If you’ve driven through Iowa, you might have journeyed from Nebraska to Illinois without any stops. Not many tourist attractions come to mind in the Hawkeye State. However, today, we want to share about a unique hidden gem near Dubuque along the Mississippi River. Crystal Lake Cave has welcomed visitors since the early 20th Century. It’s a magical underground world full of beauty and wonder. Let’s learn more!
Crystal Lake Cave is five miles south of Dubuque on Highway 52 in eastern Iowa. It’s at the Mississippi River confluence of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
The city of Dubuque is on the border of these three states. Once you cross over the Mississippi to the northeast, you’re in Wisconsin. Once you cross over the river to the southeast, you’re in Illinois.
James Rice discovered Crystal Lake Cave in 1868. But it wasn’t until the 1930s that the development of the site for public use began. Over the years, ownership changed. In 1978, James and Doris Rubel took over the cave property. They hired someone to replace the outdated lighting. They also developed passageways and lowered the cave floor, expanding access to the cave.
Today, Crystal Lake Cave is the longest-living show cave in Iowa and continues to grow daily. The natural limestone cave is known for its stunning underground formations of stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites. Purposeful lighting enhances the beauty of the geological features. The unique underground lake also makes this particular Iowa cave special.
Pro Tip: If you’re interested in more caves, be sure to check out these Stunning Caves in Florida!
In the winter months, tours are available by appointment only. In May, September, and October, the cave is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with private tours available during the week by appointment only. During the summer, Crystal Lake Cave is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The first tour starts at 9:30 a.m., and the last tour begins at 5 p.m.
Visitors can choose from a standard history and educational tour, a black light tour, and a wild cave tour. All are about 45 minutes long. The standard tour is 3/4 of a mile. The guide focuses on the science and history behind the beautiful living crystals.
The black light tour is done with the lights off, using only UV or black lights. It’s the same tour route. Finally, the wild cave tour goes into the deep cave at around three miles and includes crawling and spelunking.
One happy visitor wrote, “It’s an absolutely beautiful cave that is very well preserved. It is a challenge to find a living cave with intact formations. The tour guide is insanely knowledgeable and passionate about his job. It took us about 45 minutes to get through a tour.”
On any of the three Crystal Lake Cave tours, you’ll see helictites, stalactites, stalagmites, and anthodites. The field of soda straws will leave you speechless because of the sheer amount. All of the unique formations are labeled, like the Lop-Eared Dog, Swiss Cottage Roof, Cliff Dwellers, Honeycomb Pillars, St Peter’s Dome, Noah’s Ark, and the Lost Gardens.
We want to mention that you may not want to venture inside Crystal Lake Cave if you’re claustrophobic. Passageways are very narrow in some spots, and you’ll have to duck in others.
Besides common insects like crickets, Crystal Lake Cave is also home to bats. Despite this, you’ll unlikely see these flying mammals on a tour as they generally hide from people. Often, they’ll sleep deep into passageways where they can remain undisturbed.
Like most underground caves, Crystal Lake Cave is cool year-round. It’s also wet since this is a living cave, and geological formations continue daily. We suggest wearing a rain jacket and tennis shoes. You’ll also want to wear a hat since water drips from the cave ceiling.
Your best options for accommodations are in Dubuque, north of the cave. There are numerous hotels, including Holiday Inn, Hilton, Hampton Inn, and others.
If you’d like to camp, we recommend booking a site at Bellevue State Park. This park offers beautiful views of the Mississippi River. Guests can visit the nature center and butterfly garden and enjoy hiking, biking, boating, and hunting.
Crystal Lake Cave is one of Iowa’s secrets. Even though it operates seasonally, the staff is open to private tours during the other times of the year. The illuminated stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, and anthodites create a magical adventure in an underground world. One visitor shared, “The pictures don’t do any justice. It’s better to see it in person. You won’t be disappointed!”
So, the next time you’re near Highway 20 or 52 in eastern Iowa, plan to stop for an hour or so and book a tour to view the enchanting Crystal Lake Cave!
