Gardner Cave

Gardiner Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Crawford State Park, 18 km north of Metaline. Hwy. 2 north, turn left onto SR 211, turn left (north) on SR 20 h. At Tiger turn right (north) on SR 31, follow signs to Ione, Metaline and Metaline Falls. From Metaline, follow highway signs to Crawford State Park. 200 m walk. (48.996340, -117.371110)
Open:	Memorial Day (21-APR) to Labor Day (05-SEP) Mon, Thu-Sun 9-18. Tours at 10, 12, 14, 16. [2005]
Fee:	Park: per car USD 5. Cave: free. [2005]
Classification:	Karst cave Devonian Metaline limestones (500Ma)
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=350 m, T=5 °C
Guided tours:	L=170 m, D=40 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Gardner Cave, Crawford State Park, General Delivery, Metaline Falls, WA 99153, Tel: +1-509-446-4065. Mount Spokane State Park, Tel: +1-509-238-4258.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1903	discovered by Mr. Ed Gardner.
1921	land around the cave acquired by William Crawford, a local Metaline merchant, and deeded to Washington State Parks.

Description

Gardner Cave is located in Crawford State Park, a 20 ha, forested day-use park. Gardner Cave is the third longest karst cave in Washington state and the only one accessible to the public. It is the main feature of the small park. Although it is rather small, it has fine speleothems like stalactites, stalagmites, and rimstone pools.

The cave is named after Mr. Ed Gardner, who discovered it in summer 1903. Another version of the story tells that he was a bootlegger and discovered the cave in 1899. However, sometimes there is also the name Gardiner Cave used, but this seems to be a mispelling. The park was named after William Crawford, a local Metaline merchant, who acquired land around the cave in 1921. He deeded 16 ha of it, together with the cave, to Washington State Parks.