Caving

Caving in Iowa

Aside from walking, it may involve climbing, crawling, going through water, mud, and possibly negotiating some tight spaces. Equipment used may include ropes, helmets, lamps, and other safety gear. In Iowa, we have 2 show caves, and 29 wild caves.  Caves tend to be colder, such as 47 degrees, so clothing suggested would be warmer and waterproof.  Depending on which caves you are exploring, headlamps would be necessary as well.

It is important to know another side of caving. There are a myriad of caves in Iowa that are not for public use as they are incredibly fragile environments and are mostly located on private property. Mentioned below, the members of the local chapter of the National Speleological Society are dedicated to preserving these caves by spending their time cleaning formations, removing trash, and repairing formations. As partakers in Iowa’s natural environment, we have a responsibility to leave things as we found them, if not better. If you are interested in helping to preserve these caves please visit the Iowa Grotto website or contact janet@liveactionsports.net.

Caving Locations:  *Note that contact information for some of the caves is still being updated*

Crystal Lake Caves
Address – 6684 Crystal Lake Cave Dr, Dubuque, IA 52003
Phone – 563.556.6451
Website – www.crystallakecave.com
Email – info@crystallakecaves.com

Spook Cave
Info – Spook cave has guided boat tours. There’s no walking and it is always 47 degrees!
Address – 13299 Spook Cave Road, McGregor, IA 52157
Phone – 563.873.2144
Website – www.spookcave.com
Email – spookcave@spookcave.com

Maquoketa Caves
The caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park are closed to help slow a disease known as white-nose syndrome that is killing bats across the eastern half of the United States.  Stay updated here to learn when the caves are open again. 
Address – 10970 98th Street, Maquoketa, IA 52060
Phone – 563.652.5833
Website – www.iowadnr.com/parks/state_park_list/maquoketa_caves.html
Email – Maquoketa@dnr.iowa.gov

Black Hawk’s Cave – Black Hawk State Park
Address: 228 South Blossom, Lake View, Iowa 51450
Phone: 712-657-8712
Website: www.iowadnr.gov/parks/state_park_list/black_hawk.html
Email: Black_Hawk@dnr.iowa.gov

Bixby Ice Cave – Bixby State Preserve
Address:  Edgewood, Iowa 52042
Area Manager:  Backbone State Park
Website: http://www.iowadnr.gov/preserves/
Email: State_Preserves@dnr.iowa.gov

Skull Cave – Sherman Park
Address: 2776 160th Ave., Calamus, Iowa
Website: www.clintoncounty-ia.gov

Backbone Cave – Backbone State Park
Address:  1282 120th St, Strawberry Point, IA 52076
Phone: 563-924-2000
Website: http://www.iowadnr.gov/parks/state_park_list/backbone.html
Email: Backbone@dnr.iowa.gov

Black Hawk Spring and Cave – Carpo Park
Address:  Parkway Drive, Burlington, Iowa
Phone: 319-753-8117
Website: www.burlingtoniowa.org

Starr’s Cave State Preserve – Starr’s Cave Nature Center
Starr’s Cave is closed to help slow a disease known as white-nose syndrome that is killing bats across the eastern half of the United States.  Starr’s Nature Center is still open.
Address:  11627 Starr’s Cave Road, Burlington, IA 52601
Phone: (319) 753-5808
Website: www.dmcconservation.com
Email: delperdanga@co.des-moines.ia.us

Catfish Cave – Catfish Creek State Preserve/Mines of Spain Recreation Area
Address: EB Lyons Interpretive Center, 8991 Bellevue Heights, Dubuque, IA 52003-9214
Phone: 563-556-0620
Website: www.minesofspain.org
Email: Send an email via the Mines of Spain website

White Pine Hollow State Preserve – Yellow River Forest
Address:  White Pine Hollow Road, Luxemburg, Iowa
Phone: 563-586-2254
Website: http://www.iowadnr.gov/forestry/whtpinhllw.html
Email: robert.honeywell@dnr.iowa.gov

Brush Creek Canyon State Preserve – Volga River Recreation Area
Address: Arlington, Iowa 50606
Phone: 563-425-4161
Website: http://www.iowadnr.gov/volunteer/brushcreek.html
Email: Volga_River@dnr.iowa.gov

Dutton’s Cave – Dutton’s Cave Park
Address: 25218 Ironwood Road (Camp Ground Access) and 9082 25th Street (Shelter House Access), West Union, Iowa
Phone: 563-422-5146
Website: http://www.fayettecountyiowa.org/CONSERVATION.html
Email: fayetteccb@hawkeyetel.com  

Talus (Boulder) Caves – Echo Valley State Park
Address: 9680 Echo Valley Road (Glover’s Creek Access) and 9672 Echo Valley Road (Otter Creek Access), West Union, Iowa
Phone: 563-422-5146
Website: http://www.fayettecountyiowa.org/CONSERVATION.html
Email: fayetteccb@hawkeyetel.com  

Eldora Cave

Wildcat Cave

Frankenstein Cave

Werden’s Cave

Camp Wyoming

Indian Bluff Cave

Searryl’s Cave State Preserve

Wapsipinicon State Park

Mosquity Cave

Palisades-Kepler State Park

Tree Bridges Park Caves

Wildcat Den State park

Coldwater Spring State Preserve

Decorah Ice Cave

Dunning’s Spring Park

Malanaphy Spring Cave and Waterfall

Troll Cave

Organizations associated with caving include:

National Speleological Society
Website – www.caves.org

The Iowa Grotto
Website – www.caves.org/grotto/iowa
Email – iowa@caves.org

Books about caves in Iowa:

Iowa Underground: A Guide to the State’s Subterranean Treasures
Greg A. Brick
Trails Books