Can you die without walking? Journey to American National Parks (24) Mt. Shasta's Jewels - Pluto's Cave Edition
Written by Sayaka Kato
We'll continue to introduce some of the stunning gem-like spots scattered around Mount Shasta. This time it's Pluto's Cave.
In Weed, the neighboring town of Shasta, is a mysterious cave with light pouring from the sky. There is truly a secret hidden power spot. Shasta is deep!
Located on the north side of Shasta, this place is a dry desert area, with several caves formed in valleys created by volcanoes. This cave is a very unique and rare place where you can easily go hiking and visit.
In the southern part of the Shasta Valley, numerous lava flows, cones and volcanic buttes can be found. It is so close to the area where North America's largest volcano is located, it leaves a significant amount of volcanic activity, and it is not surprising that there are such lava caves under the vast lava flow. There are several others in the area, but none of the caves have yet to be found as impressive as Pluto Cave.
It's about a 40-minute drive from downtown Shasta to Plutocave, the neighboring town of Weed.
The atmosphere changes from Shasta City, which has many water and trees, and the weed spreads into a dry desert area.
This cave is said to date 190,000 years ago and was discovered in 1863 (in Japan, it was Edo period). It is a cave made from solidified lava, and is truly a natural art. The sunlight coming in through the rock holes in the cave is very mysterious, and the dust that flutters in the light feels like a veil of light.
Depending on the season and time of year, I think the light will be particularly strong from around noon to 3am.
There are about three caves, from large to small, but the main cave of light is at the very back. It's not too far from the entrance to the cave to the light-emitting area, but you'll have to walk through the pitch black rocky area along the way, so don't forget to bring your headlights and flashlights.
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Route Cave Walking Information
- Parking lot, 43N30, Montague, CA 96064
- Distance: Approx. 1.12km round trip (almost flat)
- Walking time: Approximately 10 minutes each way
- What to bring: Don't forget to wear trekking shoes, water and headlights.
You will arrive at the entrance to the cave in about 10 minutes from the trailhead, but if you download the GPS in advance, you will be able to go smoothly without hesitation.
Note: By the way, if you enter Pluto's Cave on Google Maps, you may see a path to the back parking lot instead of Pluto's Cave trailhead, so when searching on Google Maps, enter Pluto's Cave Trail Head. The parking lot on the back is closer to the cave, which cuts the distance you walk, but I don't recommend it as the road in the middle of the trip is off-road and the road conditions are not very good.
The cave entrance can be seen from nearby the beautiful Shasta.
Walking along the trail will reveal the entrance to the cave. As you descend from there, you will find a large cave on both sides.
Once you enter a certain amount of the cave on the left, it becomes a dead end and smells like bat urine. So go to the right side.
If you go to the right, a slightly open area will expand, and as you pass through a rock tunnel, you will find a short, different cave just to your right. This cave is also a small thing that becomes a dead end.
So we passed it and headed to the main cave, further deep. This is the entrance to the main location where the Cave of Light is.
This cave is the main location, and from here you will finally need headlights.
The scaffolding is also rocky, so take your time and take care of your feet.
Follow the cave and look ahead in an area past the darkness and you will soon see a pattern of light entering.
Don't worry, it's pretty close from the entrance. You will arrive in about 5 minutes from the entrance.
Depending on the time of day, the weather and the day the light will look different and the atmosphere will change.
Reading the energy of the people who come in will also change the atmosphere of the light. . Some people say that.
Please come and visit us. You'll be able to feel the charm of Shasta again.
Notes regarding the spread of COVID-19
As of August 2021, various countries are likely to experience a variety of situations, including entry restrictions due to the strengthening of quarantine systems, restrictions on admission to national parks, and restrictions on travel within the country. These conditions may change without notice, so when traveling, be sure to obtain local information such as embassies and consulates of each country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' overseas safety website (infectious disease risk information) and national park websites, and check the information about the transfer location, the countries where you plan to travel, and the area around the destinations you plan to visit before making any effort to plan and take reasonable steps.
Kato Sayaka
Leave your California hiking and travel plans to us. Due to my father's influence, I have always loved outdoor activities, and since I was in Japan, I was captivated by the great nature of America and Canada, and as a result, I arrived at the United States, which I had longed for. We currently run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours that can be created with customers, including completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. We will introduce you to some special options that you can find out because you are a local resident. If you are interested, please visit the website below.
