Discover fun for the whole family at caverns and caves in Pennsylvania, natural wonders that offer everything from guided boat and lantern tours to gemstone panning and rappelling.
The naturally air-conditioned sites are especially nice for summer travel. Since many of the caves possess damp environments and temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees, good shoes and a light jacket are recommended. Be sure to visit one (or more!) of the Pennsylvania caves on our list.
The only all-water cavern and wildlife park in the U.S. and the only cave in Pennsylvania on the National Register of Historic Places, Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park’s Centre Hall cavern tour features a one-hour motorboat ride on an underground stream surrounded by stunning stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes (try spotting “The Statue of Liberty”). See how dripping water has sculpted magnificent flowstone, curtains, cascades, and draperies against a background of pillars and gigantic columns at one of the best east coast caverns.
If you prefer an above-ground experience, try the 90-minute wildlife, farm, and nature tour through the park’s lands, where you’ll learn about the area’s geology, biology, and geography, and spot local inhabitants like bears, wolves, and Penn’s Cave’s icon – the mountain lion.
Partake in an underground adventure that’s more than 440 million years old at Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown. The 45-minute guided tour uncovers the natural underground beauty of the Hershey-Harrisburg region and offers a glimpse into rooms of natural spectacles, including stalactites, stalagmites, and even a lake. After the tour, try your luck at panning for gemstones, amethyst, jasper, calcite, and other precious treasures at Gem Mill Junction.
Indian Caverns in Spruce Creek, which has roots in Native American history and local folklore, has uniquely active formations that grow about one inch every 120 years. The guided tour takes visitors nearly one mile underground to discover Pennsylvania’s largest cavern. From columns and straw-like formations to a large rimstone pool, Indian Caverns’ well-lit interior is truly mesmerizing.
Lincoln Caverns & Whisper Rocks in Huntingdon hosts a one-hour tour of its two beautiful crystal caverns. Learn about crystals, stalactites, and large flowstones as you wind through the cave behind an expert guide. Other activities at Lincoln Caverns include panning for real gems and hiking along nature trails populated by rabbits, hawks, deer, wild turkeys, and more.
Pennsylvania’s largest and one of the steepest caves in the U.S. can be discovered in the Laurel Highlands at Laurel Caverns Geological Park near Hopwood. Traditional guided tours of the cave’s miles of passages are available, and thrill-seekers can rappel from 45 feet off the ground in the developed cave. Venture through 4 miles of this natural calcareous sandstone cave and discover ceilings ranging 10-50 feet in height.
Lost River Caverns in Hellertown is named for the mysterious river running through the cavern, originating from an unknown source and disappearing beneath the surface. In addition to the river, this cavern in PA is home to five chambers hold eye-catching stalactites, stalagmites, crystal formations, and other fluorescent minerals. Take a little piece of the cavern home with you when you stop at Gilman’s at the Cave shop to make your very own customized, unique souvenir out of minerals and crystals.
Crystal Cave near Kutztown takes visitors 125 feet underground for cave tours of natural stone sculptures, including formations dubbed “The Prairie Dogs” and “The Totem Pole.” Crystal Cave was the first show caves in Pennsylvania, as well as the one of the state’s first tourist attractions. This cave tour in PA leads the intrepid explorer through an array of spectacular, milky-white stalactites, stalagmites, as well as pillar and dripstone formations — all enhanced by indirect lighting.
Experience the only known fossilized coral reef cavern in existence at Coral Caverns, one of the most unique caverns located in Manns Choice. Cool down from the summer heat as you discover an abundance of fossils, stalactites, and stalagmites. The famed caverns have amazed thousands for more than 80 years with the diversity and beauty of its natural cave formations.
Check out the VISIT PA website to see some other underworld experiences in Pennsylvania that will continue to fascinate you. Follow us on Facebook, X, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on even more great ideas and places to visit around our state. Don’t forget to sign up for our monthly PA travel e-newsletter so you never miss an update.