6 Incredible Caves in Washington (From Popular Spots to Hidden Treasures)

Washington State has some of the coolest caves you can explore. This naturally beautiful state is filled with wonders including, lush mountains, crystal clear lakes and rivers, and rushing waterfalls. In this article, we are going to learn about six incredible caves in Washington, each worth a visit!

Tree Root Cave

The first incredible Washington cave on our list is the Tree Root Cave, which looks like it came right out of a fantasy novel. It’s also known as the Tree of Life.

The roots of this old and majestic tree dangle without soil and yet the tree remains alive. You can find this beautiful tree cave in the Olympic National Park. Olympic National Park is a highly visited national park with a surface area of 922,650 acres.

It was established on June 29, 1938. The park features rocky and sandy beaches, glaciated mountains, and temperate rainforests. Tree Root Cave is on the beach with access from the Kalaloch campground. You can also walk along the beach and find different shells and even whole sand dollars.

Lake Lenore Caves

Another incredible cave is the Lake Lenore Caves. You can find these hidden seven caves in Lake Lenore Caves State Park in Central Washington. Within the caves are petroglyphs, which has led experts to believe that Native Americans inhabited these rock caves for thousands of years.

This cave experience is very different from the Tree of Life Cave. It’s located in Lenore Canyon in eastern-central Washington. The trail to the seven caves is dry and rocky. The hike is short and the caves aren’t deep, so you can walk in and explore them without the use of a flashlight.

Manresa Grotto

Manresa Grotto is a beautiful natural cave in Pend Oreille County, Washington. This unique cave is within the Kalispel Indian Reservation. The entrance is marked with a sign that reads “A beautiful grotto exists.” It’s about 50 feet long and 75 feet wide and only a short hike. Jesuit missionary Father Pierre Jean DeSmet named the grotto.

Guler Ice Cave

Another beautiful and must-visit Washington cave is the Guler Ice Cave in Skamania County, Washington. This lovely cave is within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This one cave is part of a 650-foot-long cave network with many rock and ice features. It’s well worth a visit but with caution. To get inside the Guler Ice Cave, you need to walk down a wooden staircase.

Unlike the Lake Lenore Caves, this cave is dark, so you’ll need to bring a flashlight. Although you can visit in the summer, during the winter, you can see the Crystal Grotto. While in the cave, you can continue exploring, but carefully.

To enter other chambers, you’ll need to crawl into small spaces. Since ice is present all year round, wear warm clothes and boots.

Experts also recommend wearing a helmet, gloves, and kneepads as you’ll need to crawl to reach other ‘rooms’.

Ape Cave

The Ape Cave is another wonderful Washington State cave, you should visit. Like the previous cave, it’s also located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. It’s a 2-mile-long pitch-black lava tube accessed by a stairwell into the cave. This beautiful cave is suited for beginners and experts. For beginners, there is a 0.75-mile trail.

However, for more experienced and adventurous explorers, there’s a 1.5-mile upper cave route. On this 1.5-mile trail, you’ll need to climb up an eight-foot rock wall. Fun fact, the Ape Cave is the third longest lava tube in North America.

It does get chilly inside, so take a light jacket or hoodie. According to the USDA, you’ll also need a bright light, not just a phone light.

Layser Cave

Last but not least is Layser Cave, also in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The trail is about 0.25 miles long to the entrance of the cave. This hidden gem is kid-friendly and quiet. There is rarely a long wait or a crowd to enter or hike the trail.

The cave isn’t very deep, but you can go inside. Layser Cave also offers beautiful views of Mt. Adams. It’s thousands of years old but was only discovered in 1982 by Forest Service employee, Tim Layser. Native American artifacts have been found throughout the cave.

Summary of The 6 Incredible Caves in Washington

Here are six amazing caves found in Washington: