This Washington State Park contains a 500-million-year old cave that is more than 2,000 feet in length

The cave can be toured for free.

Crawford State Park Heritage Site Washington State Park is not to be confused in any way with Crawford State Park Colorado. It’s about as far north as it gets without having to travel to Canada. It is actually located only minutes from Vancouver. the U.S.-Canada border At just 49 acres, it is quite small. Visitors come from all parts of the world to visit Gardner Cave, a 500 million-year-old cave. Despite its size and northern location, it is not deterring. limestone cavern It is over 2,000 feet in length and nearly 300 feet below the Earth’s surface.

This deep geological wonder can only be appreciated in person. walk among the stalactitesStalagmites, flowstone and rimstone pool that covers the ceilings, walls, and floor of the natural limestone cave. It was one of Washington’s longest caverns, and was mapped in 1911 by the federal government.

Crawford State Park Heritage Site is a day-use park that appears to be a basic one at first glance. But, it’s a real treat for those who visit. There are free cave tours Thursday through Monday at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. And while there’s no charge to join a tour, visitors must register online. The guides are well-versed in the wonders of Gardner Cave and will help visitors recognize the many formations found within it — including the towering stalactites and stalagmites.

Popular underground spots include the rimstone pools located near the cave’s back and the 7.8-ton column, which was formed when a stalactite fused with a stalagmite.

The ancient cave was formed from a limestone “ooze” created by shells that settled on the floor of the cave millions of years ago. This ooze became a metaline limestone, which was folded over itself around 70 million year ago. the Crawford State Park Heritage Site cave pamphlet.

The park is open from May to September, weather depending, but Gardner Cave is best visited in the middle of summer, when the cool temperature of the cave — which hovers between 39 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit — provides a cool respite from the heat. The park closes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays.

To visit Crawford State Park Heritage Site and the Gardner Cave, you’ll need to pick up a Discover PassAccess to all Washington state-managed lands is possible with the. A $30 annual pass and $10 a day pass are available. There are also several free days throughout the year, including Earth Day on April 22, Juneteenth on June 19, and Veteran’s Day on November 11.

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