This tour started with a very pleasant, informative boat ride across Lake Shasta. The tour inside the caverns could have been so much better. Our group was small, only four people, so spending time looking at the beautiful cavern shouldn't have been a problem. There is a bus ride up the mountain to the cavern entrance and In the initial waiting areas there are a few informational pictures and posters that we never had time to read because we were hurried to begin the tour. I ended up taking photos of them to read later. The tour guide was pleasant and friendly but not the best person to talk about the geology of the cave. She wasn't able to explain how the stalagmites or stalactites were formed. I wasn't looking for a technical, chemical bonding explanation but she could have at least said the chemical names correctly. I am not a geologist but I am knowledgeable with regard to chemical compounds and names of the elements - enough to know that she was out of her league when trying to explain how the caverns were formed, what was continuing to happen, etc. There were areas of the cavern that had steps and an area for the guide to stand and point out areas of interest that were ignored. The guide did offer some history and insight to the formations but did not stop to allow the four of us to stand and enjoy the beauty. I wasn't expecting a lengthy stop but we weren't stopped in an area for more than two minutes and were being moved on to the next area. There wasn't a tour behind us so it wasn't like we were holding up other groups.When the tour finished, we again walked through the waiting area that had the informational pictures and history of the caverns but were not allowed to stop because the bus down the mountain was leaving.Overall, the $45 per person cost wasn't a very good value. This could have been so much more.

Lake Shasta Caverns was one of the highlights of our Mount Shasta trip and is absolutely worth doing.The experience is much more than just visiting a cave. The combination of the scenic boat ride across Shasta Lake, the bus ride up the mountainside, and the guided walk through the caverns makes it a unique adventure. The caverns themselves are spectacular, with beautiful formations and impressive lighting that really brings them to life. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the tour both informative and fun.The entire operation was very well organized, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout.A few tips for future visitors: arrive early for check-in, wear comfortable shoes, and be prepared for a lot of stairs—there are several hundred throughout the tour. If you have mobility issues or difficulty with stairs, this may not be the best activity. Also, if you’re taking photos, don’t rush. There are plenty of opportunities to capture the stunning formations.Overall, this is a memorable experience that’s suitable for families, couples, and anyone who enjoys nature or geology. I’d highly recommend adding it to your itinerary when visiting the Mount Shasta area.

Climbed the equivalent of 47 flights of stairs by end of the tour! Luckily we bought tickets ahead of time because they sold out. The starting point is very tidy and well thought out - small playground for young kids, picnic tables, sluicing area (buy bags of dirt and gems in the gift shop), and gift shop. The things that could be improved are 1) they pack the bus overly full, expecting up to three people per seat that was certainly not designed for that, and definitely not for sitting by strangers, and 2) our guide would begin his spiel before everyone was in the area and would point to things that not everyone could see due to how spread out we were.I would definitely do it again, it was a really interesting experience.

After reading a couple of reviews about the size of the group, I was a bit worried the cavern would be super cramped. One reviewer stated their group was about 50! How would you fit that many?! Well, the group we were with was 58! Don’t fret!! While we all traveled in the boat together, they split the group into 2 smaller groups as we took the bus up the mountain. From there, our group hung back several minutes to give the first group time to get through the first room and then we started. Our guide was Daniel. He had a smiling face and seemed very engaging answering questions from the tour goers. The cavern itself is chilly, but no coat necessary, as there are a lot of skinny stairs to climb to get from room to room. The way out was a little sketchy with all downhill stairs, with the right side of some having a steep step off so watch your step! I suggest solid shoes for this trip so you have a good footing! Enjoy your tour!

This tour could be so much better if you had better tour guides. The boat captain, Cave Dave, was the only person I interacted with who seemed to actually want to be there. The bus driver and our tour guide, Bryce, appeared to be disinterested in the guests and annoyed throughout the entire tour. The tour guide acted like he was joking around with his frat buddies instead of families. He was so busy cracking sarcastic jokes and making inappropriate comments about the people in our group, that it truly detracted from what would have been a nice tour. He also made some rude remarks about the “old people” that had to skip some parts with significant stairs. Too rude!