11 Fascinating Caves in Illinois You Can Explore [Update 2024] (2024)

Are you a fan of Batman movies or comics? Or do bats intrigue you? If either one of these things is true, then you are most likely fascinated with caves. Although caves are viewed as these terrifying, secluded dark places, they are so much more than that.

There are caves in Illinois that are part of historic landmarks, parks or natural reserves, which have been turned into tourist attractions. These caves offer a number of natural amenities, and are popular among people who love an adventure.

To satisfy your curiosity, here is a list of the most fascinating caves in Illinois.

1. Cave-in-Rock

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11 Fascinating Caves in Illinois You Can Explore [Update 2024] (1)

The main attraction intheCave-in-Rock State Park is thecave inside a sandstone cliff. This cave has a fascinating past since the Native Americans lived there for almost one thousand years. Additionally,thugs, pirates, exilesand thieves exploited this cavefor criminal acts throughoutthe 18th century.

2. Ox Lot Cave

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TheOx Lot Cave is an overhead refuge wheresettlers from Europeand Native Americans used tofrequently keeptheir animals. The route to this cave is through a2.3-mile scenic trail called theRim Rock Recreational Trail.

Recreationalfacilities including picnic tables and pedestal barbecues areaccessible here, which is why picnicking is one of its most popular features.

3. Indian Caves

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Visit the Indian Caves in Illinois if you’re looking for a thrilling but challenging experience. These are a collection of little caverns on the Kankakee River in the town of Bourbonnais. The Indian Cavesare best suited for seasoned urban explorers since one must navigate through their small canyons while avoiding slick rocks.

Check out these amazing bike trails in Illinois.

4. St. Louis Canyon Cave

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Louis Canyon’s granite boulders have a small cave cut out of them as a result of degradation over time. To see this cave, visitors must travel a mile-long route in Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. Moreover, guests can also access stunning waterfalls that are close to the St. Louis Canyon Cave. Alongside waterfalls, there are also canyons nearby.

5. Stemler Cave

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This is a cave that is situated in Stemler Cave Woods Nature Preserve, a natural preserve and park in Colombia, Illinois. This cave is perfect for those who are looking for a nice walk in a secluded, but intriguing area.

6. Devil’s Cave

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Red Oak Nature Center is famed for having scenic trails and a small-mouth cave along with many other natural features. The cave, Devil’s Cave, is a big tourist attraction in this park and also inhabits animal life inside it, including different species of bats. Besides caves, this rustic park, the Red Oak Nature Center, is home to trails and campsites, giving you a complete experience.

Have a look at these awe-inspiring hiking trails in Illinois.

7. Sand Cave

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Sand Cave is a large-mouth cave in a secluded area that is perfect for camping or trekking. The cave is located in a designated historic landmark in Simpson, Illinois. Sand Cave is one of the most spacious caves in the state, so if you are looking for a cave with a massive entrance and space inside, then this is the cave for you to visit.

8. Rock Cave

Rock Cave is a unique cave situated inside Rock Cave Natural Preserve. It is a very popular natural preserve where people can go hiking and walking inside the cave. Ravine forests, streams and amazing rock formations are found around this cave in Altamont, Illinois.

9. Blackball Mine Cave

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Blackball Mine CaveinIllinois is part of the Pecumsaugan Creek Blackball Mines Nature Preserve and was once used formarble mining. Interestingly,5different species of batscurrently use this caveas a site to hibernate, including the nearly extinct Indiana Bat.

Blackball Mine Cavealso has quite a few restrictions that visitors must abide by, for the safety of these bats and the guests themselves.

10. Illinois Caverns

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Renowned for being the second-largest cave in Illinois,Illinois Caverns is situatedinsideanatural reserve in Waterloo.Touring thiscaverntakes a long time, which featurestiring walks acrossankle-deep streams. But the crystallites, rock formations, flow stonesand soda streamers that cover thesecave walls will leave you in completeawe. Also, don’t forget to pack additional clothing.

11. Fogelpole Cave

Fogelpole Cave is situated inside a natural preserve area known as the Fogelpole Cave Nature Preserve in Prairie Du Rocher town. This is one of Illinois’s biggest and most peacefulcaves that supports a wide range of bat species. The nearly extinct and highly popular Indiana Bat also lives inside this cave.

Choose the cave you want to visit in Illinois from this list based on what preferences you have. If you like caves with stunning waterfalls nearby, then St. Louis Canyon Cave is the obvious choice. However, if you want to visit a spacious cave with a large entrance, then Sand Cave is the best option for you.

