When I discovered that Crystal Grottoes Caverns is the only publicly accessible cave in Maryland and has more formations per square foot than any other cave, I knew I had to visit. I was already exploring Boonesboro and the Valley Craft Network in the Hagerstown, Maryland, area, so skipping this unique spot would have been a total miss!

The Historic Discovery
Our 40-minute tour started with how the cave was discovered in 1920. The State Roads Commission was quarrying limestone when a blast opened a hole in the rock, revealing the cave. That very opening is still used as the cave entrance today. Within two years, the caverns were open to the public, and guided tours were priced at seven cents.

Touring the Cave
Our tour group was small—just five people—which I found out was a good thing. Crystal Grottoes Caverns doesn’t have all the large, open rooms you might recall from other cave tours. There are a couple of open areas, but it’s mostly tighter spaces and squeeze-y passages.
Since there are more formations per square foot than any other cave, there’s a lot to look at. I felt like I was constantly turning in circles trying to see it all.
Crystal Grottoes Caverns is a solution cave, meaning the formations were created by groundwater dissolved through the limestone, and they’re everywhere! It’s fun to recognize the stalactites (top) and stalagmites (bottom) and to see the columns that form when they meet, but it’s also fun to see things called blankets, soda straws, cave bacon, and cave popcorn.
While I’m not a huge fan of colored lights in caves—I prefer the natural look—it was entertaining to see a ceiling formation called ‘Bed of Nails’ bathed in red light.
Of course, it’s always fun to see formations that loosely resemble animals and characters too. My favorite was the cute little penguin looking up at some ruffled potato chips. Other fun creatures included giant bunny ears, a turtle, a king sitting on a throne, a mummy guard, and even Elvis’ sparkly pants.
One of my standout moments was coming across ‘Snowcap Mountain.’ Its glittering surface, covered in tiny crystals, gives it a magical shimmer that’s hard to forget. The formation features little bowls shaped by carbonic acid—the same substance that makes soda fizzy. As the acid interacts with the rock, it decarbonates, creating these delicate, wall-like structures.
Tip: Look at Snowcap Mountain up close to see the tiny salt-like crystals. When a flashlight passes over the formation, you can really see them sparkle.
Cave Salamander
I’d seen cave crickets before at Lincoln Caverns, but spotting a cave salamander was a first for me! Salamanders usually move into the caves during the summer and head back out in the fall. However, this salamander seems a bit mixed up about the seasons and has decided to stick around longer than usual.
No Touching, Except For…
The oils from our hands and the pollen we carry on our skin and hair can harm delicate cave formations, so the rule is to never touch anything inside a cave. But on our tour, there was one exception—a massive stalactite hanging in the middle of a passageway that had stopped growing long ago. We were told we could give it a gentle pat as we passed. (I couldn’t bring myself to touch it, though!)
High Point
The highest point on our underground cave tour was 110 feet underground. We learned that there used to be a small amusement park with a rollercoaster above the caverns. Due to safety concerns, it was closed and replaced with a pavilion. When we exited the cave, she pointed out its location on the hill.
Experiencing Complete Darkness
I’ve been in complete cave darkness before, but it’s always a bit jarring. After a quick 3, 2, 1 countdown, our guide turned off the lights for about 20-30 seconds. She mentioned that in just 45 minutes of total darkness, people can start hallucinating, and after 1-3 months, blindness sets in. Pretty wild—and definitely a little unsettling!
Final Thoughts
I didn’t have sky-high expectations since this is Maryland’s only show cave. But I was pleasantly surprised! It’s not as vast or towering as Luray or Shenandoah Caverns, but it makes up for it with an impressive density of formations. Seeing so much in just 40 minutes was mind-blowing. If you’re in Maryland or nearby in Pennsylvania, it’s definitely worth a stop!
Know Before You Go (Crystal Grottoes Caverns – MD)
- Address: 19821 Shepherdstown Pike. Boonsboro, MD 21713
- Hours: Open seasonally (approximately Memorial Day to mid-December) 10 am — 5 pm daily
- Guided Tours only: Tours begin every 30 minutes and last about 40 minutes.
- Admission: $23 for adults, $13 (kids 5-12), under 4 free.
- What to Wear: Cave temperatures remain about 54°F year-round, so bring a jacket and wear shoes with good traction, as the cave floor can be slippery.
- Accessibility: The cave is not handicap accessible.
- Pets: Not allowed
- Restrooms: Available in ticket center/gift shop
- Parking: Large parking area on-site.
- Website
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