The first and largest of the limestone caves that make up Mitchell Caverns in the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is called El Pakiva, which means "The Devil's House." Native Americans used the caverns some 10,000 years ago. Holy men of the Chemehuevi people carried out rituals here. El Pakiva was thought of as a place of power, and most certainly it is a place of beauty, now illuminated by electric lights for visitors to view year-round.
Stalactites, stalagmites, and columns can be found inside, formed by mineral-rich dripping water. There are flowstone formations resembling ribbons and draperies. One unique aspect of El Pakiva Cavern is its "cave shield," a flat circular formation found in only 60 caves in the United States. Also within the underground chamber are "coral pipes," which exist in only six other caves in the entire world. They are paper thin, vertically oriented, and clustered just a few inches apart.
To get to El Pakiva Cavern, turn off Interstate 40 at the Essex Road Exit and head northwest for 16 miles to the Visitor Center at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area. It is 116 miles east of Barstow and 56 miles west of Needles. Visitors must be accompanied by a park ranger, so join the guided tour of Mitchell Caverns for $6 ($3 for children aged 6~16 years), available any weekend through out the year or on weekdays between Labor Day and Memorial Day.
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