A demanding stream cave near Bloomington and one of Indiana's longest, with over 4.25 miles of surveyed passage (8th-longest in the state). It's best known for a roughly 1,250-foot crawlway - much of it belly crawl - that leads to a stream and large junction rooms beyond.
- Type
- Wild cave
- Orientation
- Horizontal
- Passage
- Tight
- County
- Monroe County
Entrance
Near the entrance, 'Old Wayne' is large walking passage; the real challenge is the long crawlway ahead, with notorious squeezes like the 'Why-the-Hell Squeeze' and 'Stalactite Squeeze'.
Hazards
- A long (~1,250 ft) belly-crawl that is physically exhausting
- Cold stream passage beyond the crawlway - hypothermia risk
- Tight squeezes; not for the claustrophobic
- Prior caving experience strongly recommended
Gear
Helmet and headlamp with multiple backups, knee and elbow pads, synthetics (never cotton), and food/water for a long trip.
Geology
A long limestone stream cave; the downstream passage reaches a major junction ('Camp One') with further passages and camp areas.
Access
An Indiana Karst Conservancy preserve. You need a signed IKC liability waiver on file and must contact the cave patron / grotto liaison for permission and gate keys - request about two weeks ahead. The patron may refuse access.
- OwnershipPrivate
- Permit requiredNo
- Permission requiredYes
Conservation
Protected as an IKC nature preserve. Tread carefully through the crawlway and respect any bat-protection closures.
More caves in Monroe County
Caving responsibly
Most wild caves are reached through the local caving community, not by showing up — joining a grotto gets you training, gear advice, a conservation ethic, and, in time, cave locations.
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