10 Amazing Caves in New York (From Popular Spots to Hidden Treasures)

New York is a beautiful state with a lot to see. If you’re looking for something other than New York City, you should try visiting one of the state’s many caves. Follow along to discover 10 amazing caves in New York and where to find them.

1. Howe Caverns

The first New York cave on our list is the Howe Caverns. It’s one of the most popular in the state. Howe Caverns is in Schoharie County, New York. It’s a popular cave and tourist spot perfect for people who’ve never explored a cave. This natural attraction is named after Lester Howe. Lester Howe discovered this cave on May 22, 1842, out of chance and curiosity. The year after this cave was discovered, Howe opened it to the public with guided tours. It closed for a short while until it reopened in May 1929 with new amenities.

The Howe Caverns has a constant temperature of 52 °F. Guides recommend bringing a light sweater. The caverns are a great way to adventure and beat the summer heat. Interestingly, this amazing cave is the second most visited natural landmark in the state of New York. Currently, you can purchase a ticket to tour Howe Caverns. The tour takes about 90 minutes. It’s a walking tour with a boat ride.

2. Lockport Cave

The next amazing cave in New York is the Lockport Cave. This underground cave is in Lockport, New York, about a thirty-minute drive from Niagara Falls or Buffalo. Lockport Cave is technically two caves with the same name and only one entrance. One of the caves was naturally formed over time, while the other was constructed in the 19th century.

The Lockport Cave is open for walking and boat tours. One of the most popular tours within the cave is the Haunted Cave Lantern Tour. The tour starts in Downtown Lockport and is about an hour long. To reach the cave, visitors must walk down 70 stairs with 3 landings. The cave is not accessible.

3. Clarksville Cave

Clarksville Cave is one of the most-visited caves in the Northeast. The cave has three entrances and about 4800 feet of passage. This natural karst cave was first discovered in the early 1800s. It’s located in Albany County. Clarksville Cave is open daily from 7 AM to 11 PM. Although considered a great beginner cave, always enter with caution and never alone. If you’re thinking of visiting this cave, don’t forget to pack knee pads, hiking shoes, a headlamp, gloves, and a helmet.

4. Natural Stone Bridge And Caves

Next on our list of amazing caves in New York is the Natural Stone Bridge And Caves in Warren County. These amazing caves are family-owned and open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. The last ticket entry is at 4:30 p.m. The cave entrance is on Trout Brook. It’s the largest marble cave entrance in the eastern U.S.. While visiting, there are several options to explore the caves and hike. The first option is to take the self-guided cave tour. This stunning tour is about 0.75 miles long and takes nearly an hour to complete. On the trail, there are 500 stairs of irregular rock. Hiking boots are recommended as the trails can feel slippery. While admiring ancient Adirondack geology on the trail, you can also see the old Sawmill Site Waterfalls.

If you’re looking for a more intense tour, you can book a one-of-a-kind adventure tour that runs for 3 to 4 hours. On this tour, you are guided through the cave and need to crawl.

5. Sellecks Karst Preserve

Have you ever heard of the Sellecks Karst Preserve? The Sellecks Karst Preserve is a large preserve with four known caves in Schoharie County. The preserve sits on about 15 acres of land. It’s owned by the Northeastern Cave Conservancy Inc. You can find the Sellecks Karst Preserve off of Kniskern Road in the town of Carlisle. These four caves are true hidden gems, best for more experienced cave explorers. The largest of the caves is Selleck’s Cave, with about 1,000 feet of passage. Although not as large, Cave 575 is just as impressive. This cave is known for its astonishing display of fossils in the walls. To explore these caves, you need to visit with a group of 3 or more people. You also need to pack a helmet with a chinstrap and three sources of light. One of these sources needs to be strapped to your helmet.

6. Ellenville Fault Ice Caves at Sam’s Point Preserve

Ice Caves are so interesting to look at. If you like caves and want to explore more in New York, you won’t want to miss the Ellenville Fault Ice Caves at Sam’s Point Preserve. These caves are within Minnewaska State Park Preserve. In winter, the Ellenville Fault Ice Caves freeze and form stunning ice formations. Some of the cave’s passages are narrow and dark, so it’s best to go with another person and bring a light. Although many people visit these ice caves in winter for the snow and ice formation in the cave’s crevices, it’s still a delight throughout the year. The trail through the caves is about 3.79 miles and takes between 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. 

7. Onesquethaw Cave

Another amazing cave in New York is Onesquethaw Cave. This cave is a hidden gem, best for more experienced cave explorers. It’s the second longest known cave in Albany County with about 1 mile of mapped passage. Currently, the Northeastern Cave Conservancy (NCC) owns this cave system. To visit, you need written permission as it can be dangerous due to flooding. This is common when there is a lot of rainfall. Sometimes, the rainfall is so much that the entrance of the cave floods. To enter the cave, you need permission and a group of at least three people. It’s also important you leave no trace behind to preserve these beautiful caves.

8. Bentleys Cave Preserve

Bentley’s Cave Preserve is a delight to explore. This cave preserve is in Berlin, New York. The preserve sits on about 5 acres of land and includes many caves. The most iconic cave though is Bentley’s Cavern. It has about 1000 feet of passage. This passage requires a lot of work and crawling. There are many tight spaces within the cave. The cave’s entrance is on the edge of a small cliff. Like the previous cave, a group of at least three people are required to enter. Bentley’s Cave has a long history. It was first discovered in 1769 by Caleb Bentley who owned the land. It remained in the family until they donated it in 2009 to the Northeast Cave Conservancy.

9. Inwood Hill Indian Caves

Next on our list of amazing caves in New York is the Inwood Hill Indian Caves in New York City. These caves were created about 30,000 years ago and were used by the Lenape people, long before European settlers. The caves are on a hillside with a small entrance. When Alexander Chenowith stumbled across the caves, he also found Native American artifacts like pots and axes.

10. Knox Cave

Last but not least is the Knox Cave. Knox Cave is a cave near Knox, New York in Albany County. Like others on this list, the Northeastern Cave Conservancy (NCC) owns the Knox Cave Preserve. Within this preserve are two caves. The most well-known cave on the preserve is the Knox Cave. This cave was previously open to the public in the 20th century and was a large tourist attraction. Knox Cave has about 4,000 feet of passage. In two sections, visitors need to climb with a rope.