U.S. Caves By Sheila Resari Central Jewel Cave, South Dakota Niagara Cave, Minnesota Meramec Caverns, Missouri Caverns of Sonora, Texas

There's More Where That Came From Jewel Cave, South Dakota

With over 121 miles surveyed, Jewel Cave is recognized as the third-longest cave in the world and the second longest in the United States. Airflow within the passageways of this complex labyrinth indicates a vast area yet to be explored. Just to reach the unmapped, southeastern area, surveyors must make a six-hour trek — and the only way to move toward the unexplored passages is through the Mini-Miseries, so named for its 600 feet of belly-crawling.

Jewel Cave tours range from scenic walks to strenuous wild caving. Regardless of route, visitors have the chance to explore a pristine cave system and see its wide variety of rock formations — including stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, frostwork, flowstone, boxwork, and hydromagnesite balloons. Jewel Cave is also an important winter residence for several species of bats.

Explore Jewel Cave National Monument
Explore nearby Wind Cave National Park
Find South Dakota Destinations

Who Needs Niagara Falls?
	Niagara Cave, Minnesota

Yours 'til Niagara falls

Niagara Cave, one of the Midwest's largest limestone caverns, offers such notable underground sights as Paul Bunyan's Bed, a wishing well, an echo chamber, and the Wedding Chapel — over 300 ceremonies have been performed in the latter. At the cavern's lowest level, the Stalactite Room holds a rainbow of rock formations in a massive chamber.

Carved out by underground streams, Niagara Cave's ceiling reaches over a hundred feet high, with deep canyons and gorges below. Many of these streams are still active today, one of which tumbles for 60 feet — the cave's namesake waterfall.

Find Southeast Minnesota Destinations
GORPtravel Minnesota Trips

The Greatest Show under the Earth
	Meramec Caverns, Missouri

Enter stage left

This family-friendly show cave located under the Ozarks in the Meramec Valley comes complete with gift shop, restaurant, and 28 flavors of ice cream. Meramec Caverns' seven stories are composed of a series of natural underground openings, with another 26 miles of underground passages. One incredible speleothem, the Stage Curtain, measures 70 feet high, 60 feet wide, and 35 feet thick — the largest single cave formation in the world. Besides this 70-million-year-old, calcium-carbonate curtain, other notable formations in Meramec Caverns include the Wine Table and Onyx Mountain.

The largest cave in the"Cave State" — Missouri is home to nearly 6,000 caves — Meramec Caverns has earned some notoriety for its various historical occupants. Used by local Indian tribes for shelter and, according to legend, used as a station by the Underground Railroad, the caverns also provided the perfect post-heist hideout for Jesse James and his gang.

Find Missouri Destinations

Don't Mess with Texas
	Caverns of Sonora, Texas

National Speleological Society founder Bill Stephenson once said,"The beauty of the Caverns of Sonora cannot be exaggerated . . . not even by a Texan!" This complex labyrinth is lined with sparkling speleothems — the floors, walls, and ceilings of many passages are completely bedecked, drawing comparisons to the inside of a crystal-lined geode.

Many of the mineral formations found in the Caverns of Sonora are intricately layered: Stalactites hang from calcite wall crusts, helictites branch off the stalactites, coral covers the helictites, and soda straws drip from the coral and helictite tips onto flowstone, stalagmites, and coral trees below. The cave is still active, with over 90 percent of the cave forming new crystals. The major decorated area of the cave was discovered in 1955 by a group of Dallas spelunkers — who kept their incredible find a secret. The Caverns of Sonora opened to the public in 1960.

Find Texas Destinations

Choose your region West | Central | East Return to Top

RELATED GORP LINKS
GORP Caving
GORP Destinations
GORPtravel