Home PA Natural Attractions Exploring Indian Echo Caverns Near Hershey

Exploring Indian Echo Caverns Near Hershey

Exploring Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey Pennsylvania.

Indian Echo Caverns is a beautiful “show cave” located 3 miles west of Hershey in Dauphin County.

Standing in the Indian Ballroom at Indian Echo Caverns.
Standing in the “Indian Ballroom” inside the caverns.

Because the temperature inside the caverns is a constant 52 degrees, this makes it a particularly attractive place to explore on a hot summer day when visiting the Hershey area.

Indian Echo Caverns is a constant 52 degrees.
Indian Echo Caverns is a constant 52 degrees.

Directions | Hours | Admission Fees

Indian Echo Caverns is located at 368 Middletown Road, Hummelstown, PA 17036.

Map to Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey Pennsylvania.
Map to Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey.

If navigating by GPS, use coordinates 40.254055, -76.717105 to find the caverns.

Entrance sign at Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey PA.
Entrance sign along Middletown Road.

Indian Echo Caverns is open daily from 10 am-4 pm, and Memorial Day – Labor Day from 9 am-5 pm; be sure to check their OFFICIAL WEBSITE before visiting to make sure there are no last minute closures.

Indian Echo Caverns is a great place to spend a few hours when visiting Hershey Pennsylvania.
Summer hours.

Admission prices as of 2026 are: $24.50 for Adults (ages 12 and over) | $22 for Seniors (ages 65 and over) | $14.50 for Children (ages 2-11) | Children under 2 are admitted for FREE.

The entrance to Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey Pennsylvania..
Indian Echo Caverns is a great family-friendly place to spend a few hours near Hershey.

History of Indian Echo Caverns

The caverns are named in honor of the Susquehannock Indians, who are believed to have been the first humans to explore the caverns.

Indian Echo Caverns is named in honor of the Susquehannock Indians who were probably the first humans to explore the caverns.
Indian Echo Caverns are named in honor of the Susquehannock Indians, who were probably the first humans to explore the caverns.

For nineteen years (1802–1821) the caverns were the home of William Wilson, known as the “Pennsylvania Hermit”.

The area of Indian Echo Caverns where the Pennsylvania Hermit. William Wilson, lived from 1802-1821.
The area of the caverns where the “Pennsylvania Hermit” William Wilson lived from 1802-1821.

Indian Echo Caverns first opened to the public in 1929, closed during the Great Depression, then reopened in 1942 under new ownership.

Indian Echo Caverns were first opened as a "show cave" in 1929.
Indian Echo Caverns were first opened as a “show cave” in 1929.

What You’ll See at Indian Echo Caverns

Tours start on a hillside near the visitor center, and descend 71 steps to the cave entrance.

Descending the steps to the entrance of Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey Pennsylvania.
Descending the steps to the entrance of the caverns.

Because of the stairs and the sometimes-narrow and uneven passageways in the caverns themselves, the tour is not wheelchair accessible.

The stairway leading to and from the entrance to Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey Pennsylvania.
The stairway leading to and from the entrance to the caverns.

Tours take 45-50 minutes and are led by a professional guide.

Tour guide pointing out features inside Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown Pennsylvania.
Tour guide pointing out features inside Indian Echo Caverns.

Along the way you’ll learn about the history and geology of this subterranean world, making this a fun AND educational tour.

Exploring a passageway inside Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey Pennsylvania.
Exploring a passageway inside Indian Echo Caverns.

This large flowstone formation is known as the “Pipe Organ”.

Large flowstone formations inside Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey.
Large flowstone formations inside the caverns.

Perhaps my favorite feature inside the caverns was this crystal-clear pool of water, surrounded by beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

A beautiful pool of water inside Indian Echo Caverns.
A beautiful pool of water inside the caverns.

The Petting Zoo at Indian Echo Caverns

The Discovery Barnyard is a free petting zoo located near the visitor center.

Petting an alpaca in the Discovery Barnyard at Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey Pennsylvania.
Petting an alpaca in the Discovery Barnyard.

Goats, alpacas, chickens, peacocks, and a turkey can be found in the various enclosures in the petting zoo.

Baby goat in the petting zoo at Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey Pennsylvania.
Baby goat in the petting zoo at Indian Echo Caverns.

If you want to feed the animals, there are coin-op food dispensers located near the pens.

A goat enclosure in the petting zoo portion of Indian Echo Caverns near Hershey.
A goat enclosure in the petting zoo.

Gem Mill Junction

No show cave is complete without a “gem mine”, and Indian Echo Caverns has Gem Mill Junction to indulge your desire to pan for gems (or arrowheads, or fossils, or even old coins).

A prospector near the gem panning area at Indian Echo Caverns in Hershey Pennsylvania.
A “prospector” near the gem panning area.

The gem panning set-up at Indian Echo Caverns is one of the nicer sluices I’ve encountered, complete with a working water wheel, and believe me I’ve done this countless times at show caves all across the country!

Panning for gems at Indian Echo Caverns in Hershey Pennsylvania.
A veteran of the gem-panning routine.

The Gift Shop

Indian Echo Caverns has a well-stocked gift shop, complete with jewelry, clothing, toys, minerals, magnets, and handmade Native American artwork.

Indian Echo Caverns has a well stocked gift shop.
The caverns visitor center has a well stocked gift shop.

The prices seemed quite reasonable as well, certainly on par with all the other show caves in Pennsylvania.

Indian Echo Caverns t-shirts in the gift shop.
T-shirts for sale in the gift shop.

The 10 Best Cave Tours in Pennsylvania is an interactive, first-hand guide to the Keystone State’s most incredible underground adventures, featuring detailed directions, insider tips, and an easy-to-use map based on my personal visits to each cavern.

Exploring Every Show Cave in Pennsylvania.

Nearby Attractions

12 Must-See Attractions in Dauphin County showcases more remarkable sights and experiences near Indian Echo Caverns.

A collage of 4 attractions in Dauphin County, PA, including Hersheypark, the AACA Museum, Indian Echo Caverns, and Lake Tobias Wildlife Park.

A Smarter Way to Explore Pennsylvania

Explore Pennsylvania like a pro with the interactive PA Bucket List Travel Map, showcasing over 1,000 memorable destinations I’ve personally visited across the Keystone State.


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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.