A: CAVERNS (scroll down for GOLD MINES):A cavern is a natural environment. In order to allow visitors to experience the cavern, some development is needed to make it accessible. In an effort to preserve the cavern for the use and enjoyment of future generations, some areas have been left untouched. Therefore, visitors on the walking tour may experience conditions such as low ceilings, narrow passages, and wet, muddy, slippery & uneven walkways. Please use your own discretion if you have health or emotional problems or are claustrophobic. Scroll down to see information on specific locations:

Black Chasm Cavern
The Landmark Tour consists of 5 flights of stairs with handrails and four viewing platforms. This tour is not recommended for people with heart conditions, claustrophobia or a fear of heights.

Boyden Cavern
The Walking Tour is a developed trail with handrails where needed. The trail is level with a few steps here and there, and places where you may need to duck to avoid hitting your head. When the stream flow decreases, visitors may choose to follow the stream bed out. This exit is rocky and slippery. The trail up to the cave entrance is short but very steep. We do not recommend this tour to people with heart conditions, severe asthma or claustrophobia.


California Cavern
The Trail of Lights & Trail of Lakes walking tours follow a developed trail with handrails where needed. There are a few short stairs, and some areas where you may need to duck to avoid hitting your head. This tour is not recommended for people with heart conditions or claustrophobia.

The Mammoth Cave Expedition and Middle Earth Expeditions- we provide professional equipment and trained expedition guides. The trips are of intermediate difficulty, yet easy enough to not require prior experience. However, these trips are high-adventure activities in a natural environment with inherent dangers including, but not limited to slippery surfaces, dislodged rocks, and improper use of equipment that no amount of care, caution, instruction, or expertise can eliminate. All participants are required to sign a release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk and indemnity agreement.

Moaning Cavern
The Traditional Walking Tour consists of 235 steps with handrails, 100 vertical feet of which takes place on a spiral staircase which must be walked twice; first down, then up. This tour is not recommended for people with heart conditions, claustrophobia or a fear of heights.

The Rappel & The Adventure Trip - we provide professional rappelling equipment and trained expedition guides. The rappel is easy enough to not require prior experience. However, it is a high-adventure activity in a natural environment with inherent dangers including, but not limited to slippery surfaces, dislodged rocks, and improper use of equipment that no amount of care, caution, instruction, or expertise can eliminate. All participants are required to sign a release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk and indemnity agreement. Minor children who plan on doing the rappel must have a parent or legal guardian present or must have a notarized letter from a parent or legal guardian giving them permission to do the rappel. We do not recommend these activities to people with heart conditions, claustrophobia or a fear of heights.

Gold Cliff Mine
The Adventure Trip - This historic hardrock mine is a manmade environment that has been made as safe as possible, but is inherently unstable. We provide professional equipment and trained expedition guides. The trips are of intermediate difficulty, yet easy enough to not require prior experience. However, these trips are high-adventure activities in a natural environment with inherent dangers including, but not limited to slippery surfaces, dislodged rocks, and improper use of equipment that no amount of care, caution, instruction, or expertise can eliminate. All participants are required to sign a release and waiver of liability, assumption of risk and indemnity agreement.

Sutter Gold Mine
A modern hardrock mine is a manmade environment that has been made as safe as possible, but is inherently unstable. For that reason we provide hardhats to each person who goes underground. Those that cannot or will not keep their hard hats on may not remain in the mine. Please use your own discretion if you have health or emotional problems or are claustrophobic.

The Walking Tour travels approximately 1850 feet into the mine (400 feet deep) on an open-top vehicle called the Boss Buggy Shuttle. Participants exit the vehicle to hear a talk in the safety chamber, then walk up stairs to the first raise through the drift (where the gold bearing quartz has been removed, making a horizontal tunnel). At the end of the trail, participants walk down some more stairs and board the Boss Buggy Shuttle to return to the surface. People who are claustrophobic or who have heart or asthmatic disorders may have problems on this tour.