Saturday, October 4, 2014

End of season - Days and hours of operation

End of season - Days and hours of operation

Canyoning trip are over for this season

We are now at the end of the 2014 summer season and deep into fall already. Our hours and days of operation have changed.1

October 4 and 5 We are open and hour tours are 11:00 through 4:00 every hour

October 6 through 19 We are open with limited tours times of 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30

October 20 through 24 Closed for maintenance

October 25 and 26 We are open with limited tours times of 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30

October 27 Boyden Cavern is closed for the remainder of the season

May of 2015 Boyden Cavern will re-open

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Hello post Labor Day travelers:

Wow September already! however this is the month for the some of the best traveling in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Forest. All services are open and available to travelers, but with out the crowds. The Kings river is flowing nicely and offers great swimming and fishing. Just past Boyden Cavern is Grizzly falls and Roaring river falls both looking beautiful and flowing nicely.

Boyden Cavern is open 7 days a week throughout the month of September. Hours are 10:30 to 4:30 for the gift shop and the first tour departs at 11:00 AM, 12:00, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM and the last trip leaves at 4:00 PM

Adults 13 years and older is $14.50

Children 12 and younger is $8.50


Sunday, August 24, 2014

Below is an email we received from a customer regarding one of our guides, our guides care and want you all to have a fun and positive experience. Also please note that immediately after the customer letter we have tour information, ticket prices and Google map link to our location. 

We visited Boyden Cavern on August 14, 2014. It was the first time for my three young kids ages 5, 4, and 3. My daughter, the 5 year old, was petrified to enter the cavern. Our guide, Curtis, went the extra mile to encourage her and handed her a flashlight to help relieve her fear. She struggled through with the extraordinary help of our guide.
After the tour he talked with us for about 20 min answering all of our questions. He was very personable.

My daughter today would take the tour again thanks to Curtis!

You should be very pleased to have him being a part of your staff.

Many, many thanks for a wonderful tour.
Sincerely,
Mike Murphy



Tours 
Available 7 days a week.
Guided Tours
No reservation necessary -
Starts at 10:00 am and continues every hour on the hour through 5:00 PM. 
Open over Labor Day weekend
Tickets $14.50 for 13 years and older and $8.50 for 12 years and younger
Boyden cavern map link
Tickets purchased at the Boyden Cavern gift shop located at the trial head to the cave
 5-7 minute walk up trail to Boyden. Two sections of trail are steep, take your time
Cavern is mostly level with 5-7 steps
Portion of the Trail is partially cement with handrails
Portion of the trail is over rocky stream bed
Optional trip out the adventure trail is through the lower portion of the cave  - Rocky, slippery and low light
Shoes should be closed toe and able to offer traction
Cameras with flash suggested
Park and Forest related gifts available at the giftshop
Snacks and drinks also available
For further information email us at boydencavern@gmail.com



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Please see the the below blog entry for cavern information and times. Boyden Cavern is located 77 miles East of Fresno CA on Highway 180. There is plenty of parking and Forest Service bathrooms. Located in our parking lot is a small visitor center and gift shop, this is where you will purchase your tickets, have your questions answered and enjoy the river until your tour departs. The cavern tour departs right in front of the visitor center. Again see below for additional cavern information. Have a great trip into Boyden Cavern and Kings Canyon.
We will not be accepting any group reservations for Boyden over the holiday weekend.

Hello to all our customers, Boyden Cavern is open now, starting Memorial weekend we will open our gift shop at 09:30 am and the first tour will depart at 10:00 am. Tours will depart every hour and the hour for rest of the day, last tour of the day will leave at 5:00 pm. Ticket prices are $14.50 for 13 years and up and $8.50 for 12 and under. We also offer various discounts, especially Military discounts, so make sure to ask for your discount before purchasing tickets. Tour length is 45 - 50 minutes long, traveling at 800 feet into and then back out of the cavern.

We have picnic tables located right at the trail head to Boyden Cavern, there is a small Welcome center and gift-shop with some pretty cool fossils and minerals from around the world. The gift-shop has cold drinks including a couple of micro-beers and great tasting snacks (locally produced). Arrive any time, the shop may have it's windows closed during it's tours, however when the guide returns the shop will open and everyone can enjoy the view of the Kings River and the amazing view of the Marble mountains above Boyden Cavern. These are same mountains that 180 million years ago were under a shallow sea and grew into massive corral reefs.

Boyden Cavern- walk a scenic 5 - 10 minute trail up to the cavern entrance, there are amazing flowers and plants right along the trail, including the Giant Maple with it's broad leaf. California Bay tree with it's aromatic Bay leaf as well as many small flowering plants, make sure to ask for the manager Elaine for more details of all the plants along the trail. The hike is strenuous at one point, the trail is level for 3 - 5 minutes of walking, then the trail steepens a fair amount (stop often and catch your breath), the steep section takes 2-4 minutes to walk up, there is a switch back then the trail is level for 2-3 more minutes with the last section which is steep for 50 more feet. There are benches along the way and at the cavern entrance. Once inside the cavern the trail is mostly level with occasional steps. As the tour progresses through the cavern, folks pass stalactites and stalagmites which resembles cities, drapes, tacos, camels and elephants....Oh and bacon. The trail toward the back of the cavern descends into the stream bed and is no longer a easy walk with hand railing. Be prepared for rough surface with stream stones and slippery footing. We strongly suggest shoes that are closed toe with good friction bottoms. Your final destination is the Christmas tree room with a beautiful Christmas tree formation that is estimated to be around 50,000 years in the forming.

