Caving in the Silver State

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    Nevada is home to an extraordinary variety of caves — ancient limestone and gypsum caverns carved beneath desert mountain ranges, tucked into remote basin-and-range terrain. These underground spaces are among the most pristine and least-visited wild places remaining in the American West.

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     Caving in Nevada can be deeply rewarding. With the right training, equipment, and mindset, exploring these underground environments is safe, adventurous, and can be scientifically valuable. But responsible caving is about far more than personal skill: it requires genuine respect for the cave ecosystem, the wildlife within it, the landowners and agencies who steward access, and the fellow cavers who will venture underground after you.

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    The Nevada Cave Survey (NCS) was established to advance the documentation, study, and conservation of Nevada's cave and karst resources. This guide introduces the principles of responsible caving as they apply specifically to Nevada — its unique geology, its desert-adapted cave fauna, its critical bat populations, its water resources, and its cultural and archaeological heritage.

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    Whether you are new to caving or an experienced explorer venturing into the Silver State for the first time, we hope this guide serves as a useful companion. Read it, share it, and — most importantly — put it into practice every time you go underground.

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    Nevada's caves belong to all of us. Let us take care of them.

    — The Nevada Cave Survey

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Going Caving in Nevada

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    Responsible caving is the foundation of everything the Nevada Cave Survey stands for. It protects the cave environment, preserves access for future generations, and ensures that every trip underground is a safe one. Nevada's caves are extraordinary resources — but they are also fragile and finite. The decisions you make on every trip have lasting consequences.

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​    This guide covers how to care for the cave, yourself, and the people you cave with. It is not a substitute for hands-on training alongside experienced cavers, but it is the starting point for building good habits.

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What to Expect:

 

    Nevada's caves are as diverse as its landscape. Some are dry, dusty passages carved into limestone. Others are cool, moist grottos tucked beneath some of the 314 mountain ranges within the state. What they share is a demanding environment: tight squeezes, uneven footing, cold temperatures, and complete darkness the moment your light fails. Caving in Nevada frequently means remote locations with no cell service, long drives on unpaved roads, and significant elevation gain to reach the entrance. Prepare accordingly. The rewards — extraordinary geology, rare wildlife, silence, and a profound sense of discovery — are well worth the effort for those who are properly prepared.

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Who Visits Caves?

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    Cavers explore caves for adventure, scientific research, survey and mapping, photography,

conservation work, and the simple joy of discovering places few people have ever seen. The term "spelunker" is sometimes used by non-cavers, but most underground explorers prefer to be called cavers. Those who conduct scientific research on caves are speleologists.

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    In Nevada, cavers contribute to cave mapping, bat population monitoring, water quality research, biological surveys, and archaeological documentation — all of which support land management decisions across the state.

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About Nevada’s Caves, Formations, and Ecosystems

Caving Procedures, Preparation, and Conservation

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