How to Try Spelunking

Cave exploration is a recreational activity that offers participants physical challenges, new places to explore and the opportunity to get really dirty while crawling around in the dark.
The first organized group of cave explorers called themselves spelunkers. This term is commonly used to describe the sport of cave exploration. But once you become involved in the sport, you'll learn spelunking is the term used for inexperienced cave explorers, while those with experience refer to themselves as cavers.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Join a group. Spelunking is not an individual sport. It takes teamwork and cooperation to safely go underground into dark caverns and find your way back out. Not only can you be hurt or lost, but you can also damage a cave. Find an experienced caver or cave exploration organization that will train you with the proper techniques. The National Speleological Society (see Resources below) is comprised of 12,000 members and over 200 local organizations that are dedicated to cave exploration, cave preservation and cave conservation. The caving organizations are called Grottos.

2. Contact a local grotto to arrange a cave exploration opportunity. The NSS website lists grottos all over the country.

3. Check the parks. Many national parks that feature caves also offer organized Wild Cave Tours. All you have to do is make a reservation and you can be on your way to your first spelunking experience (see Resources below). Some national parks that offer Wild Cave Tours include: Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky), Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota), Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park (California), Carlsbad Cavern National Park (New Mexico), Great Basin National Park (Nevada) and Oregon Caves (Oregon).

Tips & Warnings

• Do not try caving without proper training.

Resources

• Intro to Caving website
• National Speleological Society
• National Park Service homepage for parks offering tours