Please keep an eye on our Blog site for the most up to date information on our cavern tours and times. Also as the CANYONING season gets here we will be updating our Blog with which trips are available and specific details on the trips.

For more information or to make reservation please call us at 888-965-8243. We are a very small office and do not have full time office staff, so if we do not pick up, please, please leave us a message so that we can get back to you and answer your questions.

See all of you in the canyon..........

Here is a Google Map of the Boyden location

Monday, April 28, 2014

Hello everyone and thank you for participating in our 2014 canyoning adventures. If you have not done  so please click on the link below and fill in the Contact information for each person in your party.




Please fill out our contact form.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

We will not be accepting any group reservations for Boyden over the holiday weekend.

Hello to all our customers, Boyden Cavern is open now, starting Memorial weekend we will open our gift shop at 09:30 am and the first tour will depart at 10:00 am. Tours will depart every hour and the hour for rest of the day, last tour of the day will leave at 5:00 pm. Ticket prices are $14.50 for 13 years and up and $8.50 for 12 and under. We also offer various discounts, especially Military discounts, so make sure to ask for your discount before purchasing tickets. Tour length is 45 - 50 minutes long, traveling at 800 feet into and then back out of the cavern.

We have picnic tables located right at the trail head to Boyden Cavern, there is a small Welcome center and gift-shop with some pretty cool fossils and minerals from around the world. The gift-shop has cold drinks including a couple of micro-beers and great tasting snacks (locally produced). Arrive any time, the shop may have it's windows closed during it's tours, however when the guide returns the shop will open and everyone can enjoy the view of the Kings River and the amazing view of the Marble mountains above Boyden Cavern. These are same mountains that 180 million years ago were under a shallow sea and grew into massive corral reefs.

Boyden Cavern- walk a scenic 5 - 10 minute trail up to the cavern entrance, there are amazing flowers and plants right along the trail, including the Giant Maple with it's broad leaf. California Bay tree with it's aromatic Bay leaf as well as many small flowering plants, make sure to ask for the manager Elaine for more details of all the plants along the trail. The hike is strenuous at one point, the trail is level for 3 - 5 minutes of walking, then the trail steepens a fair amount (stop often and catch your breath), the steep section takes 2-4 minutes to walk up, there is a switch back then the trail is level for 2-3 more minutes with the last section which is steep for 50 more feet. There are benches along the way and at the cavern entrance. Once inside the cavern the trail is mostly level with occasional steps. As the tour progresses through the cavern, folks pass stalactites and stalagmites which resembles cities, drapes, tacos, camels and elephants....Oh and bacon. The trail toward the back of the cavern descends into the stream bed and is no longer a easy walk with hand railing. Be prepared for rough surface with stream stones and slippery footing. We strongly suggest shoes that are closed toe with good friction bottoms. Your final destination is the Christmas tree room with a beautiful Christmas tree formation that is estimated to be around 50,000 years in the forming.

Please keep an eye on our Blog site for the most up to date information on our cavern tours and times. Also as the CANYONING season gets here we will be updating our Blog with which trips are available and specific details on the trips.

For more information or to make reservation please call us at 888-965-8243. We are a very small office and do not have full time office staff, so if we do not pick up, please, please leave us a message so that we can get back to you and answer your questions.

See all of you in the canyon..........

Here is a Google Map of the Boyden location

Friday, March 7, 2014

National Forest? National Park? or Monument?

 Are we in Sequoia National Park, Sequoia National Forest, Kings Canyon National Park or Sequoia National Monument? We'll let me tell you that this is a little complicated, Boyden Cavern is located Geographically in Kings Canyon, right where Highway 180 crosses the beautiful Kings River and has some of the most spectacular views of the amazing geology associated with all of Kings Canyon. Although Boyden Cavern is in Kings Canyon, the governing agency is not the National Park. Which is to say we are not located in Kings Canyon National Park...... So where are we located? As far as government agencies are concerned the National Forest has jurisdiction over a large area of Kings Canyon.  Starting at just past Grant Grove (Located in Kings Canyon National Park, but without any real connection to the canyon), is the boundary of the Park and Sequoia National Forest. For the next approximate 27 miles highway 180 winds through Sequoia National Forest and down into some of the most breath taking panoramic views of Kings Canyon (geographically speaking). Highway 180 passes Boyden Cavern crosses the Kings River and continues approximately another 7-8 miles up canyon past Grizzly falls and then finally ends at the boundary of the National Forest and the beginning of Kings Canyon National Park, this area is known as Cedar Grove. Now during Clinton's Presidency he created a National Monument in that same area, so it is also know as Giant Sequoia National Monument. Some folks have mistakenly believed that Monuments were the domain of the National Park Service - This is absolutely not true. Sequoia National Forest is the official managing agency of "Giant Sequoia National Monument". I have included a link to the United States Forest Service Web Site for your review. Please take a look at it, not only will it help you better understand all this confusion, but will also explain all the wonderful things you can do in the National Forest, including having animals with you on trails and camping in NON DESIGNATED AREAS. Go On, Get Out, enjoy your National Forests.

