Skyline Caverns

Skyline Caverns is an underground system near Front Royal, Virginia, where streams flow through limestone passages reaching about 260 feet (80 meters) below the surface. The network displays stalactites hanging from the ceiling, stalagmites rising from the floor, towering columns, and smooth flowstone formations throughout the passages.

The cave system was discovered in 1937 when Walter S. Amos investigated a dry sinkhole on the property, revealing the passages below. The discovery led to its opening for public visits in 1939, transforming it into a regional tourist destination.

The cave system carries the name of the nearby Skyline Drive, the scenic highway that runs through the region. As you walk through the passages, guides point out how locals and past visitors gave names to distinctive rock formations, giving each chamber its own identity.

Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes since the tour lasts about an hour and moves through varying elevations inside the cave. The pathways are paved and well-maintained, though there are stairs and some sections with uneven surfaces to navigate.

The cave holds rare anthodite crystals, delicate formations that grow at an extremely slow rate and receive special protection under Virginia law. These fragile mineral clusters make the site of particular interest to geology enthusiasts and researchers.