Gold Country Caves, Caverns & Mines
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Empire Mine is located at the intersections of highways 20 and 49 northeast of Sacramento. Empire Mine was one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California. This State Historic Park includes the owner's home and gardens, original mine buildings and equipment and a museum. The 3 dimensional model of the 367 miles of shafts below the surface is impressive. A mine shaft for visitor exploration is set to open sometime in 2006.
Empire Mine
10791 East Empire Street
Grass Valley, CA 95959
(530) 273-8522
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Gold Bug Mine is located off Bedford Avenue in Placerville. A self guided tour approximately 100 yards into an actual gold mine offers numbered markers with mining tutorials. Visitors are required to wear hard hats due to the low ceiling in some points. Views through shafts into total blackness. Also on the property is a stamp mill where granite rocks from the mine were pounded for processing. Local historians are on-hand to answer questions and give interesting facts. Gold panning available.
Gold Bug Mine
2635 Goldbug Lane
Placerville, California 95667
(530) 642-5207
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Sutter Gold Mine is located off Highway 49 north of the Highway 88 intersection. This is the site of several mines including the Lincoln Mine from which Leland Stanford made his fortune enabling him to found Stanford University and to partner with the Central Pacific Railroad. Choose from a one hour walking tour or a shuttle to traverse into the depths of this historic gold mine. A gold store and gemstone mining opportunities can be found above ground.
Sutter Gold Mine
13660 Highway 49
Sutter Creek, California 95685
(866) 762-2837
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Masonic Caves are located near the intersection of Highways 104 and 88 in the town of Volcano. These limestone caves were once used for secret meetings by Masons. They consist of different levels and vary in size and shape. Several openings lead into the caves which honeycomb throughout the hill. The highlight is the beautiful moss that covers the cave entrances making for very picturesque moments.
TIP: Caves are accessed by walking through the yard of a private residence, which is kind of strange, but we were greeted and welcomed through by the owners. Don't be shy to walk through to the back because it's worth exploring.
Masonic Caves
Pine Grove-Volcano Road
Volcano, California 95689
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Black Chasm is located near the intersection of Highways 104 and 88 in the town of Volcano. This multi-room cavern is a National Natural Landmark and features stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and rare helictite crystals. A 50-minute tour traverses the cavern including a suspended walkway that overlooks portions of an underground lake. Above ground is a large visitor center, picnic area and gemstone mining & gold panning opportunities.
Black Chasm
15701 Pioneer-Volcano Road
Volcano, California, 95689
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California Cavern are located off Highway 49 going east on Mountain Ranch Road out of San Andreas. Perhaps the most adventurous of all caverns, this cavern's highlights are its underground lakes. Choose from 3 different tours starting with a one hour walking tour to a five hour raft tour. One tour has you crawling, climbing and sliding through the many passageways throughout the cave system. Features include helictites crystals, stalactites and crystal flowers. Showers are available above ground along with a picnic area and gemstone mining opportunities.
California Cavern
9565 Cave City Road
Mountain Ranch, California 95246
(209) 736-2708
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Mercer Caverns are located off Highway 4 near the town of Murphys. Make a right on Sheep Ranch Road near the end of Main Street in Murphys. This three million year old limestone cavern is accessible by 45-minute tour. Descend stairs equivalent to a 16-story building to the main cavern.
Mercer Caverns
1665 Sheep Ranch Road
Murphys, California 95247
(209) 728-2101
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Moaning Cavern is located off Highway 4 between the towns of Murphys & Angels Camp in Vallecito. From Highway 4, make a right on Parrots Ferry Road and another right on Moaning Cave Road. This is the largest verticle cavern in California and could fit the Statue of Liberty. Choose from 3 exploration options including an open air rope rapel to the cave floor 165 feet below. The walking tour descends 234 steps via a spiral staircase. Guests are also welcome to explore the many chambers and passages by crawling, squeezing and climbing their way through. A picnic area, opportunities for gemstone mining, and the cavern store are available up top.
Moaning Cavern
5350 Moaning Cave Road
Vallecito, California 95251
(866) 762-2837
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