See Inside A Privately Owned CA Cave With Extremely Rare Crystals

VOLCANO, CA — Inside a privately owned cave in Northern California, visitors can see rare and beautiful formations.

Black Chasm Cavern is about an hour east of Sacramento and is among the 5 percent of caves on Earth that contain helictites — crystals that appear to defy gravity, twisting off cave walls and making shapes that resemble candy canes, butterflies and even a dragon, according to operator Gold Country Adventures. The cave also includes a lake.

While it was likely known by the local Miwok people, Black Chasm Cavern's first documented exploration was in 1854, when it became the first cave in California to offer tours during the Gold Rush. More than a century later, in 1976, Black Chasm Cavern was named a National Natural Landmark.

Today, tours of the cave are offered by Gold Country Adventures, which is owned by Natalie Broglio, a third-generation owner who bought the cavern from her uncles.

For more information, visit cavetouring.com/about-black-chasm.