HOURS UPDATE

Starting October 15th Boyden Cave will be closed Mondays & Tuesdays for the remainder of the season. Wednesday-Friday walking tours will be departing at 11:00am, 1:00pm, & 3:00pm. Saturday and Sunday walking tours will be deprting every hour on the hour from 11:00am-4:00pm.  The last day of operation will be November 11th and we will be re-opening on April 27th 2013. Canyoneering season is expected to begin in mid to late May.  Thank you.

CANYONEERING UPDATE

Our canyoneering season is now CLOSED. Boyden Cavern anticipates running cave tours until November 13th and anticipates re-opening in late April 2013. Please check back for updates regarding, opening and closing dates and canyoneering availability. Thank you.

-------------------------------HOURS UPDATE------------------------------
Boyden Cavern walking tours will now be departing  at 11:00am, 1:00pm, & 3:00pm on week days (Monday-Friday) . Walking tours will be departing every hour on the hour on  weekends (Saturday-Sunday) with our first tour departing at 11:00am and our last tour departing at 4:00pm. Thank you.

--------------------HOURS UPDATE----------------------
Boyden Cavern is now open from 10:30am to 4:30pm. Walking tours will be departing every hour on the hour with our first tour departing at 11:00am and our last tour departing at 4:00pm 7 days a week. Our canyoneering season will be ending on October 14th, make your reservations now! Reservations need to be made at least a week in advance either at the Boyden Cavern Gift Shop or through the reservations desk at the Boyden Cavern office. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00am to 6:00pm and can most easily be reached toll free at 1-888-965-8243 or via e-mail at boydencave@gmail.com.

-------------CANYONEERING UPDATE---------------
Our Middle Forest Rappel trip is now closed for the season. It will re-open the beginning of May 2013 .

CANYONEERING AVAILABILITY UPDATE

We are happy to announce that we now have our Kings Gold, Kings Upper Gold, Kings Silver, Kings Castle Overnight, Middle Forest Rappel, and our Pirates River Cave Adventure all open.

Please call 1-888-965-8243 to make a reservation.

We hope to be able to open our King of Kings, Kings Upward Journey, and Kings Mini Treasure in late June to mid July, and our Kings Promise in the beginning to middle of July,

These dates are tentative, we do not guarantee them! Opening dates depend on when weather permits, when water levels recede, and when temperatures are warm enough. 

 

If you make a reservation for a trip that WE end up having to cancel do to dangerous conditions or for any other reason, you will be given the option to either reschedule for a later date at no extra cost or to receive a full refund of your money with no associated fees or extra costs.

For more up to date information you can e-mail us directly at boydencave@gmail.com or boydencavern@gmail.com or call us at 1-888-965-8243 and follow the prompts.

WALKING TOUR HOURS UPDATE,

Boyden Cavern is now open 7 days a week from 9:30 am - 6:00 pm, with walking tours departing every hour on the hour, and our first tour will be departing at 10:00am and our last tour will be departing at 5:00 pm.

--------HOURS UPDATE--------
We are now open 7 days a week with walking tours running every hour on the hour starting at 11:00 am with our last tour departing at 4:00pm.

 Hours & Pricing for the Boyden Cavern 2012 Season

On April 27th 2012, highway 180 will be opening at Boyden Cavern at 12 noon, and our first walking tour will be at 1:00pm that day and our second and last walking tour for the day will start at 3:00pm. Starting April 28th, we will be offering walking tours at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm Wednesday through Friday, and from 11:00am to 4:00pm every hour on the hour on Saturdays and Sundays. We are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays until further notice.

Walking tours cost $10.00 per person 13 and older and $6.00 per person 12 and under for groups of 15 or more. Groups with 15 or more people must make prior reservations so we are better able to accommodate your group. Walking tours do not need to be reserved for smaller groups, and we generally do not allow reservations to be made for groups with less than 15 members. Unreserved walking tours cost $13.50 per person 13 and older and $8.50 per person 12 and under. We are willing to take as few as 1 person on a walking tour without a reservation at the higher cost. You can purchase walking tour tickets at the Boyden Cavern gift shop for the next available walking tour that day. 

Current Canyoning Information & Updates

Our canyoning trips are all currently closed due to weather, dangerous water levels, and cold temperatures. Kings Castle Overnight MAY be open when the cave opens on April 27th, BUT we have not checked the water levels in the cave yet, please ask us about availability if you wish to book a Kings Castle Overnight trip in the beginning of the season.

We HOPE to be able to open our Middle Forest Rappel in the middle of May, our Kings Silver, Kings Gold, King of Kings, and Kings Mini Treasure in middle to late June, our Kings Upward Journey in late June, our Kings Promise in the beginning to middle of July, and our Pirate River Cave Adventure in mid to late July.

These dates are tentative, we do NOT guarantee them! opening dates depend on when weather permits, when water levels recede, and when temperatures are warm enough.

If you make a reservation for a trip that WE end up having to cancel do to dangerous conditions or for any other reason, you will be given the option to either reschedule for a later date at no extra cost or to receive a full refund of your money with no associated fees or costs.

For more up to date information you can go to www.boydencavern.com or www.kingscanyoneering.com and click on our blog (the one you're reading :). You can also e-mail us directly at boydencave@gmail.com or call us at 1-888-965-8243 and follow the prompts. 

