10 Stunning U.S. Caves You Need to See With Your Own Eyes

There are thousands of wonders above ground. From sublime, emerald-green forests to seas of sand, canyons that will take your breath away, and waterfalls that will leave you stunned, there are countless things for you to go visit.

But there are wonders waiting for you above ground that you wouldn’t believe. We don’t think caves and cave systems get enough credit, so we decided to compile a list of the most awe-inspiring caves in the U.S.

Hopefully, one day, you’ll decide to pack your bags and go on a road trip to visit some of these. Along the way you’ll glimpse at wonders the likes of which the surface world could never provide.

Until then, click NEXT in order to embark on a virtual tour with us!

1. Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Around 18 miles from the city of Carlsbad, New Mexico, you’ll find the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, peppered with 119 caves throughout a 46,000-acre region.

Carlsbad Cavern is the park’s namesake and main attraction, accessible via its natural entrance of using an elevator that departs from the park’s visitor’s center. Either way, you’ll have the option of a self-guided or ranger-led tour. If you chose to take a look through the visitor’s center, which we highly recommend, you’ll find documentary showings and educational exhibits to help prepare you before the descent.

Once you’re in, you’ll most likely visit the 4,000-foot-long Big Room limestone chamber. In North America, this is the fifth largest chamber of its kind, thus it attracts thousands of tourists every year.

But there’s more to the park than just caves. Here you can go hiking, join a bat flight viewing program or go bird watching in the Rattlesnake Springs Picnic Area. Make sure to pack your punch as well and settle down with your friends and family for a bite- either before or after visiting some cave systems.

2. Wind Cave National Park

Visit South Dakota for a chance to see the first cave in the world to be preserved as part of a national park with your own eyes, the Wind Cave National Park. Established in 1903, the cave was originally discovered by Europeans in 1881. However, it’s also believed to have been referenced in Lakota Sioux folklore well before that.

Named after the cave’s continual atmospheric pressure breathing, it is recognized as the world’s densest cave systems. Unsurprisingly, with 140 miles of chartered passageways under its belt!

Two of the better-known attractions are the Post Office and Elks Room formations, but this region has more to offer than just caverns! Make sure to go for a walk above ground as well so you can feast your eyes on the nation’s largest preserved mixed-grass prairie region. Here you can go down various trails and even visit the nearby Black Hills, so make sure you leave enough room in your itinerary for countless discoveries.

3. Antelope Canyon

People all over the world have systematically named Antelope Canyon the most stunning canyon in the world. The fames shapes and colors were formed as a result of Navajo sandstone erosion due to flash flooding- which you might not be aware are still experienced today. In 2006, for example, the area was closed to the public for five months due to flash flooding.

Divided into two regions, Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, or The Crash and The Corkscrew, this is a particularly stunning area you should take your family to. In order to visit the caves, you’ll need to book guided tours, which have been available since 1997. Keep in mind that you’ll experience foot access and path limitations, but make sure to bring a camera along as these are extremely popular spots to snap a few pictures!

If you’re looking for easier access then you should make sure to visit Upper Antelope Canyon. You won’t need to climb anything due to its ease of access at ground level.

4. Blanchard Springs Caverns

Here’s something we bet you didn’t know! The Blanchard Springs Caverns are the only public caves owned by the U.S. government outside of the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.

Located within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, they’re known as Arkansas; largest caves by volume and second largest by length. To put it simply, you’ll have a lot to visit!

Start off by Mountain View from which you can access the three-level cave system. This system is open to the public for guided tours- in this case, you’ll have several options to pick from as there are several tour routes. The Dripstone Trail, for example, explores the upper levels. Alternatively, through the Discovery Trail you can access a 1.2-mile stretch of the lower levels, where you can descend 366 feet below the ground to reach the Rimstone Dams, the Natural Entrance, and the Ghost Room.

Finally, there’s the Wild Cave Tour that will bring you alone less developed sites within the caverns!

5. Fantastic Caverns

Discovered in 1862 by John Knox, the Fantastic Caverns truly live up to their name. They also had the fortune to be discovered by someone who recognized the damage the American Civil War could have on the cave systems. In order to prevent the caverns to be mined for saltpeter, Knox kept their discovery hidden at first.

