Discover the Top 9 Best Caves in All of Indiana

If you love the idea of hitting up some caves on your travel adventures, you’ll be glad to know that several beautiful and intriguing caves and caverns exist in Indiana. They may not be the absolute deepest caves in the country, but they’ll still offer you some excitement and educational experiences. So, lace up your walking shoes, grab a jacket, and head out to the best caves in Indiana for visitors to enjoy.

Indiana Caverns

Probably the best-known caverns in the whole state, the Indiana Caverns reside in Corydon, Indiana. These large caverns welcome explorers with a 75-minute tour down 110 feet on a steel walkway and stairs to the underground river. From here, you’ll take a boat to see cave formations, a waterfall, and some of the state’s largest collections of Ice Age bone deposits.

For those looking for something a bit different, additional, longer tours are available. Go for the Deep Darkness Adventure for a 4-hour exploration through the cave system. This involves climbing and crawling until you get to an underground stream. From here, you hop into a kayak and journey on.

You’ll also find the Indiana Caverns Family Adventure Park at the caverns, with activities for all ages. For kids interested in spelunking, the park offers opportunities for a taste. There are rides like the 50-foot quick drop, as well as escape rooms, the Pygmy Goat play area, a 603-foot steel zip coaster, and gem mining.

Marengo Cave

Back in 1883, tours of Marengo Cave began after two schoolchildren exploring a sinkhole discovered the amazing show cave. The landowner found out about the cave and opened it up to the public nearly immediately, charging $0.25 per visit, bringing in a good income for his family.

The cave holds the record for “longest cave” in the state, with nearly 5 miles of known passageway. Two walking tours, along the Crystal Palace and Dripstone Trail, welcome visitors with natural cave formations underground, as well as intriguing features like the Penny Ceiling where thousands of pennies reside. Kids can enjoy “The Crawl” while here, as well, allowing them to feel as though they are discovering the cave themselves. Check out more exciting options at the website for this “most visited” cave in Indiana.

The Marengo Cave has been deemed a US National Landmark, located in Marengo, Indiana. There’s not much else in the area, so the caves have opened up some tourism and excitement in the otherwise quiet town. Even so, the town remains lowkey and lesser known, so it makes for a great spot to enjoy a quiet day away from tourist crowds elsewhere in Indiana.

Bluespring Caverns

Situated near Bedford, Indiana, in the south-central portion of the state, Bluespring Caverns offers incredible experiences for underground adventurers. The cave rests close to the city, with plenty of opportunities all around for an exciting long weekend trip. Inside the caves, the longest subterranean river in the United States flows, with boat tours allowing you to take it easy on the tour. Bats, blind cavefish, crayfish, and other underground critters might be visible on your trip, too, adding a little more excitement.

Enjoy the hour-long boat ride, walking tours, kayak adventures, or even an overnight adventure in the park. Be sure to take the hiking trails through the Bolton Natural Area, as well, and witness the giant sinkhole from another perspective.

The caverns operate between mid-March and the end of October.

Sullivan Cave

For spelunkers and cavers, Sullivan Cave in Springfield, Indiana, makes for the perfect adventure site. The cave rests on 28 acres owned by a non-profit group, the Indiana Karst Conservancy, whose aim is to preserve the state’s karsts.

To explore the cave, you’ll need to apply to the cave patron and comply with the guidelines they’ve created for safety and preservation of the cave.

Wyandotte Cave

Situated in the O’Bannon Woods State Park, in Leavenworth, Indiana, the Wyandotte Caves welcome visitors on two walking tours. One tour caters to folks of all experience levels, while the second invited more experienced explorers to make their way through the bat-inhabited cave formations.

The name “Wyandotte Caves” refers to both Wyandotte Cave and Little Wyandotte Cave (or Siberts Cave). The pair of limestone caves, situated on the Ohio River, were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972 and have remained a popular attraction since. The Wyandotte Caves system holds the title of the fifth-largest cave system in Indiana.

The caves were closed for eight years but recently reopened again after the bat population was eradicated of the dangerous white-nose syndrome. The tours are lesser-known of late because of this long closure, so you likely won’t find quite as many people here as in other locales.

Squire Boone Caverns

Named for its discoverer in 1790, Squire Boone Caverns have become known for their exquisite beauty and natural splendor. Wind your way down a staircase to see the underground streams, waterfalls, and rock formations. The most popular is the Rock of Ages, a 35-foot fall flowstone.

You’ll also find something else unique here: the tomb of Squire Boone himself. The brother of Daniel Boone, Squire, requested to be buried here after he passed. Legend has it that he discovered the caverns under hostile attack and felt an immediate admiration for the beauty of the caverns during his time of hiding.

Hike through the cave on one of the tours for a reasonable price and feed the animals at the barnyard, or try your hand at the gem mining sluice.

Twin Caves

Located within the bounds of Spring Mill State Park, the Twin Caves welcome visitors during the summer into mid-October. Take a boat tour through the caves or walk the dry side of Donaldson Cave via a hiking trail #3.

You can enjoy the relaxed tour on boats from Memorial Day to mid-July daily or on weekends the rest of the season into October. You might spot the unusual blind cavefish or other unique cave-dwelling animals while inside. The tours are inexpensive and accessible for most, save children under 3 years of age. You may also register for self-guided tours through the Indiana Karst Conservancy.

In the park, other exciting opportunities exist, as well, including a working pioneer village with a grist mill powered by the cave springs. You’ll find a blacksmith shop, tavern, sawmill, hoes, gardens, and schoolhouse, among others. If you feel like it, rent a kayak or canoe to explore on your own.

Wolf Cave

Situated in McCormick Creek State Park, Wolf Cave rests along Trail #5. The caves contain many passages, formed by the water erosion of limestone within. An underwater stream still exists and continues carving its way through the cave.

The cave has no official tours. Rather, you get to explore the landmark on your own, so be careful to plan for safety and care. You’ll also want to note that getting in and out of the cave is a tight squeeze and can be quite uncomfortable for some. Once inside the cave, though, you may witness canyons and waterfalls.

Suicide Cave

The name is more intimidating than it needs to be for Suicide Cave. Legend has it that a moonshiner committed suicide in the cave, earning the landmark its name. However, locals suggest it’s a great place for beginner spelunkers.

You’ll find Suicide Cave near Salem, Indiana.

Summary Of The 9 Caves In Indiana