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11 Fascinating Caves in Illinois You Can Explore [Update 2024] (2024)

FAQs

Why did Illinois Caverns close? ›

Illinois Caverns, along with all IDNR-managed caves in Illinois, were closed in 2010 as a precaution again the spread of White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a fatal disease which affects certain types of cave-dwelling bats.

How long does it take to tour Meramec Caverns? ›

The Cavern Tour takes one hour and twenty minutes to complete, covering 1 ¼ mile round trip along well-lighted walkways. On the tour, you will see both the rarest and largest cave formations in the world.

Are there any Caverns in Monroe County Illinois? ›

Illinois Caverns is a state natural area in the New Design Precinct of Monroe County, Illinois. It features Illinois Caverns which is alternatively known as Mammoth Cave of Illinois (also Burksville Cave, Egyptian Cave, Eckert Cave).

Why are the Forbidden Caverns called forbidden? ›

History of the Forbidden Caverns near Gatlinburg

This group of Native Americans used the cave as shelter during harsh winters. The name of the caverns comes from an old Indian legend of an Indian princess that got lost forever in the forbidden hollow mountain of the two streams.

What is the largest cave opening in the United States? ›

Welcome to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the world's longest known cave system, brimming with 426 miles of surveyed passageways that twist and turn into the depths of the Earth.

Which is better, fantastic caverns or meramec caverns? ›

Fantastic Caverns is a ride through. Meramec Caverns is a lot tighter spaces and more personal. They each have a different history. Mermec had Jesse James and TV shows.

Why are Meramec caverns closed? ›

Pictured above: Jo Schaper. All photos courtesy Jo Schaper. Meramec Caverns is closed due to environmental contamination of a substance called TCE, a chemical used in automotive parts manufacturing and cleaning. But how did the popular Missouri show cave become contaminated with TCE in the first place?

Why do people visit the Meramec caves? ›

Beneath the fertile rolling hills of the Meramec Valley, lies a complex of mineral formations and color as rare and unique as they are beautiful. These jewels of nature which took thousands of years to grow, are preserved in the spectacular sights of Meramec Caverns.

What is the largest cave in the Midwest? ›

Another world lives beneath Kentucky. Planning a Visit? Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored, and one of the oldest tour attractions in North America.

What state has the best caves? ›

With almost 10,000 caves, Tennessee is home to more explorable caves than any other in the United States. This is about 20% of all the caves in the country. The caves in this state come with incredible diversity and have unique resources, including habitats for cave-adapted wildlife.

Where is the cave in cave of rock, Illinois? ›

At Cave-In-Rock in southern Illinois, atop the high bluffs overlooking the scenic Ohio River, the heavily wooded park is named for the 55-foot-wide cave that was carved out of the limestone rock by water thousands of years ago.

Why is it called Moaning caverns? ›

A necklace, displayed at our visitor center, was found in a clay layer and is estimated to be over 8,000 years old! Our name comes from the moaning sounds that echoed out of the cave. Miners may have heard that sound when they came to this area in large numbers during the late 1840s.

Is Tongue River Cave open? ›

Access to Tongue River Cave is now open to individuals that register and obtain the lock passcode, which will change frequently. Registration can be done through the Bighorn National Forest website by selecting recreation then cave registration in quick links, https://www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn.

What county has the most caves? ›

It is a well-known fact that Jackson County Alabama has more caves per square mile than any county in America – 3,536 charted caves. And more caves are being discovered every year.

Why were the caves closed to the public? ›

The Lascaux caves are closed to the public because the amount of visitors contaminated the paintings. The high number of people entering the caves caused an increase in temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels, which led to the growth of fungi and bacteria that damaged the paintings.

Why did they close Lookout Mountain cave? ›

This access resulted in the discovery of new passages since Thomas C. Barr Jr.'s description was published in 1961. Barr's 1961 discussion of the cave says that the cave was intersected by a railway tunnel, and thus the cave accumulated soot that led to its closing to tourists.

Why is the Crystal Cave closed to the public? ›

The Sequoia Parks Conservancy announced that Crystal Cave will continue to be closed for the 2024 season due to the damage sustained to the road, trail and visitor facilities during the 2021 KNP Complex wildfires and the extreme winter weather in early 2023.

Why did Louisville Mega Cavern close? ›

It is standard procedure that the Louisville Mega Cavern closes as the result of detected seismic activity or "natural events." The cavern was already closed and inspectors were en route when the zoo notified cavern officials of the sinkhole.

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