Horne Lake Caves
Horne Lake Caves things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is a provincial park on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Its principal function is the protection, management, and recreational use of several caves collectively known as the Horne Lake Caves.
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Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is a provincial park on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Its principal function is the protection, management, and recreational use of several caves collectively known as the Horne Lake Caves.
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I recently had an unforgettable caving experience with my friends at Horn Lake Caves, and I just had to share how amazing it was! Our tour guide, Chloe, truly made our adventure exceptional. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and high spirits added an extra layer of excitement to our day. We participated in the "Achilles Challenge" tour, which provided us with a series of exhilarating challenges. From belly crawling through narrow passages to rope swinging over underground chasms, Chloe ensured that every moment was filled with excitement and adventure. Her expertise in navigating the caves and her attention to safety gave us the confidence to push our boundaries and embrace the experience fully. One aspect that stood out to us was Chloe's ability to cater to the needs of each individual in our group. It was the first caving experience for some of my friends, and Chloe's patient and reassuring nature immediately put them at ease. She provided clear instructions, demonstrated techniques, and offered guidance whenever needed, making everyone feel comfortable and secure throughout the journey. The variety of challenges in the tour was fantastic. Climbing up and down rocks with the assistance of harnesses and navigating rope ladders tested our physical abilities and added an extra element of thrill. Chloe's expertise and encouragement propelled us to overcome our fears and accomplish tasks we didn't think were possible. The moments we spent inside the cave were truly remarkable. Chloe's extensive knowledge of the caves' geology, history, and wildlife added a fascinating educational aspect to our adventure. She shared captivating stories and intriguing facts, making the experience not only thrilling but also intellectually stimulating. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Chloe for her exceptional guidance and dedication. Her passion for caving and her infectious enthusiasm created an atmosphere of pure joy and excitement. Thanks to her, my friends and I had an unforgettable time exploring the Horn Lake Caves. If you're looking for an incredible caving experience with a knowledgeable and spirited guide, I highly recommend the "Achilles Challenge" tour with Chloe. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! This adventure is perfect for both enthusiastic beginners and experienced cavers alike. It is not ideal for those who have waist size more than 115 cm, because the belly crawls are too tight. Prepare to be amazed and have the time of your life! Thank you, Chloe, for an unforgettable adventure. We can't wait to return for another thrilling exploration of the caves!
amir mehdirezaeiamir mehdirezaei
00
What a fun experience, but a bit pricey for what we got. We did the multi cave experience on a Saturday afternoon. The hike up to the cave was nice. It’s under the canopy so it wasn’t too hot. Entering the caves we weren’t sure what to expect. Hopefully this review will help. Bring jackets or sweaters. It’s cold in the caves and also pretty damp. 100% recommend bringing or renting the gloves. You’re also going to be crouching or sitting in the caves, so pants are preferred. One of my daughters wore shorts and she was ok until the cave slide, but did scratch up her legs and then was wishing she had pants. You need to wear close toed shoes, something with a bit of grip will help on both the hike and in the cave. The first cave is more open, you’re going to climb down a ways into it and then have the total darkness experience. This actually freaked me out a bit but the guide was great about letting me turn on my light for a minute to get my bearings back. There are some cool demonstrations at that part. You can bring bags with all your personal items into the entrance to the cave and then the gate is locked behind you. So it’s secure. The next cave is only a few minute walk away. This one has a standing squeeze to get into and it more crawling/crouching. The water slides have a bit of a squeeze to get up and then you’ve got to watch your head. Actually I bumped my helmet a lot, so I was grateful For it. You will get wet feet/legs here, so make sure to pack dry clothes and footwear. We had a great tour guide, Chloe…. I mean TJ. Terrible jokes but a great attitude. The only downside was that I wish we had more time to explore when we were in the caves. I love looking at rocks and could have done that for a while. Every experience will be what you make of it as well. Try to keep that in mind as you May have other people in your group that are strangers.
