New York's Second-Most Visited Nature Attraction Is An Underground River Adventure

A tour at Howe Caverns gives you the opportunity to walk around rock formations and ride a boat on a river in a subterranean cave system. An above-ground park turns the trip into a full-day adventure. No wonder this destination is one of the most popular natural activities in New York. In fact, it's the second-most visited attraction in the state.

Howe Caverns is a karst cave, meaning that it was likely created as water began to naturally erode the limestone as early as 6 million years ago. But the caverns were not discovered until 1842 when a local farmer, Lester Howe, noticed that his cows kept congregating in a particular spot in his neighbor's pasture. Upon investigating, he found cool air coming up from the entrance of a hidden cave. He and his neighbor went exploring and found miles of caves 156 feet below the earth's surface. Howe quickly bought the land for $100 (about $4,000 by today's standards) and turned it into a show cave the public could visit.

The small town, now named Howes Cave, is home to fewer than 1,500 people and quite rural — so you will need a car to visit. Albany International Airport (ALB) is only 40 miles away. While it's known as the most stressful airport in America, it's also the most convenient in this case.

Howe Caverns is the largest cavern in the Northeastern United States and welcomes more than 150,000 visitors each year. Its Traditional 90-Minute Cave Tour costs $29.50 and must be booked online in advance. The guided walking tour starts above ground in Lester Howe's study, so you can learn the history of his great discovery. You will then descend below the earth's surface, wind through limestone corridors, pass through the huge main cavern, and walk under enormous boulders. You will also see stalactites (hanging mineral formations), stalagmites (rising mineral formations), and flowstones (sheet-like mineral deposits). Colorful lights will illuminate the entire way.

While underground, you will walk along the River Styx and catch a short boat ride. Speleothems — mineral deposits that accumulate into geological formations — line the path along the subterranean river. They have names like "the Bridal Altar" and "Titan's Fireplace." After walking through Titan's Temple, the cave's largest chamber, you will reach the Lake of Venus, where you will board a boat for a short ride. The tour ends with a meandering walk through the Winding Way.

As Lester Howe's cows discovered, the caverns are always cold. They maintain a temperature around 52 degrees Fahrenheit all year. So a jacket or layers are suggested for the tour. You must also wear closed-toed shoes and be able to navigate 139 steps to participate. Special tours, including the Friday and Saturday evening Lantern Tour and the Sunday evening Family Flashlight Tour, are also available at a cost of $45 for adults.

When you emerge from the caverns at the end of the tour, it might take a moment for your eyes to readjust to the sun. In the main lodge, you can visit the gift shop and the cafe. The gift shop sells jewelry locally made out of rocks and minerals, while the seasonal Howe Caverns Café has views of the Schoharie Valley. Also seasonal is High Howe Adventure where you can get a day pass for $65 or single rides individually priced). The outdoor park features a 900-foot zipline course, a ropes course, a rock wall, an air jumper, and OGO balls, as well.

You can even stay on the grounds of Howe Caverns. A night at the Howe Caverns Motel starts at around $95 per night and sits right across from the main lodge. The motel has an outdoor pool and its rooms boast views of the Helderberg Escarpment. Reservations here include a discount on tour tickets and a souvenir gift bag.

Though Howe Caverns is the second-most visited natural attraction in New York, is not the only underground cavern in the area. In the town of Howes Cave, you can also explore the Secret Caverns for $20. Though smaller than its neighbor, this cave has an impressive 100-foot underground waterfall. Niagara Falls is, of course, the most visited natural attraction in the Empire State. If you plan to extend your road trip and head west, check out six must-see tourist attractions in Niagara Falls that aren't the waterfall or visit Saratoga, an Upstate New York city that's one of the top-ranked destinations to spend the holidays in America.