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Visitors to Onondaga Cave State Park can tour both Onondaga and Cathedral caves.
Onondaga Cave Tours (cave map)
Trained guides lead visitors over
electrically lighted paved walkways and provide information
about geologic wonders such as the King's Canopy, the Twins,
and other unusual speleothems. With an interesting history
and a river flowing through the cave, Onondaga Cave is a
spectacular registered National Natural Landmark.
Onondaga Cave tours leave from the visitor center and are available from March through October. Tours are offered at scheduled times throughout the day; the last tour of each day leaves at 4 p.m. Scheduled tour times change depending on the season and available staffing. At a minimum, tours are offered every two hours from 10 a.m . to 4 p.m. Several tours are offered each day from Memorial Day through Labor Day. They are walking tours, just less than one mile long, and last about one hour and 15 minutes. The cave's temperature is 57ºF (13ºC) year-round, so, bring a jacket and comfortable shoes.
| Regular Admission | Group Rates * | |
| Adult | $10 | $5 |
| Senior Citizens (ages 65 and up) | $8 | n/a |
| Teenager (ages 13-19) | n/a | $4 |
| Child (ages 6-12) | $5 | $2.50 |
| Child (under age 6) | free | free |
*Group rates are good for 10 or more people. Reservations for cave tours can be made two weeks to seven months in advance. In order to receive the group rate, reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Your group will not receive the reduced rate without confirmed reservations of at least two weeks or more. At certain times of the year, staff may not be able to accommodate a large group on short notice. Please contact us early at 573-245-6600.
Please note that weekday morning tours are often full with school and civic groups from March through May and September through October. During these months, you may want to plan for a weekend tour or call the park office prior to your visit to check the schedule.
Cathedral Cave Tours
Tours are given every Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day and by special arrangement. Tours are given
on Saturdays at 1 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. during April, May, September and October. It is a
lantern tour that lasts approximately two hours. The tour
begins at the campground showerhouse and includes a short
one-third mile walk up Deer Run Trail to the cave's
entrance. The cave tour itself lasts about an hour and 30
minutes. The remaining time is spent traveling on the trail
to and from the cave entrance. The cave temperature is 57ºF
(13ºC). The tour is limited to the first 30 people. It is
more strenuous than the Onondaga Cave tour and covers one and
two-thirds miles round trip.
| Regular Admission | Group Rates* | |
| Adult | $6 | $3 |
| Senior Citizen (age 65 and above) | $5 | $2.50 |
| Teenager (ages 13-19) | $5 | $2.50 |
| Child (ages 6-12) | $4 | $2 |
| Child (under age 6) | free | free |
*Group rates are available for educational groups (schools, scout troops, etc.). The park takes reservations from two weeks to seven months in advance and tours are often booked a month ahead. In order to receive the group rate, reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Please contact us early at 573-245-6576.
