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Cool Cave Tours
Are you ready for a fun and affordable family day out? How about a vacation full of learning for all ages? Whether you live in New York and want to take a day trip, or you are driving through the area looking for a fun affordable family vacation, Howe Caverns is one of the most exciting NYS attractions.
Every tour of Howe Caverns starts with a 156 ft descent below the earth’s surface…
Your journey will wind through limestone corridors, cavernous galleries, under massive boulders, until you discover a subterranean riverbed carved over countless millennia. Deep in the cave, solid rock appears fluid: creating strange formations, flowing sheets and dripping stalactites. Mysterious grottos lead off into distant, unexplored passages. Shadows hide secrets in deep cracks and crevices. The well-worn path twists and turns descending into the depths, downward to the glassy surface of an underground lake that trails off into the absolute darkness of the cave’s Eastern Terminus… this is the Howe Caverns ultimate experience. The cave is 52°F so a jacket or sweatshirt is recommended. The cave tour consists of a 1.25 mile walk with a 0.25 mile boat ride. There are 139 stairs throughout the tour.
The cave is not handicap accessible; wheelchairs and other wheeled devices are not permitted in the cave.
**Please Note: Food, Beverages, Strollers, or Bags of ANY kind ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE CAVE.**
A light jacket or sweatshirt and comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Flip flops are NOT permitted in the cave.
All tickets for your party must be purchased for the same tour time. Tickets purchased for multiple time slots CANNOT be combined.
The Traditional Tour
Experience a 90 Minute Walking Tour with Boat Ride
Enjoy the experience, descending 156 feet below the Earth’s surface to explore six million year old caves. Your 90 minute journey begins in Lester Howe’s above ground study where Howe himself will regale you with the story on how he discovered this great cave system. Your experienced tour guide will then lead you down (in an elevator) to The Vestibule where your journey continues. Travel through the enormous main cavern, immense galleries and under huge boulders which hang precariously overhead. You will experience the mystique of the River Styx, the wonders of Titan’s Temple and The Giant Formation on your journey.
Adventure Tour
Signature Rock Discovery Tour
Finally, A Century Old Question Will Be Answered: What’s Behind Those Dam Doors?
Family fun destination Howe Caverns has unveiled its newest and “oldest” spelunking cave tour, The Signature Rock Discovery Tour. The 2.5 hour exploration tour reveals the mysteries of portions of the caverns that have not been open to the public in over 100 years.
Specialty Tours
Lantern Tour
Take a 2 Hour Lantern Tour on Friday or Saturday Evenings
(Reservations Required)
If you want to experience Howe Caverns as Lester Howe did when he discovered the caverns, then The Lantern Tour is perfect for your underground adventure!
Lantern Tour Rate & Pricing
- Must be 16 or older
- No discount offers are available for The Lantern Tours.
- Lantern Tours currently available by reservation only
- Tours are available Saturdays and Friday evenings through out the summer, with limited days and hours during the winter.
- Call for dates and times.
Reservations Required
- Lantern Tour Reservations can be made by calling Howe Caverns at 518-296-8900
- Your Credit Card will be charged the day reservations are made
- Tickets are paid in full at the time of reservation and non-refundable
Would You Like To Spend The Night?
The Lantern Tour Package has been designed for those of you who would like to stay at Howe Caverns after your evening tour. The Lantern Tour Package offers accommodations.
Take advantage of an affordable vacation package, weekend getaway or over night adventure and enjoy all Howe Caverns has to offer. Try gemstone mining, take a scenic bike ride, try hiking on nearby nature trails, and many other seasonal attractions. For overnight stays call The Howe Caverns Motel at 518-296-8950.
Family Flashlight Tour
2 Hour Tour with Flashlights on Sunday Evenings
Reservations Required (No online tickets)
Children Must Be at Least 5 Years Old
Experience the Family Flashlight Tour at Howe Caverns!
Fun for the entire family. Bring the kids and see the cave in a whole new light – by flashlight!
Come experience a special edition of our Lantern Tour, geared toward the whole family! Everyone can navigate the great cave as our founder Lester Howe did when he discovered the cave system…in the dark! The Family Flashlight Tour is exciting, educational and most of all offers s a great adventure for all ages. Take your family on a tour of a living limestone cave, carved by an underground river, over the course of millions of years!
Come and join in the Flashlights & Fun!
Would You Like To Spend The Night?
How about spending the night with Howe Caverns? The Family Flashlight Tour Package has been designed for families who would like to stay at Howe Caverns after your evening tour. The Lantern Tour Package offers accommodations.
Take advantage of an affordable vacation package, weekend getaway or over night adventure and enjoy all Howe Caverns has to offer. You can try gemstone mining, take a scenic bike ride, try hiking on nearby nature trails, and many other seasonal attractions. For overnight stays call The Howe Caverns Motel at 518-296-8950.
Private Tour
Would you like a personalized, custom tour of Howe Caverns?
Our Private Tour is now available by reservation for private parties.
View the cave at your own pace on a quiet, relaxing tour and ask in-depth questions
of your private guide.
This personalized tour and must be scheduled
in advance for a minimum of two people per tour.
The private tour can accommodate up to 36 people total.
Please call 518.296.8900 to reserve your custom tour today!
Get ready to experience the most immersive escape rooms in the Capital Region.
“The Cave” is the first of three high-tech escape rooms to open at Howe Caverns.
Do you think YOU know HOWE TO ESCAPE!?
The Ultra-Max penitentiary known as “The Cave” houses the most notorious criminal geniuses in the country. Built 15 stories underground, The Cave has the latest in cutting-edge escape deterrent technology deployed in the facility. Many infamous individuals have spent the waning years of their lives behind its triple-reinforced cell walls and state-of-the-art security systems. This distinguished clientele has resulted in multiple escape attempts, but none have been successful… until now! A motley crew of the criminal elite, led by maniacal mastermind, Stu “The Flu” Galopso, have done the impossible and breached the confines of their containment sector. Society’s most dangerous and unpredictable fugitives are now at large, and only YOU can stop them!