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Bower Cave

Bower Cave, perhaps most accurately described as a grotto, has been well-known to Indians for hundreds of years. People of the Me-Wuk culture called it "Oo-tin" or Home of the Evening Star. Just who among the early miners and settlers saw it first is a matter of dispute. One of the first known to have written about it was Belgian miner Jean-Nicolas Perlot, who lived in the vicinity in 1852-1857. Miners Nicholas Arni and Frederick Schoebel were the first to lay claim to the land around the…

  • Managed by: USDA Forest Service

Frequently asked questions

Is Bower Cave reservable?

Bower Cave is primarily first-come, first-served. Use the availability view to gauge how busy it is before you go.

Where is Bower Cave?

See the map for Bower Cave's exact location and directions.

How do I book a campsite at Bower Cave?

Pick your dates on the availability calendar, then reserve through the official booking link. You can also set an alert and we'll notify you if a sold-out date opens up.

Check campsite availability