Moaning Cavern

Open every day of the year, Moaning Cavern holds the largest vertical chamber in a public cavern that you can see in California. In fact, it's so big, it could hold the entire Statue of Liberty!

We offer guided Walk Tours, which are suitable for the entire family, 165-foot rope Rappels into the cave, which are the most thrilling way to see the main chamber, and challenging 3-hour caving Adventure Trips beginning with the optional rappel. No experience is necessary, just plenty of courage!

Moaning Cavern, run by Underground Adventures, has been tempting weekend adventure seekers for almost 30-years with rappelling and spelunking excursions below ground. It seemed a natural transition to president, Stephen Fairchild, to start quickening pulses above ground too. “We’re here to provide fun and adventure experiences to the general public. With the zip line, we are adding something that falls into our adventure activities lexicon, while also taking us into exciting new territory.“ One look at the massive launch and landing towers spaced 1,500-feet apart with double lengths of cable stretched between them and you know the ride won’t disappoint.

Visitors approach the launch tower by crossing a 60-foot long sky bridge before being strapped into a climbing harness and then rigged to the cable. Bring a “ready for anything” friend because the double cables mean zippers can race in pairs. One small step off the platform and you are zooming across the beautiful Gold Country foothills at speeds in excess of 40-miles an hour. The landing platform brings you to a stop on limestone bluffs providing a spectacular view of Coyote Creek Canyon.

The Moaning Cavern Zip Line, available daily, year round, will be open to anyone between 70 and 260 pounds, no experience necessary. Tickets will cost $39.00 for the first zip and $24.00 for repeats. A special combo ticket will be available for $88.00 which includes both the Moaning Cavern Rappel and the Zip Line, a 10% savings. A signed liability release form is required. No reservations are necessary except for large groups.

Above ground we offer free nature trail and picnicking or you can purchase gemstone mining or gold panning kits which are great fun for the kids to mine in our authentic flume system. New this year, we're also offering geode cracking - crack open a geode and see the beautiful crystals inside!

Gold Cliff Mine Adventure Trip, a thrilling, heart-pounding, underground expedition through a real Gold Rush era mine in the historic town of Angels Camp.

"This trip is unlike any other mine experience.” says expedition manager, Eli Fairchild. “We’re combining adventure with education, providing lots of information on the gold mining processes from the 1800s to the present day, and a little on the local geology as we explore through some spectacular areas of the mine. Here you can see first hand what 1800s gold miners were capable of - and it’s pretty amazing."

The Gold Cliff Mine Adventure Trip is perfect for those with an interest in California's Gold Rush, hard rock mining and/or sporting adventure. Participants must be at least 12 years old or 16 if neither parent is present. No experience is necessary, and all equipment is provided by SNRC. Participants set off from Moaning Cavern in Vallecito by passenger van to the Gold Cliff mine location in Angels Camp. Reservations must be made in advance by calling 209-736-2708 or toll free 866-762-2837. Moaning Cavern Adventure Park will still offer the guided cave walking tour, gemstone mining, geode cracking and shopping, but will require reservations for the cave rappel and the zip lines for Wednesday and Thursday only. All other days are first-come, first-served.