Giant Sequoia National Monument


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

The below excerpt is from the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park web site. Protecting bears however is critically important in all areas of the wilderness including both Parks and Forest areas.

Bear Habitat means Food Storage is Required!
What must be stored?
All food and anything with a scent (even if you don't consider it food) must be stored. This includes garbage, recyclables, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen, first-aid kits, baby wipes, lotion, hairspray, scented tissue, air freshener, pet food, insect repellent, tobacco products, baby car-seats, and window cleaner. Bears recognize ice chests, cans, bottles, and grocery bags, so store them also.
How to Store Items Properly
Use the metal storage boxes provided in much of the park.
  • Shop and pack for your visit so that everything will fit in the boxes (most are 44-3/4"x34"x27-3/4") and is easy to store upon arrival.
  • All items should be put in the box before setting up camp.
  • Seal foods in containers to minimize smells.
  • Remove baby carseats from vehicles when parked overnight.
  • When storage boxes are not available, put all food and related supplies, including ice chests, in vehicle trunk with food sealed in air-tight containers.
  • In vehicles without trunks, all food and related supplies, including ice chests, must be stored out of sight. Cover them completely to hide them from view.
In Picnic Areas
Store all food and related supplies properly, including ice chests. Never leave food unattended. Dispose of all garbage properly.
In Campgrounds
Store all food and related supplies in the metal storage boxes. Only when camping where there are no metal boxes, store food and related supplies out of sight inside a vehicle.
Never leave camp unattended if food is not stored. Store food day and night. Take infant carseats out of vehicles when parked overnight. Bears may enter campsites during the day, even if people are there. Keep a clean camp. Put trash in bear-resistant cans and dumpsters regularly.
While Day-Hiking
Properly store all food and related supplies left at the trailhead, including ice chests. Don't leave your backpack and walk off to take a photograph. Bears know packs are a source of food.
When Backpacking
What should I do with my food when out overnight? more...

Lodging
Store all food and related supplies indoors. Put all garbage in bear-resistant cans and dumpsters. Take infant carseats out of vehicles when parked overnight.
When You See a Bear
Never approach any bear, regardless of its size. Click here to learn more about what to do if you encounter a bear.
Report incidents and sightings to a ranger. Note: These regulations and precautions help decrease the chance of personal injury or property damage. However, bear damage and confrontations are still possible, even when all guidelines are followed.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

New Hire Employee Orientation

We will have an orientation day for new Boyden Cavern Adventures & Tours employees on March 22, 2014 at 9:00 am in the Activities Room at Bear Mountain Library which is located at 30733 East Kings Canyon Road in Squaw Valley. We will meet in the activity room for a discussion followed by a question and answer session, and then carpool to the cave, weather permitting. Bring a sack lunch. We will return to the library around 3:00 pm. Please bring your requested paper work with you. This will be a good time for us all to get to know each other.

New Employees for 2014 Season

We are very excited to welcome Alyssa Plascencia and Carlos Arellano to Boyden Cavern as Cavern Naturalists for the 2014 season. We can't wait for the fun to get started at the end of April!

If you want to know about employment with Boyden Cavern please go to Boyden Employment Link

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Are you looking for a job?
 
 Boyden Cavern will be at the Sequoia Job Fair on February 19 . please stop by and say hello to Elaine our General Manager and Tesia our assistant manager. For more information on Boyden employment go to: https://sites.google.com/site/boydencavernemployment/


If so, stop by the Sequoia Job Fair on February 19. This event is sponsored by the Sequoia Natural History Association. Info: www.sequoiahistory.org.

Information about jobs with the National Park Service at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks may be found at www.nps.gov/seki/parkmgmt/jobs.htm


Sunday, February 9, 2014

 To wet your appetite for this coming canyoning/adventure season we have uploaded a couple of photo's of our Pirate River Cave adventure. Enjoy the scenes and imagine is just a few short months You can be floating the river, then exploring Pirate River Cave, then a final float and swim back across the river and back to Boyden Cavern....to warm up.

This trip is for 10 years and older.


 Above photo is of Lead Guide Daniel, by the way he stands around 6'4" - He is admiring some of the delicate formation which have formed in the Pirate River Cave. Below is one of the assistant guides Nick.




There will be more pictures of other groups on the Pirate River Trip and their adventures - Stay connected to us as we update and improve our messaging to our valued guests.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Boyden Cavern is currently closed as well as the highway into that part of the National Forest. Typically the road opens the very last Friday in April. Boyden opens the very next Saturday, hours of the Gift-shop as well as tour times will be updated closer to the opening date.