Mitchell Caverns, Limestone caves in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, California, US.
Mitchell Caverns is a system of three connected limestone caves in the Providence Mountains, set within the Mojave Desert in California. The cave walls and ceilings are covered with stalactites, stalagmites, and smooth sheets of flowstone that formed over thousands of years.
Jack and Ida Mitchell opened the caves to visitors in 1934 and ran them as a roadside attraction along Route 66 for about twenty years. After the Mitchells left, California took over the site and brought it into the state park system.
The Chemehuevi people called these caves 'the eyes of the mountain' because the two openings on the rock face look like eyes when seen from a distance. Standing at the base of the Providence Mountains today, it is easy to see why that image stuck.
The caves can only be visited on a guided tour, and reservations should be made in advance since spots fill up quickly. Sturdy shoes are a good idea, as the paths inside are narrow and uneven in places.
These caves are the only limestone formations found within California's entire state park system and contain fossilized remains of animals that lived here long before humans arrived. Looking closely at the rock in certain passages, visitors can sometimes spot traces of ancient bones embedded in the stone.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
