Outdoor Activities & Facilities
Sluice Mining Gemstones & Fossils
Water runs from a wooden water tower through a series of troughs called a sluice. Pour bags of mining "rough" into a screen tray and lower your tray into the trough of water. While you sift and shake the tray, flowing water reveals amethyst, rose quartz, emeralds, arrowheads, or even fossils.
There's a good assortment of treasures in every bag of mining rough! Choose from Gem & Mineral bags, Fossil bags and Arrowhead bags. After discovering your gems and minerals, use the identification charts to accurately identify exactly what you have found.
Sluice Mining may not be available during below freezing temps.
Crack Your Own Geode
Geodes are spherical rocks that contain hollow cavities lined with crystals. The name geode comes from the Greek word Geoides, which means "earthlike." These unique rocks can be formed in a variety of ways.
Stop by the gift shop before or after your tour to pick out your very own geode! We have several sizes to choose from.
When you are ready to crack it open, one of our friendly Tour Guides will assist you in the cracking process to ensure the geode cracks open properly to reveal the hidden beauty inside.
Dawn those safety googles & let's get crackin'!
Not all geodes are created equal. Depending on their formation, some may be hollow and others maybe nearly solid. Ask a Tour Guide in selecting a geode. We do not guarantee the quality of geodes, as they are unpredictable due to natural formation.
Fire Pit & Seating Area
There is something about the sound of a crackling campfire that makes the great outdoors complete. Stark Caverns has our very own stone fire pit with rustic wood bench seating located across the pond from our visitors center.
Looking for a private experience? Reserve the fire pit any time! Contact our reservations team for more information.
Firewood & roasting sticks available year-round.
Picnic Areas
Stark Caverns is an amazing day-destination. Plan to spend your afternoon with us and bring a lunch. We have several picnic tables in our easy to access picnic areas. Both areas are easily accessible from the parking areas and just a short walk from the visitor center & cave entrance.
Looking for a private experience? Reserve the picnic area any time! Contact our reservations team for more information.
Great for field trips & group activites!
Covered Porch & Rocking Chairs
Enjoy our relaxing wrap around covered porch. Elevated above the parking area, the porch allows your to gaze over our well maintained grounds, hear the water fountain splash in the pond, and even watch a hummingbird feed at one of our beautiful, stained glass hummingbird feeders hanging along the covered porch.
Sit back and relax while waiting for a tour in one of our many adirondack rocking chairs. Catch up with friends & family or enjoy a cold beverage & snack from the gift shop while you wait too!
Hummingbirds are typically only present in the summer months.
Historic Covered Wagon
Before cars, trains and airplanes, Americans had to travel in a different way. Covered wagons were like the trucks & RVs of their day.
The Stark family who originally discovered the cave and settled here in the 1800s used one of these covered wagons when they travelled to this area.
Visit our restored covered wagon, located across the pond from our cave entrance.
Hiking Trails
Deer Lick Trail is 1 mile long and Squirrel Run Trail is 0.2 Miles with a hill climb. Our property is about 300 acres with all kinds of wildlife and scenic areas to enjoy nature before or after your tour.
Ask a Tour Guide for trail maps or more info about our trails
This is a self-guided, at-your-own-risk activity. Our trails are semi-maintained and semi-marked. Walk surfaces are dirt/grass and are uneven with the natural grades. Several hill climbs & rocky terrain can be encountered on each trail. Great for Scouts & family adventures.
Tick spray & closed toe shoes are highly recommended!
DOWNLOAD TRAIL MAPS HERE