Mercer Caverns — Attraction in Angels Camp

Mercer Caverns: A Memorable Family Adventure

During a recent family trip, we visited Mercer Caverns, a remarkable natural wonder near Murphys, California. Our experience was both educational and enjoyable, making it a highlight of our journey.

Arrival and Waiting Period: We arrived on a Tuesday afternoon around 2:00 PM. The site wasn't crowded, but due to the limited size of tour groups, the 2:30 PM slot was already full. Consequently, we waited approximately an hour and a half for the next available tour. To pass the time, our children engaged in gem mining by purchasing a bag of mining rough from the gift shop. They thoroughly enjoyed sifting through the material in the water flume to discover various minerals and fossils.

Tour Experience: The guided tour lasted about 45 minutes and took us approximately 160 feet below the surface, involving 208 steps down and 232 steps back up. The path included steep and narrow stairs, with some areas requiring us to duck or lean sideways. While the tour is described as moderately strenuous, we found it manageable, especially with the frequent stops where our guide shared insights about the cavern's history and geology.

Cavern Highlights: Inside, we were captivated by stunning formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and rare aragonite crystals. A particularly memorable moment was when the guide briefly turned off the lights, allowing us to experience the profound darkness deep within the cavern.

Considerations: The cavern maintains a constant temperature of 55°F, so bringing a light sweater is advisable. Due to the numerous steps and some tight spaces, the tour may be challenging for individuals with mobility issues. It's also important to note that bags, including purses and backpacks, are not allowed during the tour to protect the delicate formations.

Overall Impression: Our visit to Mercer Caverns was both educational and entertaining. The combination of natural beauty, engaging activities for the kids, and insightful guidance made it a worthwhile experience. We look forward to exploring more caverns across the country...

Really enjoyed the experience.

We had a 9-yr-old who has a lot of common sense. She loved the experience and didn't have trouble with the rules about acting calm and not touching. She used the trip in a fourth grade California geography report and got extra credit! 😄 Those stairs could be a genuine safety hazard for a reckless kid.

We had a 19 yr old who loved the ghost stories and the experience of total darkness.

We had an adult with back and knee injuries and mild claustrophobia issues. They can walk about 2 miles flat without distress. The adult made the trip (though it took about four days to recover). Everyone's limits are different, so judge carefully for yourself!! The space was open enough with enough of a breeze that they didn't freak out. The stairs were a little intense for them, but the railings are good to pull with your arms, and there were some good resting spots. There are places where the stairs are so steep you have to lean forward or back or to the side as you go.

Great stories and ideas, fun kinetic experience, lots of subtle and exciting things to feel, see, hear and smell. Our guide was super knowledgeable and kept our brains filled with neat ideas the whole time. Bring cash because the guides do accept gratuities.

There is a gift shop with cold water, juice, and restrooms. There are also plenty of shady places to sit outside if you aren't sure about the stairs or the 2-3 minutes of full dark and want to wait up top while the rest of your group takes the cave hike.

We're kind of a quiet clan, and we found it super exciting. People who like more bright lights and big sounds might find it a little tame, but I still...

Cave is naturally beautiful and very steep. Thus stairs are extremely steep with huge drop offs in excess of maybe 15-25ft in some areas. Railings made only for adults and have huge gaps between steps and hand railings for even school age children to fall through. I didn't trust my 2nd grader to go by himself down the stairs, and he's an athlete. Handrails can also be wet and slippery.

I've been here over 2 decades ago with a school group of older kids and the tour guide was great. My recent tour guide was awful. Just like some other reviewers have said about their tour guides, my guide is very uncaring and basically doesn't allow any time for photos. I'm not talking needing minute after minute to set up for professional type photography....just point and shoot photography.

It must be a management thing or employee culture if multiple tour guides do the same thing. He basically allows photos at landings....where it is so crammed, everyone around is blocking the background, or the camera is too close to the family members to have any visuals of value. He has a run of the mill attitude on customers...get in fast get out faster..... but has the gall to ask for tips and says he is allowed to accept tips.

Obviously no tip from me...(I'd much rather ask for my money back for being short changed from photographing a family trip experience but I'm not that...