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On the guided tour, after the Chimes Room

The Helictite Room: formations that refuse to hang straight

Most stalactites hang straight down. Helictites do not. They twist, curl and branch into crooked shapes, as if the rules of gravity were only suggestions. The room opened officially around 2000.

Crystal Cave is one of the few caves in Missouri that contains helictites. Scientists still disagree about exactly how they form. Toward the back, the lighting changes color: the last part of the room is kept off limits to help preserve it.

What to know

  • Helictites are formations that twist and branch into crooked shapes.
  • Crystal Cave is one of the few Missouri caves that contains them.
  • Geologists still debate how helictites form.
  • The Helictite Room opened officially around 2000.
  • The last part of the room is off limits to help preserve it, which is why the lighting changes color there.

See it on the map Book a Tour

Position from the 1970 to 1971 survey, approximate.

The Helictite Room photos

A cave ceiling hung with soda straws and stalactites in warm light, Helictite Room.
A cave ceiling hung with soda straws and stalactites in warm light, Helictite Room. Source: Crystal Cave
A rock ledge fringed with hundreds of thin stalactites, Helictite Room.
A rock ledge fringed with hundreds of thin stalactites, Helictite Room. Source: Crystal Cave
Orange draperies and stalactites crowding the ceiling, Helictite Room.
Orange draperies and stalactites crowding the ceiling, Helictite Room. Source: Crystal Cave
A dense ceiling of thin formations with white helictites curling sideways, Helictite Room.
A dense ceiling of thin formations with white helictites curling sideways, Helictite Room. Source: Crystal Cave
Pale soda straw stalactites with water drops at their tips, close up, Helictite Room.
Pale soda straw stalactites with water drops at their tips, close up, Helictite Room. Source: Crystal Cave
A knobbly stalactite ending in a clear water drop, Helictite Room.
A knobbly stalactite ending in a clear water drop, Helictite Room. Source: Crystal Cave
Glistening formations, one with a small curl at its tip, against the dark, Helictite Room.
Glistening formations, one with a small curl at its tip, against the dark, Helictite Room. Source: Crystal Cave
The tour path running between formation-covered walls, Helictite Room.
The tour path running between formation-covered walls, Helictite Room. Source: Crystal Cave
A dense curtain of golden soda straw stalactites hanging across a cave ceiling above a rust-colored wall.
A dense curtain of golden soda straw stalactites hanging across a cave ceiling above a rust-colored wall. Source: Crystal Cave (visitcrystalcave.com)
Soda straw stalactites and stalagmites in warm amber light in a cave chamber, taken as a vertical photo.
Soda straw stalactites and stalagmites in warm amber light in a cave chamber, taken as a vertical photo. Source: Office to Outdoors
A red and amber lit walkway winding under a ceiling hung with soda straw stalactites, with stalagmites beside the path.
A red and amber lit walkway winding under a ceiling hung with soda straw stalactites, with stalagmites beside the path. Source: Brandon Alms (417 Magazine)

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