At Laurel Caverns, we take learning underground.
Our traditional guided tour lasts about one hour and covers all those passages that can be reached without climbing down or up over rocks. All passages on the traditional guided tour are lighted. There are no age restrictions on this tour and no special equipment is needed.
Caving is the more contemporary term for what is popularly called spelunking. It refers to going into a cave completely in its natural state.
This activity is designed for beginners. The activity begins with an instruction session. A double belay (two-ropes – two staffers) is used. All equipment is provided by Laurel Caverns.
Our educational fieldtrip activities are designed to serve school fieldtrips, specialized learning programs, daycare centers, summer camps, government youth programs, bus tours, university classes, cultural studies, and the like.
All merit badge and pin programs have a 6 scout minimum; so, classes will not be set up until 6 paid reservations are received. Any Scout badges or pin programs are further outlined and are available on any day Laurel Caverns is open.
Kavernputt, opened in 1999, is the largest simulated cave in the world. It was built to create a cave experience for those who cannot physically use our natural cave.
Home to Pennsylvania’s largest cave.
Laurel Caverns is 8 miles from Hopwood, PA 15445 and 11 miles from Farmington, PA 15437, surrounded by the Forbes State Forest. For purposes of GPS, put in 1065 Skyline Drive, Farmington, Pennsylvania. Please read our directions. We open for the 2020 spring-summer-fall season on April 18th and will be open every day, seven days a week, holidays included, through Sunday, October 27th, 2020.
Laurel Caverns is a large natural calcareous sandstone cave located 50 miles south of Pittsburgh. Most of the passage ceilings in its three mile labyrinth are between ten and twenty feet high (many as high as 50 feet) with an average width of over twelve feet. This makes it the largest cave in Pennsylvania. If classified as a sandstone cave, it is the largest sandstone cave in the world. The cave itself is situated beneath a 435 acre privately owned geological preserve. Because this property is at the top of Chestnut Ridge, all of the water that enters the cave is pristine.
Because of its size three trips are offered. The traditional tour is for families with children and takes one hour. Upper caving is more rigorous and takes two hours. Lower caving is very rigorous and takes visitors the entire three miles to the bottom of the mountain.
The cost of maintaining this preserve is only funded by cave admissions, program admissions, and our gift shop. No local, state or federal tax dollars are used for either the support of this private preservation initiative or for the support of its educational programs. For this reason your patronage is greatly appreciated.
Because of its size, Laurel Caverns is also the largest natural bat hibernaculum in the north-eastern United States. In commitment to its preservation mission, the cave is closed during winter months for the bat’s winter hibernation season. Therefore, visitors will not likely see bats since the cave is open during the spring, summer, and fall months when bats have left the cave.
