Great news for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park visitors as park officials have just announced Crystal Cave will reopen for guided tours on May 23rd after four years of closure due to consecutive natural disasters.
The road and infrastructure leading to this spectacular marble cave located near the Giant Forest area were impacted by the KNP Complex wildfire in 2021 and again during severe winter storms in 2022-2023, creating unsafe conditions for visitation. Sequoia National Park has been hard at work restoring access:
“Several projects have been underway to restore access, including power line replacement and road stabilization. Last year, contractors began clearing hazardous trees along Crystal Cave Road. So far, the crews have felled 4,887 trees and removed around 2,750 trees from the area. Crews are continuing to remove felled hazard trees along the roadway, which may create traffic delays throughout the 2025 season. Road construction and other projects are expected to continue after the seasonal closure.”
The cave is operated by Sequoia Parks Conservancy, an official park partner of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Tours will run from May 23rd to September 7th. Park officials warn that tickets sell quickly, so visitors are highly encouraged to secure their spots early. Read the full press release below.
Sequoia National Park Press Release:
Crystal Cave will reopen for guided tours on May 23 after four years of closure due to consecutive natural disasters in Sequoia National Park. This spectacular marble cave is near the Giant Forest area and is operated by Sequoia Parks Conservancy, the official park partner of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Crystal Cave has been one of the most popular visitor destinations in the park since it opened for public tours in 1940. Sequoia Parks Conservancy has operated tours at Crystal Cave since 1982. The cave is visited by an average of 51,000 people each summer.
“The opening of Crystal Cave is a big step forward in disaster recovery for Sequoia and Kings Canyon. We’re excited to be able to reopen this incredible attraction to visitors and encourage people to enjoy all of the beauty and wonder these parks have to offer.” -Clay Jordan, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks superintendent
Visitors are encouraged to allow extra time to reach Crystal Cave. Without traffic delays, it takes about an hour to reach the cave parking lot from the park entrance station. To avoid delays at the entrance gate, arrive earlier in the day and purchase your park entrance pass in advance at Recreation.gov.
Tours will run from May 23 to Sept. 7, offering plenty of opportunities to explore this geological masterpiece. Tickets sell quickly, so visitors are encouraged to secure their spots early. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sequoiaparksconservancy.org/crystal-cave. Tickets will not be available for purchase onsite.
The road and infrastructure leading to Crystal Cave were greatly impacted by the KNP Complex wildfire in 2021 and again during severe winter storms in 2022-2023, creating unsafe conditions for visitation.
Several projects have been underway to restore access, including power line replacement and road stabilization. Last year, contractors began clearing hazardous trees along Crystal Cave Road. So far, the crews have felled 4,887 trees and removed around 2,750 trees from the area. Crews are continuing to remove felled hazard trees along the roadway, which may create traffic delays throughout the 2025 season. Road construction and other projects are expected to continue after the seasonal closure.
“We’re thrilled to reopen Crystal Cave, thanks to our partnership with the National Park Service. When visitors join us in exploring, learning, and engaging with nature, they become partners in our mission to protect this incredible wonder for future generations.” –Savannah Boiano, Executive Director of the Sequoia Parks Conservancy