Since then, the Fantastic Caverns have gone through a lot of changes, from a Prohibition-era speakeasy to a popular Branson-area attraction cave with guided tours to a music concert venue for shows broadcast on KGBX, a local radio station.

And though those things aren’t available anymore nowadays, you can still experience a one-of-a-kind trip! The Fantastic Caverns are the only caves that offer ride-through tours in North America. For 55 minutes, you’ll ride a Jeep that follows the path from a forever river.

Unconvinced? You should also know that more than 100,000 people visit the cave every year- and 100,000 people can’t be wrong! Also, the cave is kept at a year-round temperature of 60 degree Fahrenheit so you could either take a break from the heat or from the cold depending on when you decide to visit.

6. Niagara Cave

Do not confuse this with Niagara falls! In fact, Niagara Cave is located in Harmony, Minnesota.

Originally discovered in 1924 by pig farmers, it’s still known as one of the largest caves in the American Midwest today. Most surprising of all, you’ll find a 60-foot waterfall inside on top of calcite and limestone formations- the bread and butter of any cave system.

But watch out, you can only visit through April and November! Make sure to book an hour-long guided tour in advance! We also strongly suggest you bring your family, as the cave is also home to several family attractions. There’s a gemstone mining attraction and a miniature golf course too!

Since 2015, it has also been known as the world’s first zero-emission show cave!

7. Jewel Cave

The Jewel Cave National Monument was created in 1908. Located just 13 miles from Custer, South Dakota you’ll find its centerpiece, Jewel Cave.

Behind Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave system and Mexico’s Sistema Sac Actun, Jewel Cave is the third-longest known cave in the world, so there’s plenty to be seen here. Chartered passageways cover 192 miles but experts say that only 5% of the cave’s volume has been discovered.

Since 1939, guided tours have been offered to the public. Nowadays you have three to pick from. There’s a historic candlelight tour, a wild caving tour if you’re brave enough to visit the more underdeveloped regions, and a scenic half-mile lighted loop tour!

8. Lava Beds National Monument

The Lava Beds National Monument is truly a sight to behold, showcasing 73 square miles of archeological sites and important lava flow. This region is also tied fo the region’s indigenous Modoc people, known as one of the longest continually-occupied regions in North America.

With more than 700 caves, indigenous rock art sites and historic battlefields, Lava Beds National Monument is basically the perfect vacation destination for pretty much everyone.

In terms of caves, you can visit the Mushpot Cave, Lava Brook, Thunderbolt, Golden Dome, Indian Well, and Catacombs Caves, but keep in mind that Mushpot Cave is the only lighted cave in the entirety of the park.
Here you’ll also see formations that you won’t come across elsewhere, known as Lavacicles, where viscous lava dripped as it cooled.

Make sure to also stop by the visitor’s center if you want access to more cave and archeological sites!

9. Mammoth Cave National Park

You’ve definitely heard of Mammoth Cave National Park before. It’s a UNESCO world heritage site that preserves significant portions of the cave system on top of being known as the largest known cave system in the world.

Snapping more than 400 miles of charted passageways, you’ll have to book several days if you want to visit as much of it as possible during your trip. It was previously used as an indigenous burial site and has had cultural significance spanning more than 6,000 years before the European settlers arrived in North America.

The cave is open to the public for guided tours where you’ll visit features such as Fat Man’s Misery, Frozen Niagara, and Grand Avenue.

To top it all off, the cave has also served as inspiration for several internationally-recognized cultural works such as rock band Guided by Voices’ eponymous 1990 song Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick. Who knows, if you’re an artist you might find your muse in Mammoth Cave!

10. Ohio Caverns

Finally on our list are the Ohio Caverns, located nearby Dayton. Known as the state’s largest cave system, the cave was discovered by Robert Noffsinger in 1897. Later that year it was opened to the public and since then, the Ohio Caverns have been known as the most colorful save systems in America.

Here you’ll find breathtaking, active stalactite and stalagmite formations. Pick one or more several guided tours to take you all the way to Old Town Pump, Sunken City, Fantasy Land, and finally Crystal King, known as the state’s largest free-hanging stalactite.

Here you’ll also find The Good Luck Crystal, a formation that has been permanently stained after every visitor touched it for good luck. After the staff started noticing the brown stain on the 3ft formation, a no-touching rule was implemented in 1926. I suppose you’re going to have to find your luck elsewhere!