Hiking To This Aboveground Cave In Alaska Will Give You A Surreal Experience
By Courtney|Published June 13, 2016
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Courtney
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Living and loving life in Alaska, Courtney enjoys living a happy life based on simple principles; work hard, be kind, stay humble. She is an avid dog lover with hobbies that include running, fly fishing, hiking & snowboarding.
Hiking through the beautiful Tongass National Forest on Alaska’s Panhandle is truly like experiencing something straight out of a dream. The beauty is unwavering and the ability to really get away from it all is the best form of total mind, body and soul rejuvenation. What’s on the surface is undeniably spectacular but when it comes to getting up close and personal with Prince of Wales island, its what’s on the inside that really counts.
With over 600 caves on the forth largest island in the United States, El Capitan Cave is 100% worth writing home about. It’s the cats meow. The total package. It’s packed with wild fossil-filled history, spectacular geological formations and more colors and textures than your eyes can endure without becoming completely enchanted. We have a feeling that your summertime bucket list is about to get an extra line added to it…
Prince of Wales Island is a magical place. Its location on the Alaska Panhandle is surrounded by awe-inspiring beauty and moments that are guaranteed to take your breath away. It is the fourth largest island in the United States behind the Big Island in Hawaii, Kodiak and Puerto Rico.
Surrounded by the dense Tongass National Forest, Prince of Wales (POW) is known for having an unlimited amount of activities for nature lovers and wilderness adventurers. Visitors come to the island to enjoy fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, kayaking and so much more. And on the topic of "more," let's talk about how POW is home to roughly 600 intriguing and mystical caves. If you love the rush of experiencing a fascinating and mysterious natural creation such as a cave, you will want to add a trip to POW to your summertime bucket list, STAT.
El Capitan Cave on Prince of Wales island is one of the most popular and intriguing caves for visitors to explore. This is Alaska’s longest cave and it is said to be about 10,750 years old.
Because this cave and most others are very fragile, dangerous hazards are always present when visiting. Expressing extreme caution with each step you take is imperative. In fact, visitors cannot even trek to this cave without being accompanied by a forest service employee. Free tours are offered from May through September, however, reservations are required. If you're interested, you can contact the Thorne Bay Ranger District at 907-828-3304 to reserve a spot for you, a friend or the whole family.
The trailhead for El Capitan Cave is on FH 15. The nearest intersection is FH 20, where you'll find directions to the cave along the way. The hike to the cave is fairly short (about 350 - 370 steps) but it is very steep. You'll walk through dense forest along a narrow boardwalk while experiencing serene and tranquil nature noises.
It is not uncommon to pass by Devil's Club plants with bright red fruit hanging off them. This plant or "weed" is often times called "Alaskan Green Gold" or "Alaskan Ginseng" as the plant has been used to help treat ailments for decades.
This 13,000-foot solid rock offers a fascinating amount of geology specific to the region and it is filled with an immense amount of history. At the recreation site there is a larger than expected spread of land for visitors to enjoy lunch at a picnic table, camp nearby, use the maintained restrooms or throw a kayak in the water at the nearby shore.
A variety of wildlife have used the cave for shelter, including bears in hibernation. Other species of wildlife found in the cave (or their fossils were found in the cave) including brown bats, otters, wolverine, caribou and red fox.
Exploring the cave truly feels like something out of a dream. The further in you go, the temperature drops and cools down quite substantially. So bringing adequate layers is always advised. Gloves to grip the rocks and waterproof shoes with a good grip are a great idea as you will be walking though areas of loose, wet rocks with dripping water.
Visitors enjoy the different colors and formations from mineral deposits and truly unique surroundings. The way the walls of the cave offer so many different textures and layering of colors is utterly fascinating. When going with a guide you will have a knowledgeable history lesson which makes the experience come to life that much more. Your eyes will wander, your body will feel a rush of adrenaline and your soul will feel transported to the past.
This unique experience is a MUST when visiting Alaska's Panhandle. It's easy to fall in love with Prince of Wales island from the very moment you lay eyes on it. But it's when you go real deep into the history of the caves on the island that you feel like you are a part of something so much bigger and more meaningful. I guess it really is what's on the inside that counts!
Have you ever visited this incredible cave or another unique cave in Alaska? We would LOVE to hear about your experiences!
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