Current Road Conditions and/or Closures

Highway 180 at the Hume Lake turn off is now open up to The Kings Canyon Lodge. On April 27th at 12:00 noon highway 180 opens to Boyden Cavern, and on May 4th highway 180 opens from Boyden Cavern to Cedar Grove. 

We all know the snow pack is below normal - But by how much? Click on the link below and read about the current Sequoia National Forest snow pack. 


Record Online News - Snow Pack update

Critical Information regarding Sequoia National Forest in the Hume Lake District area and Kings Canyon National Park, eastern side known as Cedar Grove. The Park Service would like to shut down Scenic Hwy 180 through the National Forest and through the most scenic sections of Kings Canyon. There proposal is to delay opening the seasonal highway until May 4th, instead of the traditional "Last Friday in April". Then they want to close the Highway on October 29, a full two weeks early. There has been no reason for this communicated to us here at Boyden Cavern. It appears to be a random attempt to further restrict the public from our National Lands. Below is a letter written and emailed to Senator Tom Berryhill and Fresno County District 5 Supervisor Debbie Poochigian who represents that particular area of Fresno County. Feel free to call any the numbers listed in the letter and ask why? Why close down highways? Why close down a business (unemployment goes up...In this economy!!) Why restrict access to public lands which of course is paid for by tax payers!!! If the Park Service sites "Budget" let's remind them there has been a poor economy for several years now, maybe they should have made those budget cuts back then, however, apparently the Park Service felt that Cedar Grove in the lower Kings Canyon National Park region was not a budget issue then...So why is it NOW.


Stephen Fairchild, Owner

My name is Stephen Fairchild. I am owner of the concession at Boyden Cavern. I am writing to you today about a very urgent matter. I am requesting your swift intervention into a decision that will be made in the next couple of days that will shorten the seasonal public access to Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Forest and Boyden Cavern by 3 weeks this 2012 season.

Boyden Cavern is located on Highway 180, which is a State Scenic Highway. Boyden Cavern has a unique geographical distinction of being located on this highway sandwiched between two sections of Kings Canyon National Park. To the West is Grants Grove and to the East is Cedar Grove with Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia National Monument and Boyden Cavern located in the middle.

The National Parks Service is requesting that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) delay the road opening for an extra week this spring and close it early on October 29^th rather than Mid-November. The reason for this has not been explained to me.

The concession to Boyden Cavern has been in my family for over 35 years and annual the opening of Highway 180 has consistently been scheduled for the last Friday in April and the closing a day or two after Veteran’s Day. Road conditions remain safe and clear and passable through the Thanksgiving Holiday so if anything, the season should be extended rather than shortened.

The proposed open date is May 4^th (rather than April 27^th).

The proposed close date is October 29^th (rather than November 15^th).

Historically, the summer season is an average of 23 weeks long. This proposed 3 week closure is a 13% reduction in public access to Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Forest and Boyden Cavern. This substantial decrease in operational days will cut revenue for the Cave and will result in a loss of wage earning opportunities for my employees, loss of sales tax revenue for the State of California and is a terrible disservice to public. School Districts have already made reservations with Boyden Cavern the first weekend in May. Who knows how many international travelers will come thousands of miles to see a “road closed” sign instead of the deepest canyon in the United States.

I believe that there are alternative solutions that would satisfy whatever motivation the Parks Service has for this request and will protect the public interests. There are several existing gates on Highway 180. My suggestions are:

1). Close only the gate at the boundary between Sequoia National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park where State Highway 180 ends.

2). Install a gate at the bridge just past Boyden Cavern and close only that gate, effectively closing the last 16 miles of Highway 180 and leaving the best portion of Sequoia National Forest available to the public which is geographically located in the Canyon.

2). b. Improve public access by leaving the road open to this new gate through the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Please make reference to California Streets and Highways Code Section 124 and code 942.5

I have been in contact with the following key players:

Caltrans: Eric Woods @ 559-734-1388

USFS Hume Lake District Ranger: John Exline @ 559-338-2251

USPS Kings Canyon National Park District Ranger: Ned Kelleher @ 559-565-4330

Thank you very much for your assistance in this urgent matter.

Sincerely

Stephen Fairchild, Owner

Boyden Cavern

Phone: 559-797-8533

Email: boydencavern@gmail.com

Update to road conditions in the Sequoia National Park area. Typically these updates are minor in nature and come from the US Park Service. More specific details about the road into Kings Canyon will be updated as those details come to us. Anyway here you go if traveling through Sequoia.

Fee Free Weekend in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 16, 2012, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks the entire weekend: Saturday, January 14 – Monday, January 16.

There may be very little snow in the Park and Forest right now...But the day temperatures are perfect and the trails are in good shape, go hike, have fun!

Remember that Boyden Cavern is still closed for the winter

Kings Canyon and Sequoia Highway Conditions Link

Hello all travelers to Kings Canyon (Sequoia National Monument), Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia Nation Park. The below link is supplied courtesy of the Park Service, the site will keep you updated regarding delays caused by snow, road work, construction, etc...

Have a wonderful trip through the Forest -

Click here for road conditions.

Current Road Status

Kings Canyon located in Sequoia National Forest, is currently closed at he Hume Lake turn off, the main canyon will remain closed until late April 2012.

Highway 180 is currently open up into Grant Grove village and the General Grant Tree. With the exception of closure from snow, the upper part of Highway 180 is open year round.

Boyden Cavern is closed for the remainder of the winter, we will open again in late April.