California Cavern

California Cavern is a limestone cave located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, in Cave City, Calaveras County, California. It is one of the earliest officially recorded caves in the Mother Lode region of California and claims the distinction of having the most extensive system of caverns and passageways. The cave features beautiful crystalline formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones, and offers guided walking tours and wild cave expeditions. The cavern has a rich history, having been used as a shelter during harsh winters and later as a tourist attraction, with notable visitors including Bret Harte, Mark Twain, and John Muir. The cave is also home to over 5,000 historic signatures, which were carved into the walls by early visitors. In addition to the cave tours, the site also offers gold panning and gemstone mining activities, as well as a gift shop with nature-store-style merchandise