighing 200 pounds, I went way faster than my 84 pound daughter, and she didn't even make it all the way to the end, being too light. I make quite the collision with the stopper at the end, and got a good swing on that. Me and my kids did this, and were glad we did, but it really paled in excitement after doing the rappel. If you are in the area, this is a great experience. The staff will likely suggest you take your bathing suits to the river nearby, and either swim in the natural pools, or follow the river 250 feet into a limestone tunnel. I wanted to do this really, really bad, but the dogs. Alas the dogs. Not allowed on the trail, and a potential problem with the poison oak and rattlesnakes along the trail. Next time. read more

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Front desk is a little confused, slow and unorganized sometimes. But the Adventure Trip is AMAZING. There's nothing like climbing and crawling through crevices and small confined spaces, getting DIRTY and worrying for your life (or bodily injury) at every other step. It's an adrenaline rush that I'd love to do over and over and over again :) It's like rock climbing in all different directions: head first, legs first, butt first, face first, back climbing sideways climb, climbing through, up, over, under and to the left... it's such a cool experience. I think the other reviews do it complete justice. I can't wait to come back! :D p.s. I'm not a skinny, tiny person and if I can do it, so can you. read more

Moaning Caverns Adventure Park - 2 of my friends in the cavern for the Adventure Tour.... - Amusement Parks Near Me - Vallecito, California

The holy grail of happy employees... I can't recall, in the recent past, a place where all of the employees were happy to be working. Despite their grungy appearance, everyone was in good spirits and it remained that way for the 3 to 4 hours we were milling around the Moaning Caverns. The zip line was what attracted us here. The lore of the Moaning Caverns was not lost on us, we understood the historical context. However, on this trip, we did not partake in the cave tour. All wedding'd out, we didn't think our dancing legs could take all 438 stairs. $39 to zip! What?!? I was ripped off in Mexico. What a deal! I chose to ride tandem with my little love bug. Behind that 7 year old tough façade, we knew he was a little scared (not to mention did not weigh enough to ride by himself). [70lbs-280lbs to ride] From the staff that suited us up with our gear, to our Jurassic park car driver, to the staff manning the zip lines - EVERYONE was so friendly and enjoying their job. It was refreshing, no matter how dusty we were getting. The zip line was fun, it LOOKS way more intimating that it is., the 1,500 feet of zip was worth the price. I wish it went a little faster, but I'll live! Big ups to Brandon down at the rock wall. We literally spent an hour plus down there climbing. (I hope I don't get him in trouble), but he let us six climb all the lanes and multiple times. My forearms can barely type this Yelp because of the fun we had. He was super friendly, willing to help the love bug, and really easy going. I don't consider myself a wilderness/hiking type of gal, but if it's always like this...sign me up. This was a great experience with the family and we all left smiling and slightly sore... I'm taking it upon myself to rename this place Happy Caverns, cause that's how I arrived and how I left :) read more