Horne Lake Caves

• Vancouver Island
• 5 Hours
• Jan - July

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Description

Horne Lake Caves, near Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island, is calling adventurers to explore the mesmerizing underground wonders. Guided cave tours cater to various skill levels, revealing exquisite limestone formations, crystalline pools, and ancient fossils. Whether you're a novice or experienced, the diverse caving adventures offer an immersive experience for everyone.

Attractions info

Highlights

• Cave Exploration: Thrilling underground adventure
• Crystal Gallery: Glittering mineral formations showcased
• Underground Waterfalls: Hidden cascades in darkness
• Fossil Discoveries: Ancient remnants in stone
• Cave Tours: Guided adventures with experts
• Interpretive Centre: Learning hub for visitors
• Outdoor Adventures: Nature exploration beyond the caves

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Recommendation

• Visitor guidelines

• Pre-arrival checklist

• Clothing

• Personal gear

• Safety & Guidelines

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Visitor guidelines

Please don’t apply perfume or after-shave. The enclosed spaces make it difficult for those with scent sensitivities.

Dogs and other pets are not permitted inside any of the caves at Horne Lake Caves. Dogs are allowed in the provincial park as long as they are on a leash and there is a nice trail system that they will enjoy. Please clean up after your pets! Visitors are also advised that they are not permitted to bring dogs along the hike on a guided tour. Dogs tied up outside of a cave while the owners explore it can also frighten other visitors who are trying to access that cave. Dogs tend to bark and howl when their owners disappear into a dark cave and this can disturb the peaceful serenity of the park. If you plan to explore the caves, someone can wait outside with the dog or make plans to leave your dog at home.

Our Minimum age requirments are set by BC Parks and our company cannot operate outside of those parameters. Everyone’s comfort levels and ability levels (parents and children) are different when it comes to dealing with the environment of the cave and the obstacles that lie within. The 2.5hr Multi-Cave Experience is great for children age 8 and up but children 5-8 years old are welcome on a Private Tour, so if the youngster changes their mind or has difficulty, it doesn’t affect the cave tour for other parties. It is important that parents do not carry their children over the uneven terrain in the caves. Low to the ground is a safer place to be and with encouragement children can find all the naturally rock solid handholds and footholds they need to maneuver through the cave. Our longest trip, the 5 hour Extreme Cave & Rappel tour is for ages 13 and up. Check out the minimum age requirements before you book. The self guided cave areas are fairly rugged and adventurous with narrow spaces and vertical drops. Use extreme caution with children under 8. We do not recommend carrying a baby or small toddler in your arms or in a backpack while inside the caves at any time.

Pre-arrival checklist

Check the weather forecast for Qualicum Beach, BC, to prepare for outdoor conditions.
Review tour options and availability on the Horne Lake Caves website and make reservations if necessary.
Confirm the opening hours and operational status of the caves and visitor facilities.
Check for any special requirements or restrictions, such as age limits or physical fitness levels, for cave tours or adventure activities.
Plan your transportation to Horne Lake Caves, ensuring you have directions and parking information.
Pack necessary items such as water bottles, snacks, and any required medications.
Dress in appropriate clothing for cave exploration and outdoor activities, including sturdy footwear and layers for warmth.
Charge camera or smartphone batteries to capture photos of your cave adventure.
Bring cash or payment methods for purchasing tour tickets or souvenirs at the visitor centre.
Familiarize yourself with safety guidelines and regulations provided by Horne Lake Caves for a safe and enjoyable visit.

Clothing

Did you know the caves are the same temperature year round? You will find a chilly 8 deg. Celsius (47 degr. F.) regardless of when you visit Horne Lake Caves. So the longer you are in the caves, the warmer you will want to dress. Your clothing choices should reflect the duration of the tour AND the time of year!

Due to the rocky floors and undeveloped nature of the caves, all tours require solid footwear. Backpacks are not allowed in the cave but small hip pouches or fanny packs are great for carrying some snacks and a camera.

Simply long pants and sweatshirt / light jacket plus sturdy footwear. In Summer, running shoes are OK, open sandals are not. In rainy Winter conditions, rubber boots are way better.

The rainy season brings lots of water to our caves. During the Winter or Spring these tours can be VERY wet; bring along a complete change of clothes, including shoes and socks. Rubber boots make the best footwear. Otherwise, hiking boots or running shoes will do. Don’t forget about the surface condition. If it’s raining outside – bring rain gear! Snow? Call ahead to check conditions.

Achilles Challenge and Max Depth Adventure requires better clothing. A few hours in a cool, damp environment is no place for cotton clothing. Really try to avoid jeans and T-shirts. Better to have poly-pro, nylon or fleece against your body. Wearing at least 2 layers top and bottom is the minimum recommendation. Hiking boots or gumboots are also much better for stepping in puddles rather than running shoes. Another good idea is to bring kneepads and gloves, although both are available at the Visitor Centre.

Personal gear

Sturdy, closed-toe hiking boots with good traction for navigating uneven terrain.
Waterproof jacket and pants to protect against moisture and cold temperatures inside the caves.
Warm layers such as fleece or thermal shirts and pants for added insulation underground.
Gloves to protect hands while navigating through the caves and climbing over rocks.
Backpack or daypack to carry essentials such as water bottles, snacks, and personal belongings.
Water bottles or hydration reservoirs to stay hydrated during your cave exploration.
Snacks or energy bars to keep you fueled throughout the tour.
Camera or smartphone for capturing photos and videos of the cave formations and your adventure.

Safety & Guidelines

Bring Proper Footwear

Many first time cavers aren’t aware of the ideal footwear to have during their visit to Horne Lake Caves. Don’t worry though – you won’t need dedicated caving boots or anything like that. Instead, we strongly recommend wearing sturdy footwear like hiking boots, preferably waterproof ones. Our caves can sometimes be wet in places, especially during the spring and winter months, so wearing hiking boots with good grip helps reduce the chances of slipping. Since the caves are a near-constant 8 degrees celsius all year long, we recommend wearing warm socks to help make sure you don’t get cold feet.

Wear Warm Clothes

As mentioned before, the inside of Horne Lake Caves stays at a near-constant 8 degrees celsius year-round, so wearing a light jacket with a sweater underneath is a good idea. Visitors are also recommended to wear waterproof/water-resistant long pants as well to keep warm and dry – however many visitors wear shorts quite comfortably inside our caves, so it’s down to personal preference more than anything else.

The caves are much wetter in the winter and spring, so visitors joining us from October through April should take extra care to wear clothes that will keep them warm and comfortable during the 1 kilometre hike up to the base of the caves. Visitors should also bear in mind that backpacks are not permitted inside the caves.

Notify Us In Advance If You Feel Unwell

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, at Horne Lake Caves we’ve taken several steps to ensure the safety of our guests and staff while underground. As part of this, we ask all guests who feel unwell to let us know at least 24 hours in advance so we can reschedule them for a later date or provide a full refund. Unfortunately, with less than 24 hours notice we are unable to reschedule guests or provide refunds.

At Horne Lake Caves we believe that caving isn’t just limited to a highly-adventurous few, but rather that every person can experience this rewarding activity in a safe and structured way. We invite you to join us here at Horne Lake Caves, and see for yourself the beauty that can be found beneath your feet. We hope the above tips and tricks will help make sure your trip through our beautiful cave system is a memorable one!

To learn more about Horne Lake Cave and to book your guided tour, call us at (250) 248-7829 or email us at info@hornelake.com today! We can’t wait to have you join us here for an amazing caving experience you won’t soon forget!

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