Howe Caverns — Attraction in Town of Cobleskill

Ok, I'm going to write a review for this place, simply because this is the first place in years that made feel energetic as I left. Also going to break it up into sections:

Booking a Tour: Signing up for it was simple, you visit the site, find the tour you want, then select the time you want and pay online. Right before we went on the tour, all I had to do was give my name, no complicated sign-in needed. A very convenient, no hassle process.

The Main Building and available Facilities: Love the Tudor style (or at least what I consider Tudor style). First thing I noticed was how good the signage was, at no point was I wondering about lost. I'm an early riser, so I naturally chose the 9:00am tour and arrived at 8:20ish. I was afraid I would have to sit in my car till 9:00am since google maps shows the hours of operation starting at 9:00am, but I was surprised and grateful to find the cafe was open and was able to get a light breakfast (I had skipped breakfast). This was great since food and drinks are not allowed in the caverns, and the dining room was also great and very spacious, with a great view (picture attached).

Cleanliness: This needed its own section, since I arrived early, I got to see much of the main building, as well as most of the outside parameter. I also used the bathroom as recommended before the tour. The first thing I noticed was how absolutely clean everything was, not a single mess to be seen, or any off-putting smells. Massive kudos to the crew, nothing builds excitement like a well-managed staging area.

The Caverns: I did not have any expectations, I know nothing about caves, caverns, or limestone. I was told it would be cold, wet, and possibly strenuous. From the pictures I saw, it seems that there would be multicolor lights everywhere. This did make me wonder if it would be too distracting, but it turns out the lighting wasn't crazy at all, you immediately get used to it. If anything, I ended up liking the colorfulness, though I am a fan of RGB (red, green, blue). There is a bricked path the whole way, which was impressive considering some parts of the path was suspended above a stream/river. Now, there was a warning about steps, however the main tour follows a relatively stairless route. It's only on the trek back that there are optional paths that goes through several stairs and even a claustrophobic winding path. The optional path is also where you will feel the humidity, if you are sensitive about that. However, if you are not in the mood or not able to, the nice tour guide gives you the option to just follow the original path back, no big deal. I can't really comment on the cold since I have a high tolerance, but in regard to the wetness, yes, the ceiling drips, but not nearly enough to be a bother, and water collects under the places that drips a lot, so you can avoid most of it. All in all, an excellent tour.

The Boat Ride: Great part of the tour, I don't have many comments about it. It's a still river, you go down it gondola style, clear shallow water. Good times all around. Just watch your head, lol.

The Tour Guides: Great folks, our tour guide was engaging, clear spoken, and very considerate. She made things very understandable, had stories to tell, and appeared to be a good mood, which puts everyone else in a great mood. She would even wait for everyone to be present before talking about a feature or attraction, even if there is one big dude that keeps lagging behind due to taking pictures (Sorry about that.). As mentioned before, big Kudos to the crew.

The bottom line: If you have the time, you will not waste a single dime visiting this place, it is a great experience all around.

I would comment about the gift shop, but the humidity got me, and I left immediately to go home and dry off, lol

(I've added a lot of photos while purposely avoiding having people in them. If I miss one with people in it, comment here and I'll see if I...

Can't say enough good things about this place. Good things right from the get go. Had to change our original reservation date and they were super accommodating. Also took the time to explain what each package contained. We went for a family suite with their "Tour and Stay" package. What a bargain! Included 2 Adult tour tickets, coupon for a1/2 pound of fudge from their sweet shop, coupon for a bag of dirt with various gem stones (cooler than you think...explained later in the review) and a nifty souvenir bag. The souvenir bag contained really nice items. A glass (real glass not plastic) with a Howe Cavern imprint/logo, a frisbee, a snack bag clip, a tote bag, and postcards were in the bag. Nice touch. Our room, as do all the rooms, look out onto a beautiful landscape of rolling hills. There are Adirondack chairs outside for yo to relax and take in the scenery. Absolutely peaceful. The room was immense. Four queen size beds in two separate rooms with a tv in each room. In the foyer there is a microwave and mini fridge. Nothing to complain about as the rooms were clean and nothing was run down looking.

