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Places, Earth
Mitchell Caverns
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Mitchell Caverns
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2003 - 2012.
Mitchell Caverns are located in the middle of the Mojave National Preserve, about 100 miles east of Barstow along Highway 40. Mitchell Caverns are the only known significant limestone cave formation in this part of California and the only limestone caves in the California State Park system. The Visitor Center is a few miles off the highway and features a small museum and gift shop and picnic tables. When we visited, we enjoyed a picnic lunch while waiting for the 1:30 tour. This is the most popular tour and it is recommended to arrive an hour early, and then you are not guaranteed a space, as tours are limited to 25. The area became a California State Park in 1956.
Trips through the caverns are conducted by guided tours only. The tours last take 1 1/2 hours and begin with a half-mile walk to the cave entrance from the visitor center. The cave tour takes about an hour as visitors explore the half mile, uneven path through the caves. There are a few tight spaces and stairs aid in some places.
Jack Mitchell, the first owner and promoter of Mitchell Caverns, made the road to the caverns and the stone buildings himself. These facilities are still used by the Park Service. Even after opening the Caverns to the public, Jack continued his attempt to locate silver and other valuable deposits at the site.
Mitchell Caverns consists of three basic caves that Jack called "El Pakiva," or the Devil's House; "Tecopa, " named for one of the last chiefs of the Shoshone Indians; and the deep and vertical "Winding Stair Cave," a dangerous cavern that is off-limits to the general public. In Jack's day, it was necessary to make a separate entrance into El Pakiva and Tecopa caverns. This was a frustration to Jack because he said that it "spoiled the tour." He always wanted to connect the two caverns with a tunnel that would provide a continuous excursion, but lacked financing to accomplish this. After his death, the California Department of Parks and Recreation hired crews to cut the tunnel. There is now an air-lock, a tunnel with a door at each end. connecting the two caves. In an account of Jack Mitchell's first descent into the "Winding Stair Cave," Jack tells of lowered himself into the unknown depths in a "bosun's chair." His signature on the wall of the "Dog Leg Room," dated July 1, 1931, shows how far he explored into the cave.
For many years the Caverns appeared to be no longer "living." Tecopa was shedding it's decoration and the stalactites and stalagmites were not "growing." In some recent years, heavy rains have brought back some signs of life.
Mitchell Caverns are limestone caves that feature a wide variety of formations including unusual formations not found in most other limestone caves. Mitchell Caverns formed when sedimentary limestone and metamorphised limestone (marble) was dissolved by ground water high in carbonic acid content. The caves naturally drained leaving a cavity. Highly mineralized ground water continued seeping into the cave dripping to produced stalactites (dripstone deposits extending downward from the ceiling) and stalagmites (dripstone deposits building upward in mound-form from the floor).
Location:
Highway 40, about 100 miles east of Barstow, about 100 west of the Arizona border.
Tours are limited to 25 people and cost about $4.00 for adults. Call for current prices.
Tours on the weekends are at 10:00 AM, 1:30 PM AND 3:00 PM; Come early, the 1:30 tour often sells out.
weekday tours are at 1:30 PM. - September through May
Cavern tours are offered seven days a week September through May.
During the summer months (June, July and August), caverns tours are only offered on the weekends. ( Sat. and Sun.) at 1:30.
Tour reservations are by mail and must be made 2 weeks in advance. A reservation form will be mailed to you at your request by calling (760) 928-2586. On busy weekends and holiday weeks, tours often sell out. Reservations are required for groups of ten or more.
Tour reservations may be made by calling Mitchell Caverns direct at 760-928-2586. A $1 reservation fee for this service, which is in addition to the cost of the tour, assures a spot on the tour. Groups of 10 or more people must make prior reservations. There is a $10 reservation charge for groups..
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This page last updated: Wednesday, 31-Oct-2007 12:15:51 EDT
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Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice.
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This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ...
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This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson.
Copyright © 2004 - 2012, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved.
Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website.
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This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.
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