Entry No. 57 — the Spokane file — filed under: roadside-oddity
Gardner Cave at Crawford State Park
In the far northeast corner of Washington, almost on the Canadian border, Gardner Cave is the longest limestone cave in the state, dripping with stalactites, flowstone, and a two-foot-thick column of stone. Legend holds a bootlegger named Ed Gardner found it in 1899 when the ground collapsed under him and his horse. Ranger-led tours descend a staircase into the 40-degree dark on the only days the cave is open.
The story
In 1899, local bootlegger Ed Gardner was riding through the timber near the Canadian border when the forest floor gave way beneath him and his horse. Neither was killed, but they ended up perched at the drop-off of what turned out to be the longest limestone cave in Washington State. Whether Gardner used the subterranean shadow to stash outlaw liquor or just kept the entrance to himself, his horse's misstep uncovered a massive geological anomaly hiding beneath the surface.
Inside, slow water has spent centuries crafting a alien landscape. The cavern walls drip with stalactites, layered flowstone, and mineral draperies, all framed around a massive two-foot-thick stone column spanning from floor to ceiling. Washington's terrain is overwhelmingly built on volcanic basalt, which makes a sprawling limestone dripstone cave up in the far northeast corner of the state feel less like a state park and more like something slipped past the border mapmakers.
What it's like
You will drive right up to the edge of Canada along Boundary Road near Metaline Falls to reach Crawford State Park. You can't just stroll into the dark on your own—entry is strictly restricted to ranger-led tours that take you down a staircase straight into the cavern. The cave stays a locked-in 40 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, meaning you'll need warm layers and good grip on your boots for the slick steps, even if it's eighty degrees in the parking lot. Because operating days and tour slots are limited and seasonal, confirm current hours and reserve your tour spot before making the trek.
The move: Book a ranger-led cave tour and shiver together in the 40-degree dark among the dripstone formations.
📍 Before you go Cave is seasonal and tour-only with limited days; reservations recommended and the cave stays a steady ~40 degrees, so bring a jacket.
- 📍 Metaline Falls, WA
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Crawford State Park, Boundary Rd, Metaline Falls, WA
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Sandpoint's Statue of Liberty (Lady Liberty of the Lake) — Combine a descent into Washington's longest limestone cave with a drive down to Lake Pend Oreille to see Sandpoint's miniature concrete Lady Liberty standing on her isolated pier.
- Deep Creek Canyon, Riverside State Park — Contrast the damp, underground limestone dripstone of Gardner Cave with the dry, open-air basalt lava beds carved out at Deep Creek Canyon.
- Fire Lookout Museum — Keep the forest heritage theme going by pairing your state park cave tour with a visit to a private collection of 19,000 forest lookout tower artifacts in Spokane.
Good to know
How cold does it get inside Gardner Cave?
The cave maintains a steady temperature of around 40 degrees Fahrenheit all year, so bring a jacket and warm layers regardless of the weather outside.
Can I explore the cave by myself?
No. The cave is tour-only, and you must accompany a park ranger down the staircase to access the cavern.
How did the cave get its name?
It is named after Ed Gardner, a local bootlegger who reportedly discovered the entrance in 1899 when the ground collapsed beneath his horse.
Do I need anything special to park and visit?
You'll need a Washington State Parks Discover Pass for parking at Crawford State Park Heritage Site, and advance tour reservations are strongly recommended due to limited seasonal schedules.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · parks.wa.gov · wta.org
last checked: 2026-06-24