Howe Caverns, New York

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A recent trip through the Catskill Mountains in New York provided an opportunity to revisit one of the favorite tourist attractions of my youth. My family used to rent a bungalow in the Catskills, and Howe Caverns was a place we visited every year. 


Howe Caverns Reception Center. CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=165578696


Howe Caverns is a limestone cave system, complete with a river passing through it that is named the River Styx. The caves were discovered in 1842, when Lester Howe noticed that, on hot days, his cows would gather in the same spot, near some bushes. When he investigated, he found cool air streaming out of a hole in the hillside. He dug out the entrance, and began leading tours in the caves in 1843. Unfortunately, over the years Howe ran into financial difficulties, and had to sell off his land. The area around the caves was bought by a quarry company, and they closed off public access.






In 1927 an organization was formed to reopen the caves as a tourist attraction. They bought the land from the quarry, and created a new entrance at the other end of the cave system. The new entrance had a modern building at the top on a hillside, with elevators to enter the caverns. They built brick walkways and stairs, with electric lighting and safety rails. The Howe Caverns reopened in 1929. While equipment has been upgraded, the caves remain as they have been for the past 100 years.






Today Howe Caverns offers several different experiences. I took the 90 minute tour which involved a guided roundtrip walk of about 1.25 miles, and includes a boat ride on the River Styx.




On the walk we passed many typical cave features - stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone. You will notice that Howe Cavern uses colored lights on its formations. This is to highlight particular formations, showing off the difference between adjacent rocks. My guid also said that the changing colors help children and people with mild claustrophobia deal with the enclosed environment.






How caverns also offers a 2.5 hour spelunking tour that goes beyond the developed path, and an underground yoga class. You can also rent out part of the cave for a wedding or other ceremony.





Blenheim Covered Bridge

 



About 25 miles south of Howe Caverns is the Blenheim Covered Bridge. In 1853 a group of local businessmen in the towns of Blenheim and North Blenheim commissioned the construction of a covered wooden bridge over the Schoharie Creek. With a span of 210 ft (64m) it was the 2nd longest covered bridge in the world. The Blenheim Covered Bridge stood for over 150 years, until 2011, when it was destroyed during Tropical Storm Irene. In 2017, a replacement bridge was built, but without the final concrete extension, so it no longer fully crossed the creek. Still, it is a beautiful bridge, and a nice place to stop.






Nuts and Bolts


  • Howe Caverns is located at 255 Discovery Drive, Howes Cave, NY. 
  • It is open 7 days a week from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (last tour). 
  • The 90 min tour is $29.50 Adults(13-64)/ $26.50 Seniors(65+)/ $19.50 Children (4-13). The website provides pricing for other experiences. 
  • Please note - The cave IS NOT ADA accessible 
Location: Howes Cave, NY 12092, USA

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