Caves and Sinkholes

Sheep Creek Cave

Directions:  Contact the Flaming Gorge Ranger District for more information at 435-784-3445.

Description: This cave is gated. During the summer, however, the cave is open to the public under a permit system. To see the cave, you contact the Manila Ranger District, sign a permit, and pick up the key to the cave gate. Tours are self-guided, with no maps, signs, or other interpretive helps or facilities.

This cave represents the discharge point for a large, very long, but rather narrow karst system that runs under a large and impressive hogback ridge, parallel to the mountain front. The source of the water was dye traced years ago from a sinking stream at Lost Creek Sink, 14 miles to the west and located on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The dye trace went 14 miles from sink to spring, running parallel to the mountain front and crossed underneath three completely separate surface drainages in the process with a travel time of about 21 days. (This was probably done during moderate to low flow conditions). Despite the huge karst system, the cave has only about 1,000 feet of known passages. The cave entrance is located at the base of a huge limestone cliff, perhaps 50 feet above the discharge spring (appropriately called Big Spring). This water can be seen within the cave at several locations. Although the cave is generally level, there are numerous large collapse boulders to be negotiated, and several narrow or obscure pits, that make the cave somewhat unsafe for reckless explorers. The air is good, but locally stinky from rodent nests and debris.

Whiterocks Cave

Directions: Located 32 miles east of Roosevelt, UT. Contact the Vernal Ranger District for more information at 435-789-1181.

Description: Whiterocks Cave is gated. During the summer, however, the cave is open for free guided public tours. To see the cave, contact the Vernal Ranger District. You will need to enter your name and preferred tour dates into a lottery system. If your group is selected in the lottery, then the Ashley National Forest escorts you up to the cave and provides a high quality guided tour of the cave free of charge. The cave tours see about 2/3 of the known cave, depending on the group and their interest level.

The cave is located about 1,000 feet above the parking spot with a rather strenuous hike along a nice, but narrow trail required to reach the cave. Whiterocks Cave is very scenic, has generally large and level walking passages, and has approximately 1,100 feet of mapped passages. When first discovered in modern times, the cave contained a complete and undisturbed human skeleton. The skull was taken to the local museum, but most of the other bones have slowly been taken because they were not properly protected or managed. This cave represents an abandoned karst system located well above local base level for the surrounding karst area with no running water.

Minnetonka Cave

Directions: Located off of Highway 89 just northeast of Bear Lake, ID. Head west up St. Charles Canyon and travel about ten and half miles to the cave's parking lot.

Description: The cave formed in Mississippian age limestone is about a half-mile long. Percolating ground water through fractures and joints has dissolved the calcium carbonate rock and re-deposited the minerals as interesting cave formations. Evidence of stream action and cave lakes or pools can be found in regions of the cave although no pools or streams are currently present. Tropical water fossils, such as horned coral, brachipods, and crinoid stems are visible in walls, ceilings, and floors.

The cave is open for tours from mid-June to Labor Day. Tour times are one hour and fifteen minutes to one hour and thirty minutes and begin every thirty minutes. Tours sell out in the peak of the summer season so plan accordingly. There are 896 stairs round trip and the average cave temperature is about 40 degrees. Wear sturdy shoes and a jacket and take your camera along.

Paris Ice Cave

Directions: Located off of Highway 89 just northeast of Bear Lake, ID.  Turn west up Paris Canyon and drive about 5 miles on gravel/dirt road until you see a large, well-worn sign indicating the cave. Take the short, dirt trail from the parking lot to the cave entrance.

Description: Ice never melts in this small cave located at the bottom of a doline. During the spring, water collects from the surrounding area and passes through the doline making exploration difficult. Late summer and early fall is probably the best time to visit. The entrance is easy to access and a boardwalk stretches across a standing water region near the opening. Ice formations are present in the interior of the cave and some scrambling over rocks is necessary to reach them. Old calcium carbonate deposits are visible on walls, ceilings, and floors. Take a flashlight, sturdy hiking shoes, and a jacket. A hard-hat is always a good idea as well. This cave should be fun for all ages to explore.

Mammoth Cave and Ice Cave

Directions: Just east of Duck Creek Village on State Road 14, turn left onto Forest Road 067. Go five miles and then turn right onto Forest Road 064. After about one mile turn left and look for the sign.

Description: Mammoth Cave, at 8050 feet in elevation, opens to one of the largest lava tubes in Utah, with over 2200 feet of passages. Formed by cooling lava and flowing water, Mammoth Cave is part of the Markagunt Plateau. Geologists believe that some of this lava is only several thousand years old – relatively young in geologic terms! During summer months, the cave is a popular nightly resting spot for several bat species, and is frequented by other small birds and mammals.

The cave looks like a big hole in the ground at first glance and is fun to explore. Take a good light for every person. The cave is pitch dark after the first turn. The exit is a small tube that allows only enough room to slide through on your belly. If you are large or claustrophobic turn around and go back the way you came. Water seepage at the end of the cave makes the rocks slippery. Wear appropriate hiking shoes into the cave.

Ice Cave is much smaller than Mammoth Cave, with only one chamber. It contains year round icicles. Heading east on State Road 14 from Cedar City, turn right at the Duck Creek Visitor Center. Drive past the visitor center and follow the signs to Ice Cave.

Wind Caves 

Directions: 5.2 miles up Logan Canyon Scenic Byway ( Utah 89).

Description: Years of wind and water have worn a delicate triple arch and natural cave into the limestone outcropping at the top of this 2 mile trail. Also known as the Witch's Castle, this fascinating formation provides a clear view of the China Wall. Interpretive kiosks at the trailhead provide information about the trail.