CRAWFORD STATE PARK
Crawford State Park is a 40-acre, forested day-use park featuring Gardner Cave, the third longest limestone cavern in Washington. This tourable cave is filled with stalactites, stalagmites, rimstone pools and flow stone. Crawford State Park's central feature is the tourable Gardner Cave. With a slope length of 1,055 feet, the cave is the third longest limestone cavern in Washington.
Gardner Cave is the state's third longest limestone cavern, with a slope length of 1,055 feet. The cave features stalactites, stalagmites, rimstone pools and flow stone.
Metaline businessman William H. Crawford operated a general store and acquired ownership of about 160 acres that included Gardner's Cave in 1920. This was likely an investment opportunity given the local potential for timber, placer and hardrock metals within the Metaline Mining District.
Crawford's investment was short lived as he deeded 40 acres containing the cave to Washington State Parks in 1921 for public purposes, after logging the land.
A 1911 federal land survey assigned a length of 1,100 feet to what they called Little Mammoth Cave a natural wonder of considerable interest. Gardner Cave is significant as an uncommon limestone cavern in Washington that is accessible to the public.
A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to Washington state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the
Discover Pass web page.
Crawford State Park Heritage Site has no overnight camping. Seattle City Light has a campground, with standard campsites and restrooms, next to Boundary Dam, 1 mile outside of the park.