Indian Echo Caverns - Hummelstown, PA
Posted by: NorStar
N 40° 15.241 W 076° 43.010
18T E 353992 N 4457364
Indian Echo Caverns, now a tourist attraction near Harrisburg, had a large natural entrance that has since been bricked up.
Waymark Code: WMMYZ6
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 11/26/2014
Views: 13
Near Hummelstown, off Middletown Road, is Indian Echo Caverns, where guided tours are given of a large cavern.
To get to the caverns, from US Route 322, take the exit for Middletown Road exit for Hummelstown, then turn south AWAY from Hummelstown. Look for the sign on the right, then turn onto the driveway and drive to the end.
The gift shop is the first place to stop, where you need to purchase tickets. At the time (2014) they were $14 for adults, $8 for children. There are specific time slots to limit human impact on the cavern features.
You wait on the property until the time arrives. You could wait at the benches near the stairway, or watch or feed the goats in the fenced in area. When the guide arrives, you are led down a series of winding stairs to the base, which is near the level of Swatara Creek about a hundred feet from the end. The entrance was originally a large natural gape, but it has since been bricked up.
The room immediately inside the door is spacious. From there, you are led through several rooms and at least two different passageways. Many features are shown, including stalactites, flowstone, and stalagmites. A still water pool is also visible. In the largest room, the ceiling is about 80 ft high, leaving about 20 ft of rock to the surface. At one time, we were under the proprietor's house, and another time, we were under the parking lot. The total tour takes about 45 minutes.
Well worth the stop.
Type of Land: Private Land
Managed By: Swartz family
Contact Info: (717)-566-8131
Website: [Web Link]
Type of Cave: Karst Cave
Contains Stalactites: yes
Contains Stalagmites: yes
Contains Bats: no
Price of Admission: 14.00 (listed in local currency)
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Visit Instructions:
Please include a digital photograph of the cave which documents your visit and any information that may be helpful for future visitors.