Want to find a cave? Start here!

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So you want to find a cave and go caving?

Well, you can't just show up at any cave at any time. In order to gain access, and to find, most caves is to befriend local cavers. The best way to do that is to join you local grotto. My local what?

Your local grotto. A grotto is simply a group of cavers (or a room in a cave. But, that doesn't make much sense for our needs, does it?).

So, how do I find my local grotto? Start HERE. This is the list of grottos maintained by the NSS (National Speleological Society).

Now, you may be more of a solitary caver. That's fine, but you should still get involved in the local caving scene a little. You need to build trust among local cavers, so they'll show you the goods. Plus, you have to think about landowner relations, and many cavers have formed relationships that range from full-blown access to limited access, to extremely limited access, to no access. It is, after all, the written rule of the NSS; the unwritten rule of US Cavers not to release cave locations to just anyone, so asking here on the forum will get you nowhere. Well, actually, it'll get you responses like "Contact your local grotto". We don't want all those nice caves messed up from vandals and irresponsible cavers!

Another good source of information is from printed materials. If you are an NSS member, you can receive a discount at the NSS BOOKSTORE. If you aren't sure how to become a member, or why you should, check out THIS link. Becoming an NSS member is not mandatory for caving in the USA, but you do get some perks as discussed earlier (there are others, but I didn't talk about them).

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Q: Why are cave locations not posted on the internet?

A: Usually, you won't find much public info on caves because of legal liability and conservation issues. Most caves are privately owned, dangerous and delicate. Also, it is against the NSS TOS. Also, we don't want people to get hurt; we work hard to maintain landowner relations and don't want someone not in the know to screw them up; some caves have limited access and grotto members are liasions to the cave; some caves are closed completely and going without permission can keep them from ever being opened again; caves also get vadalized and we try to prevent that from happening (Quote from Wendy)


Q: Well, how do I find out about cave locations?

A: There are plenty of ways to find out about caves without going thru a grotto or other cavers, but they all involve a tremendous amount of work. Cavers have been doing this work for 75 years or so. The info they collect is preserved and passed down mostly thru grottos. Grottos are not the only way, they are the easy way. Get involved with a grotto and soon enough you'll have access to more caves than you know what to do with. Talk to the right people and you could be in one this weekend. (Quote from Scott McCrea)

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But please, feel free to post here and ask any question that you need to. The group that hangs out here is extremely knowledgeable and can answer any caving (and almost any other question) that you may have.

Above all, cave responsibly.

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.


--- I hope this was helpful! If there is something I should add, lemme know and I will ---