Howe Caverns-Cobleskill, NY

Howe Cavern was a trip we were eagerly anticipating. This underground cavern is near the top of the list of unusual things to do in New York. This natural wonder is a must-see located just west of Albany near Cobleskill, NY. This is a very easily managed day trip, depending on where you are traveling from. We arrived around 2:30 in the afternoon and had plenty of time to go on the tour before it closed.

The Climate of Howe Caverns

The temperature in the cave is 52 degrees year-round, and it is very humid and wet in spots. Flip-flops are not allowed in the cave (not that I can imagine you would want to freeze wearing them). In the summertime, 52 degrees sounds nice, but I assure you that it starts to get very uncomfortable after being down in the cave for a while. I recommend a heavy sweatshirt or even a jacket and good sturdy shoes because there is a great deal of walking involved and stairs. I personally wish I had brought gloves with me because, after a while, my fingers were frozen.

Touring Howe Cavern

Guided tours leave every 10 minutes and last around 90 minutes. Make sure that you use the bathroom and fuel up before heading down because food and beverages are not allowed in the cave, and there are no bathrooms. This might not be the best place to bring small children. Strollers are not accommodated, so young children would need to walk or be carried. It is a long walk for little legs. We had a family with small children on our tour, and I witnessed firsthand how this was very hard on the little ones and the parents. At one point, the youngest child in this family, who must have been about 2, was toddling along, slipped and fell, and hurt her legs. This was very distressing for the group and her parents. Also, kids younger than 5 or 6 probably won’t get much out of the tour or the cave.

Visitors are not allowed to touch any of the formations within the cave, as the oil from your hands kills the growing formations. There is one spot within the cave where the tour guide allows visitors to touch a stalagmite. There is an obvious difference between this stalagmite and the rest of the cave, demonstrating what human contact does. At one point on the tour, there is a boat ride across an underground lake. This is really cool, and it was nice to sit down and just take in nature’s beauty.

Howe Caverns has instituted a new CLEAR BAG POLICY.

This safety policy impacts the type and size of bags that are permitted into the cave. ONLY CLEAR BAGS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE CAVE. Guests may carry pocket items such as keys, phones, wallets, and credit cards. Guests may also be permitted to carry a small clutch bag or purse approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap. An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.

Hour and Admission

Howe Caverns is daily during the summer. Their hours shrink a bit after Columbus Day weekend. Tickets are a bit pricey, but it is well worth it if you have never experienced something like this before.

There is a charge for parking during the Summer season. Columbus Day weekend, and after that, there is no charge for parking.

This is definitely a place worth visiting. It is truly breathtaking and not something you run into every day. The tour guides are very well-informed and can educate you on the facets and natural elements in the cave. It was a fascinating tour, and we enjoyed our time in the cave. There are some really neat features in the cave. My favorite was The Winding Way. This was a narrow, twisting walkway. The Bridal Alter, with its glowing heart, is also a beautiful feature of the cave.

Legend of the Bridal Alter Heart

There is a an Underground wedding alter with in Howe Caverns. Over 650 weddings have occured at this alter starting with Lester Howe’s own daughter wedding in 1854. There is a calcite heart that glows in the middle of the floor. It is a custom for couples married at Howe Caverns to stand on the heart to be blessed with long and happy marriage.

There is a legend about the glowing calcite heart. If you stand on the heart and are not married, you will be within a year. If you are already married and stand on the heart, you will go on a second honeymoon within the year.

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