Underground Adventure

Underground Adventure
Top Canadian Caves That You Can Explore

From coast to coast, there are a number of caves in Canada accessible to the general public. Some can only be visited as part of a tour group and others can be explored on your own. Either way, they are all definitely worth the trip. Here are six of the very best ones.

Horne Lake Caves, Vancouver Island

The most popular and accessible caves in British Columbia, Horne Lake Caves consist of thousands of caves in Vancouver Island’s Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park. Come see 35,000-year-old stalactites and crystal formations that tower over 12 metres high. Some caves are freely accessible to the public, while year-round guided tours offer more extreme experiences, such as rappelling seven stories alongside an underground waterfall! There’s something for everyone at Horne Lake Caves.

Rat’s Nest Cave, Alberta

Rat’s Nest Cave is a Provincial Historic Site just outside of Canmore steeped in natural and human history. The entrance can be found on the south slope of Grotto Mountain. Inside, there are 300-year-old pictographs and animal remains dating back 7,000 years. Explore your way to the beautiful grotto, a crystal clear pool surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. Rat’s Nest Cave can only be accessed via a tour with Canmore Cave Tour. You can book your caving adventure year-round, rain or shine.

Bonnechere Caves, Ontario

Located in Eganville, the Bonnechere Caves provide one of the best caving experiences in Southern Ontario and have been doing so for the past 55 years. There are frequent guided tours available, and the caves offer a cool reprieve on hot summer days. The tours are easy and suitable for visitors of all ages, making it a great family activity. You’ll see beautiful water-hewn rock formations and even some ancient fossils!

Lafleche Cave, Quebec

Just 30 minutes from Ottawa, Lafleche Cave is known as the largest cave in the Canadian Shield. Take a guided tour with adventure company Arbraska through narrow passageways while learning about the cave’s history, which stretches back 13,000 years. The Lafleche Cave is open year-round and particularly fun to visit over the winter when the cold air that blows in through the large cave opening creates stunning ice stalactites and stalagmites.

Saint-Leonard Cave, Montreal, Quebec

Go caving in the heart of a major metropolis at Saint-Leonard Cave, located in Pie XII Park not far from downtown Montreal. Here, you’ll get to walk through ancient passageways that were pushed open by glaciers millennia ago. The cave was first discovered in 1812 but later forgotten for more than a century. Today, tours of the cave are offered by the Quebec Speleological Society over the spring and summer months.

Midland Ice Caves, New Brunswick

Every winter, in the forests of southern New Brunswick, the Midland Ice Caves form as a frozen stream creates an ice wall alongside a rock overhang. Holes are carved through the ice to allow visitors inside. It is a 4.8 km round-trip hike to and from the caves starting at Upper Midland Road, 45 minutes north of Saint John. The trail leads into a deep valley with some slightly challenging terrain, but anchored ropes along the way provide assistance.

The subterranean world is full of wonders that are waiting to reveal themselves to those who are willing to make the journey. On your next trip around Canada, make sure to add one of these fantastic caves to your destination list.

 

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