Pluto Cave: Near Weed, California

Join us in exploring Pluto Cave in Siskiyou, County near Weed. It's a 4 1/2 hour drive from Santa Rosa. However, it's a great cave for everyone to visit. The cave is huge. If you are concerned about tight spaces, that isn't a problem at Pluto Cave. The cave is good for families and kids. If you are on the climbing trip to Castle Crags, you might want to spend your Sunday exploring this cave. You're also welcome to join in for this cave trip without participating in the previous days trip. Pluto is a very large in circumference lava tube and reasonably long. There are a few skylights where you walk in the outdoors and then go back into the cave. We will spend a couple hours exploring the cave.

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Extending over a mile underground and varying from 20-50 feet in height, the Pluto Cave is a fascinating geologic wonder. Combining the cave with the view filled loop trail that leads to the cave’s maw is makes for a great hike.

The Pluto Cave is a classic lava tube, a tunnel formed by molten lava passing through tubes in older, hardened lava. The cave is only apparent because portions of the roof have collapsed and exposed the subterranean channel. Within the collapsed section, the high desert plants have taken root and the exposed sections of the cave now look like the terrain has simply sunk. However, the yawning caverns opening up in the rocky walls of the sink quickly reveal that this is no ordinary depression in the ground.

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The entrance to Pluto Cave is massive, a gaping dark hole leading down beneath the ground. The opening is surprisingly high, probably close to 40 feet, which is further accentuated by the downward angle of the cave. Be sure to bring warm clothes and couple of flashlights. The temperature inside is fairly constant in the upper 40’s whether the outside temperatures are blazing hot are frigid. Also, one beyond the first 0.2 miles of the cave, there is absolutely no light so it is important to not only bring a flashlight but a backup. If one goes dead, the utter darkness inside the cave would make getting out extremely difficult. Once in the cave, the trail makes a mild descent through a large pile of rocks. Though it is possible to make one’s own route through the rocks, there is a rough trail to be followed. As one passes through the craggy pile the drop steepens a bit until the trial finally deposits one on the sandy floor of the cave. Up ahead, a small section of the cave’s rough has caved in, allowing a bright beam of light to illuminate the cave. Here in the light, there is an extensive collection of graffiti. While some of it is more recent in nature, there are prominent markings that were made by explorers earlier in the 20th century. After passing by the opening, be sure to look back. This view is the classic image one typically sees of Pluto’s Cave. From this point, follow the cave a little further to another small caved in section. Instead of just s small section of the ceiling being opened up like the last cave-in, this area is a smaller version of the initial collapse where the trail dropped down into the hole. The small open area is choked with small trees but the trail is obvious. On the far side, the trail once again enters the cave, this time for good. From this point on, there is no light and Pluto Cave extends another mile underground. It is possible to follow the cave to its end. It is a dark and fascinating journey.

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