Boyden Cavern
Kings Canyon National Park (Highway 180) · near Fresno (90 miles west) · Sierra Nevada / Yosemite
Caving
At a glance
- Depth
- 180
- Season
- Late April–November 8 · Closed winter (Highway 180 winter closure) · 7 days/week in season
- Cost
- Group walking tour: $17 adults (13+) / $8 children (4–12) / under 3 free · Park entry: $35 vehicle or America the Beautiful Pass
- Difficulty
- Moderate · Steep ramp to cave entrance · Some head-ducking inside · Not recommended for severe mobility limitations
Permits and booking
- Permit
- No additional permit. Book online at boydencavern.com. Some walk-up availability. Park entry required through Sequoia/Kings Canyon ($35 vehicle fee). Gift shop sells snacks and drinks.
Worth knowing
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
- Gear
- Jacket (cool inside) · Sturdy shoes — steep ramp to entrance · Book ahead online
Caving detail
- Cave type
- marble
- Tour length
- 45–60 minutes · Small groups (private tour option for up to 5 adults)
- Formations
- Stalactites & stalagmites · Flowstone · Shield formations · Pendant formations
- Featured caves
- Group Walking Tour · Private Tour · Flashlight Tour
- Intl tip
- The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180 through the park) is one of the finest canyon drives in the Sierra Nevada — comparable to Yosemite Valley in grandeur with a fraction of the traffic. Cedar Grove, 10 miles past Boyden Cavern, is the road's terminus with hiking access to the canyon floor. Zumwalt Meadow, just before Cedar Grove, is one of the prettiest meadow walks in the Sierra.
The guide
Boyden Cavern sits at the base of Kings Gate — the point where Kings Canyon narrows to its most dramatic section, with 2,000-fo…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Boyden Cavern — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 36.8897, -118.6767