Caves in Mojave

Guided Tour through Mitchell Caverns in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area

No one expects to see caves when they visit the desert, and that’s part of what makes Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave Desert such an interesting place. It all started with an amateur silver miner, Jack Mitchell, who started operating cave tours to Route 66 adventurers. Not much has changed, except now the tours are operated by park rangers and the caverns are part of the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area .

Two-hour tours to Mitchell Caverns start at the visitor center, where a park ranger will make sure you’re ready for the cave. All in, it’s about 1.5 miles of total walking distance, including a short ranger-guided hike to reach the cave entrance.

The cave is located on a “sky island,” which function similarly to real islands: just as a palm tree can’t grow in the ocean, the sky island has flora and fauna that can’t grow in the surrounding lowlands. So while the desert below is full of barrel cactus, Joshua trees, and yucca, the area around the cave entrance has piñon pines and junipers.

As you hike towards the cave entrance, you’ll get some of the best views of the Mojave Desert, thanks to the higher vantage point. Once inside the cave, the tour follows an even path with an occasional set of stairs. There are some low passages with ceilings of around 5 feet and some narrow passages as small as 14 inches wide, but for the most part it is very easy going.

The temperature inside the cave is quite comfy, staying at 65 degrees year round. The ranger leads the tour through Mitchell Caverns at a leisurely pace, passing by the wide variety of limestone cave formations that can be found inside the caverns, including stalagmites, stalactites, helictites, lily pads, draperies, curtains, and popcorn (don’t worry, the park ranger will be sure to point everything out!).

Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is open September to June, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday to Sunday and holiday Mondays. Park is closed in July and August. Access to the caverns is by tour only. Tour reservations can be made online at reservecalifornia.com; find this info on the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area website. Tour groups are limited to 15 people per tour due to the small size of some sections of the caverns, so be sure to book in advance. Don’t wear any clothing or shoes that have been in a different cave at any point in the last 5 years to help stop the spread of white nose syndrome in bats. Double-check map directions before entering the park. The park can only be accessed from Essex Rd., which can only be reached from the south via Interstate 40, exit 100 (Essex Rd.), or from the north via Black Canyon Rd., a dirt road crossing the Mojave Preserve. State Park entrance fee is included with the cost of the tour ticket. Bathrooms available in parking lot. Dogs permitted in picnic area but not in caverns or on trails.

Story and photos by Natalie Bates, @wanderwithnatalie

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View