Joe SmithJoe Smith
00
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Easy online booking. About an hour drive from Nanaimo. Once turned from the highway, the road to Horne Lake Caves was well signed and well paved road but lots of loose gravels. Recommended to prepare extra time to get there. Check-in center is at the end of the road. Free parking. Two gender-neutral portable porta potties available. Our tour guide, Oscar, was AWESOME! He was patient, approachable, knowledgeable and with great sense of humor. We did the Multi-Cave Experience. Helmet and headlamp included. Recommended to wear extra layers and water-resistant clothing. Good footwear is a must. We started off by hiking to the entrance of the Riverbend cave, spent a majority of the time in the Riverbend cave exploring beautiful calcite formation. The climb was relatively easy. Next to the Main Cave. We had a real taste of rock climbing, standing squeeze, waterfall climbing and sliding down a cave slide! Our tour guide, Oscar, definitely made our cave experience better! The first half of the Multi-Cave Experience is basically the Riverbend Explorer (the shortest and cheapest tour available). The Riverbend Explorer does not include exploration of the Main Cave (that was the highlight of our Multi-Cave Experience tour). If you have time, definitely well worth to upgrade your adventure to Multi-Cave Experience.
chinmakchinmak
00
Highly recommend! This was my second time to Horne Lake Caves. At our first visit we participated in the tour now called the 'Max Depth Adventure' it was absolutely incredible! During this more recent visit I took my six year old son and we partook in the 'Riverbend Cave Explorer' tour. A phenomenal adventure where you can see calcite growing in the caves, stalagmites, stalactites and even experience absolute darkness! The adventure begins with an introduction to caving and a hike across a suspension bridge. The hike continues uphill for 30 minutes through a temperate rainforest. Our guide, Mo, was absolutely wonderful. Very personable and ensured everyone on the tour was comfortable. When booking, note the age restrictions in place for the varied guided tours. The washrooms on-site are port-a-potties. There is a gift shop where you can purchase souvenirs, drinks and snacks, it is also where you register for your tour. I definitely recommend purchasing tickets in advance as the tours have limited capacity and they do sell out. The drive to the caves is very scenic but also mostly on a dirt road.
Angela Bortolus LongoAngela Bortolus Longo
40
About 5 caves in the park, at the time i was there 2 & 1 tenth of the caves where open to the public. One cave you can go about 10 feet in through a skinny passage way in the dark, but the rest of the way is behind a metal gate for paid tours. The other cave down the path about 40 feet is fully open, puddles of water inside, wets walls & you'll need to rock climb a bit. There are 2 ways to the end, 1 through a crawl space filled with a puddle of water or the other way you climb a bit higher & wind up above the crawl space path. The other open cave is andre on the top of the hill it's about 10 stories up, you get to climb down a narrow rock path 10 feet, then a ladder to climb down, then it keeps on getting smaller and smaller and it gets really cramped since the last bit you need to get on your hands and feets and worm around. Lastly the river cave is locked to paid tours cost about 110 per person takes about 5 hours filed with rope repels and alot of climbing. Most definitely pay for the rental of hard helmet with light you'll need it, about 12 bucks.
propane riverpropane river
00
My husband and I had an amazing time exploring Horne Lake caves. It was our first time caving. We didn't know what to expect but we had a great experience. Our guide OJ was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, making the tour both educational and exciting.He kept us feeling secure and safe and explained every step to take thoroughly. During the tour, I unfortunately lost my gold bracelet which was very valuable to me. However the team and Laura went above and beyond to find it. They conducted a thorough search inside the cave and found my bracelet in one of the cave. My husband and I are immensely grateful for their dedication and kindness. Overall, our visit to Horne lake caves was unforgettable, Thanka to the outstanding service and genuine care provided by the entire team. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an exceptional adventure in nature. Thank you Laura and the team for making our trip truly special! ☺️
Jagruti MalusareJagruti Malusare
20
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Overview
4.8
(735 reviews)
Phone
+1 250-248-7829
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Website
hornelake.com
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Deep Dive
A deep dive into Horne Lake Caves
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