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Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas
Back in 1960 , four college spelunkers journeyed below a 60 - foundation ( 18 - metre ) natural limestone bridge circuit between San Antonio and New Braunfels and expose Natural Bridge Caverns . Today , adventuresome visitant can experience what it was like for those original explorers . On the parkland ’s Adventure Tours , guide will precede cavers as they go up , hike , abseil and explore on an excursion that ’s spare of concrete and handrails only the Inner Light of your helmet will illuminate the mode . This is not for the weak - hearted , says the cavern ’s web site . Cavers are outfitted with caving gear and lour by rope through a 160 - foot- ( 49 - m- ) deeply well shaft and then extend on for an roughly 1 - mile journeying to 230 feet ( 70 m ) below open level to the Fault Room , which features one of the longest soda straw formations in North America at 14 feet ( 4 m ) in length .
Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
The most renowned of all the spectacular features atCarlsbad Caverns National Parkare the cave , with the parking lot ’s namesake being the most renowned . This cave receives more than 300,000 visitor each year , attracting mass assay a rare glance of fascinating belowground earthly concern . Guided tours for all acquirement levels are available from the self - guide areas of the 8.2 - acre Big Room to crawl through narrow passageway in the Hall of the White Giant or in Spider Cave . The Natural Entrance , pictured above , is also impressive , and may be more difficult to explore due to the abruptness of the trail . The atmospheric condition in the cave is a balmy 56 degree Fahrenheit ( 13 degree Celsius ) year - turn so a wakeful jacket and comfortable shoes with condom soles are all that ’s take .
Lost Sea Wild Cave Tour, Craighead Caverns, Tennessee
Anyone can stroll into a cave , but do you have what it shoot to pass the night in a cave ’s thick , dark recesses ? Deep under Sweetwater , Tenn. , the Lost Sea is the largest underground lake in the United States and secondly - biggest in the human race . The cavern are fill with crystal clusters , stalagmite , stalactites , eery rock organisation and an underground waterfall . In these caverns ancient Panthera onca once roamed , moonshine was made , and saltpeter was mined for powder by Confederate soldier . At the Lost Sea , those brave enough to take on a guided Wild Cave Tour into the undeveloped cave room will crawl through cracks , crevices , nooks and crannies ( advanced reservations are need ) . On this tour cavers will see many geologic formations such as anthodites ( cave flowers ) , which are so rare that the Lost Sea contains 50 pct of the humanity ’s recognize formations . Oh , did we mention this tour is all-night ? Sleep close !
El Capitan Cave, Alaska
A parky 40 degrees F ( 4.4 degrees C ) , wet and waterlogged circumstance are the average at El Capitan Cave in southeast Alaska . El Capitan is the longest map cave in Alaska . More than 2 international mile ( almost 4 kilometers ) of passage have been map from the master ingress . To get down below , explorers must first span a strenuous 1,100 - foot ( 335 - m ) hike up a steep 367 - stride stairway to an elevation of 250 feet ( 76 thousand ) to reach a platform at the mouth of the cave . About 200 human foot ( 60 m ) inside the cave a steel gate ( with bat access code ) has been establish to preclude hooliganism and accidental price to cave features . Guided cave enlistment beyond the gate are useable in summertime calendar month by reservation . Like many caves , El Capitan Cave ’s managers are implicated about the spreading ofWhite Nose Syndrome in bats , a fungus that is thought to be decimating their numbers . Many parks have lay out strict guideline for cavers , and many cave have even close to the populace to try and discontinue the spread .
Cosmic Cavern, Arkansas
Cosmic Cavern is one of Arkansas ' conceal treasures . During guided tours of the cave , visitors will see two bottomless cave lakes the ending of these lakes has yet to be found . The cave is also home to the freshly discovered Silent Splendor , which houses one of the foresighted soda straw formations in the Ozarks measuring over 9 feet ( 2.7 m ) tall . Cosmic Cavern is also the warm cave in the Ozarks at 64 degree F ( 18 degrees C ) and 96 percentage humidity , so you ’ll find lovesome than it really is on your journey .
Fantastic Pit at Ellison’s Cave, Georgia
If you ’re ready for some real adventure , grab your repelling gear and point south to Ellison ’s Cave in Georgia , home to one of the most amazing erect drop in the world . At 586 feet ( 179 m ) mysterious , Fantastic Pit is the deepest freefall endocarp in the lower 48 United States and is braggart enough to hold the Washington Monument , which stands over 555 feet ( 169 m ) tall . Ellison ’s cave is part of the TAG region Tennessee , Alabama and Georgia where some of the most exciting caving can be find .
Great Blue Hole, Belize
There are other way to explore caves beside walk , crawling or rappelling . Strap on thescuba gearin Belize and dive into the Great Blue Hole ( above , center ) , a sensational cavern coiffure in a ring of corals . This vertical cave measures 1,000 foot ( 305 m ) across and 412 feet ( 126 m ) deep . Those that visit will find giant stalactite , dripstone sheet of paper and columns that formed during glacial periods when the cavern was dry and above sea degree . large Blue Hole , located within Blue Hole Natural Monument , is about 55 sea mile ( 89 km ) eastern United States of Belize City . Several getup offer tours to the pop dive smirch .
Glenwood Caverns Wild Tour, Colorado
For flush seekers only . This three - time of day channelise go goes deeply into rarely visited parts of the Glenwood Caverns . You ’ll be on your belly , crawling , squirming and worm through crocked infinite as small as 18 square inches ( 116 sq cm ) . Make it through and lay eyes on spectacular cave formation that your claustrophobic friends will never see . Reservations ask .
Vancouver Island Caves, British Columbia, Canada
You do n’t have to be an adrenaline junkie to go caving . If you ’re looking for some spelunking for kids , Horne Lake caves in Canada is a smashing spot for families . The area ’s warm mood and geology have produced ancient limestone cave with plenteous detail and shaping . Horne Lake cave are found in Vancouver Island , British Columbia , which has the greatest number of caves in Canada . These caves are also better suit for a phratry adventure , since they are n’t as insensate and muddy as the ones found in the Rocky Mountains . The good time for caving here is in the belated fountain , summertime and fall . Snowfall can determine entree to some roads in winter and make it perfidious to hike up to the caves .
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
For a unparalleled caving experience , there ’s no lieu well than the Glowworm cave of Waitomo , New Zealand . The Waitomo glowworm , Arachnocampa luminosa , is unique to New Zealand . As visitors search the cave on guided tours , chiliad of these petite creatures radiate their unmistakableluminescent light .
