Woodward Cave in Centre County contains 5 large rooms, hundreds of yards of tunnels and passageways, and the largest stalagmite in Pennsylvania!
Operated as a “show cave” since 1926, Woodward Cave was known to the early European settlers in this region as Red Panther Cave.
Red Panther was the son of the local Seneca chief, and legend has it that the chief’s son was struck and killed by lightning after cutting down a sacred beech tree nearby.
Red Panther was said to have been buried in the cave, thus the original name and the totem poles that pay tribute to the local Seneca legend.
Directions | Hours | Admission Fees
Woodward Cave is located at 147 Woodward Cave Drive, Woodward, PA 16882.
The cave is open daily, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with tours starting hourly between 10 am – 5 pm.
Admission prices as of 2026 are: Adults (13+) $19 | Children (3-12) $12.
The Woodward Cave Visitor Center
Tours of Woodward Cave begin at the Visitor Center, directly opposite the cave entrance.
In addition to serving as the ticket office, you’ll find historic memorabilia related to the cave on display here as well.
One of the more interesting artifacts is a ball and chain recovered from the cave, from a time when Woodward Cave was used by early European settlers as a jail!
You’ll also find souvenirs and snacks available for purchase in the Visitor Center.
What You’ll See Inside Woodward Cave
You’ll begin your tour by passing through a bat-friendly gate – Woodward Cave is the third largest hibernating site for bats in Pennsylvania!
Tours of Woodward Cave last about 50 minutes, as you wind your way through the cave’s main passages and into five large rooms.
Along the way, your tour guide will point out and describe the cave’s many geologic features.
If you’re a veteran of exploring other caves, you’ll hear some familiar terms like cave bacon, cave ribbon, and flowstone.
The feature that impressed me the most on my tour of Woodward Cave was the “Tower of Babel”, a 14 foot-tall stalagmite that ranks as the tallest stalagmite in Pennsylvania.
From any angle this is a beautiful, almost other-worldly geologic feature.
If you’re new to touring caves, Woodward Cave would be a great one to start with, as the passageways and rooms are very spacious, relative to other caves in Pennsylvania.
All in all, touring Woodward Cave was a great experience for me – a knowledgeable guide, beautiful cave formations to see, and easy to navigate.
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