Onto the tour itself, which was spectacular. Guides were friendly and informative. The tour last about an hour and a half encompassing both a walk and a boat ride. Nothing is super strenuous and the boat ride is a lot of fun. Near the end of the tour you have the opportunity to go through a winding narrow passage that is a couple of hundred feet long. Narrow as in real narrow and not for the claustrophobic. Not to fear though because you are given the option of staying behind in a waiting area. After the cavern tour we used the coupon for the bag of dirt containing gem stones which you have the option of taking it up to the Mining Building, which is a short walk from where the cave tour begins in the Main Lodge. Our grandson had a blast there. You take the bag of dirt and they have a room with mining/running water sluices that you place some of the dirt from the bag in a screening panel and presto gem stones emerge from the dirt. They provide you with a placard showing what each gem stone looks like so you can identify what you have. We also cashed in our fudge coupon at the Sweet Shop in the Main Lodge. A 1/2 pound of delicious fudge for free. Can't beat that.

The caverns are in an excellent location. The actual grounds are up a winding paved private road and the area is amazingly scenic with expansive views of rolling hills. Best thing though if you need to go shopping the town of Cobleskill is less than 10 minutes away. Plenty of food options there as well as a shopping center that has a Walmart. Need more options? Albany is only 40 minutes away. At this point I'll put in a plug for the USS Slater. It's the only WWII Destroyer Escort that is still afloat. It is a spectacular museum that would make for nice weekend fun if you visited the cavern and took a jaunt to the Slater a later time. BTW, There is a cafe at the Howe Cavern Lodge and the food there is pretty good and dirt cheap. The main seating area has multiple large picture windows giving you a nice view of the surrounding area. The only negative is that is closes early so dinner there is not an option. Ten thumbs up for Howe Caverns....

Our group of 3 adults and 1 child (11 years old) spent a delightful Saturday enjoying the full Howe Caverns package, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish.

We began by checking into the onsite motel. From the outside, it has a quaint, old-timey look, so I was pleasantly surprised by how nice and updated the interior was. The room was clean, comfortable, and had a great view of the sprawling green lawns—very peaceful. The AC unit was a bit clunky (earplugs didn’t quite cut it for this light sleeper), but for just one night, the serenity of the surroundings and the fresh air more than made up for it. There’s even a small pool onsite, which we didn’t have time to use, but it was a nice touch!

Our first activity was the “Howe to Escape” escape room (rated 8/10 difficulty), and it was an absolute blast! Our gamemaster, Mike, did a fantastic job setting the mood and giving us clear instructions. We had two people per “prison cell” to start and managed to escape together! The puzzles were challenging but never frustrating, and the final puzzle brought out the best in our teamwork—everyone got to play a key part. Super satisfying and definitely a highlight of the day. Mike was proud to hear our excitement, sharing with us key moments, how we played as a team and taking in our feedback. We need another room to justify a repeat trip! Please!

Next, we had a little time before our cave tour, so we grabbed our bag of gemstone rough (included in the package) and headed to the sluice troughs. It was a hit, especially for our 11-year-old who’s really into gems. A great touch for families!

Then came the main event: the cave tour. The descent via elevator (yes, it’s a little snug) takes you 150 feet underground. If you’re claustrophobic, this part might be a challenge—but hey, it is a cave! The cave itself is fascinating, and while the colored lighting initially looked tacky, we learned there’s actually a smart reason behind it—white light causes unnatural moss growth, so the colored lights help manage that. Good to know!

The only drawback was the number of tour groups underground at once. It could get noisy, and I found myself wishing there were quieter moments to really soak in the ambiance—the drip of water, the echo of silence. Still, on the return walk, we got a little more freedom to pace ourselves, which we appreciated. And yes, my favorite (and slightly scary) part was the winding passageway where my family took great joy in hiding around corners to jump scare me.

By the end of the tour, the cave chill had caught up with me (I run cold!), but nothing a few jumping jacks and some sunshine couldn’t fix. We picked up our included pound of fudge—delicious and well-earned—and ended our visit with dinner nearby and an evening stroll around the property. We even discovered a ropes course we hadn’t noticed before—something to check out next time!

The major place for improvement needed is in booking (everything was booked via phone, over the course of 3 calls, not ideal). All in all, this old-school, family-friendly day trip was a simple delight. The combination of nature, adventure, and little surprises made it a memorable experience...