When most people think about the Shenandoah Valley, soaring mountains and sweeping valleys are the first things to come to mind. And that’s fair because this area has some of the most stunning mountain scenes in the country! But did you know that there’s another world of beauty to discover beneath Virginia’s mountainous regions? Let me introduce you to Skyline Caverns!
Virginia has about 10 natural caverns that are open for visitors to tour. Each of these has something unique about them, whether it’s the size of the formations, the unique ecosystems, or even musical stalactites! Many of these run right along Shenandoah National Park, giving you plenty of great options to visit on any trip.
During our last visit to the mountains, we stayed right near the northern entrance of Skyline Drive, which put us just a few minutes away from Luray Caverns (the largest and best-known caverns in the state) and Skyline Caverns. While Luray Caverns has longer tours and lots of additional activities, we wanted something that was more manageable for an afternoon. That’s why we chose Skyline Caverns, and we absolutely loved it!
Not only did we see plenty of amazing natural formations, but we were also able to see a rare mineral that only grows in a few places on earth and experience Skyline Caverns’ award-winning light system! Plus, we were out in an hour, which made it a relaxing excursion.
Here’s everything you need to know before booking your own trip to Skyline Caverns!
Take a 2-Minute Video Tour of Skyline Caverns
FAQs about Skyline Caverns
Where is Skyline Caverns? The caverns are located in Front Royal, Virginia, just a few miles southwest of Skyline Drive’s entrance, and about an hour and a half west of Washington, D.C. The address is 10344 Stonewall Jackson Hwy., Front Royal, VA 22630.
What are Skyline Caverns’ hours? During COVID restrictions, the caverns are open every day from 9 am to 4 pm, including holidays! (Fun fact: The first time they’d ever been closed in decades was during the pandemic.)
What can I see at Skyline Caverns? Skyline Caverns has several incredible types of formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, columns, “flow-stone”, anthodites, and aragonites. There are also several streams that you’ll pass on the tour.
How much does Skyline Caverns cost? Skyline Caverns costs $24 per adult and $12 per child (ages 7-13). Kids under 6 are free. You can add on train rides for the kids or a trip through the mirror maze for $6 each.
How long does Skyline Caverns take to tour? The tour takes approximately one hour. You’ll have a few minutes at each location to admire the caverns before moving on to the next point. The maximum wait time for a tour is 20 minutes, so you can easily be in and out within an hour and a half.
How cold are Skyline Caverns? The caverns stay at a brisk 54 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so you’ll definitely want a sweater or jacket.
Is the tour pet-friendly? Pets are allowed as long as you can carry them for the entire tour.
A Quick Tour of Skyline Caverns
During your tour, you’ll enter a series of rooms, each with a different and intriguing set of formations. Some have deep passageways that make you feel like you’re in a canyon, while others have lakes or mesmerizing formations. Many of the areas are also lit by a colorful series of lights, which emphasize the depth and contours of the rocks and minerals.
The Chimney
The very first thing you’ll see past the gate is a fireplace carved directly into the wall. This leads to a natural chimney that exits on the surface. They do have to keep it closed so small creatures don’t find their way down into the caves.
Capital Dome
The first major formation you’ll see is the Capital Dome. It’s at the entrance to a vast cavern with towering walls that reminded me of a canyon.
Wishing Well
Your tour will take you past several underground lakes and streams, but the wishing well is the only one you’re allowed to drop money into.
Trout Stream
The Trout Stream was a bit low on our visit, but it manages to keep water in even some of the toughest droughts!
Rainbow Trail 1
The next series of columns get a fabulous lighting display, creating a rainbow of color that highlights the contours and depths of the formations.
Mirror Lake
On the right side of the Rainbow Trail, you can see one of the underground lakes, lit up in a deep blue. The stillness of the water creates perfect reflections of the cavern ceiling, making the lake look very deep, even though it only has a few inches of water.
Rainbow Falls
The water for the Rainbow Falls was also low during our visit, but we still enjoyed the fun lights! Normally, this has a gorgeous cascade that you can look down on from a small opening in the Rainbow Trail.
Painted Desert
Looking back from the Painted Desert to Rainbow Falls 
One of my favorite rooms was the Painted Desert! This large cavern has many towering formations and cutouts and also offers a different view of Mirror Lake.
Grotto of Nativity
I don’t remember the story behind this particular stalagmite, but it’s the only one you’re allowed to touch! As a result, it has a smooth texture on the top.
Cathedral Hall
Looking for a unique wedding venue? Try Cathedral Hall! This vast cavern features towering ceilings, flowstones, and a special formation that looks like an eagle. And yes, it is available to book for weddings.
The Cathedral is filled with cool formations like these
Rainbow Trail 2
Fairyland Lake
This was my second favorite room on the tour because they made it look so magical! This small underground lake has a funky collection of stalactites and rocks above the surface. But because the lake is so still, you can see the mirror image of everything in the water! It reminded me of teeth. The scene is elevated even more by the awesome lights, making this a fun stop all around.
Anthodite Rooms
The Chandelier 
The halls connecting these rooms have anthodite-covered ceilings
The final part of the tour leads you through several rooms behind a closed door. Inside these rooms is one of the rarest mineral formations in the world: Anthodites! They only grow in vacuums, so these are no longer growing but specially preserved. Skyline Caverns has the world’s oldest and longest anthodite, known as the Chandelier. It’s a whopping 18″ long!
Other Sights at Skyline Caverns
I’m not going to attempt to identify each of the minerals and formations in Skyline Caverns, but there were some very cool ones that I didn’t want to leave out.
What to Do After Your Skyline Caverns Tour
After the tour, we decided to try out the Dragon Mirror Maze. The entrance is $6 per person, and the maze is located in a small building across the parking lot.
It was an incredibly cool maze, filled with dragon eggs, lush plants, mysterious trees, and even baby dragons. However, it only took us about 5 minutes to solve, which was a bit disappointing. We decided to take our time and explore all the nooks and crannies with cool features and even had a quick photoshoot.
Skyline Caverns also has a nature trail and a kids’ train, but we skipped both due to the cold and lack of kids.
Instead, we finished up our afternoon outing with a trip to Spelunkers. This local fast food restaurant has incredible burgers!
I typically don’t like burgers, but these were bursting with flavor and so juicy! They also have delicious ice cream that comes in huge portions. I think we ordered a small cone, and it took both of us to eat it. I 10/10 recommend you visit after your tour for a quick lunch or dinner.
Thanks for stopping by to learn more about Skyline Caverns! It should definitely be on your list of things to do in the Shenandoah area of Virginia! Plus, it’s so close to Skyline Drive, you can easily tack it on to your next trip.
Feel free to drop questions below, and I’ll answer them as best I can. If you’re planning a trip to this area, be sure to save this pin for later and check out my posts on other fun things to do in the surrounding towns!
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See you next time! Until then, stay safe out there and happy travels.
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