NCS Guide to Responsible Caving

Protecting Nevada's Cave Resources

Caves and Nevada's Water Supply

In Nevada's basin-and-range terrain, karst groundwater systems are a critical source of drinking water for rural communities, ranches, and wildlife. Water entering sinkholes and stream sinks in Nevada often travels rapidly through underground conduits to emerge at springs — sometimes miles away — with little or no filtration. Contaminants introduced into these systems can travel far and persist for long periods.

Never dump any waste — trash, human waste, motor fluids, agricultural chemicals, or animal carcasses — into sinkholes or cave entrances. Even seemingly innocuous items can introduce pathogens and chemicals into drinking water systems that serve people and livestock downstream. Report illegal dumping in or near cave entrances to the appropriate land management agency.

Archaeology and Paleontology

Nevada's caves have served as shelters, burial sites, and ceremonial locations for Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The dry, stable conditions of many Nevada caves preserve organic materials — basketry, cordage, wooden tools, animal bone, human remains — that would decompose rapidly on the surface. Many Nevada caves contain materials of extraordinary scientific and cultural significance, some of it still undocumented.

Gypsum Cave near Las Vegas — one of Nevada's most archaeologically significant caves — contained remains of Shasta ground sloths, an extinct species of stilt-legged horse, and evidence of human habitation dating to approximately 3000 BC. It stands as a reminder of what Nevada's caves contain and what is at stake when they are not protected.

Under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), disturbing, removing, or damaging archaeological and cultural materials in caves on federal land is a serious federal crime. The same protections apply to paleontological resources — fossils of Pleistocene megafauna (ground sloths, mammoths, horses, and camels) have been recovered from Nevada caves and deserve equal protection.

If you encounter archaeological or paleontological materials in a Nevada cave — even fragmentary bone, charcoal, or worked stone — do not touch or move them. Document their location with GPS coordinates and photographs and report the find to the land management agency responsible for that cave. Photograph, do not collect.

Vandalism and Nevada Law

Nevada law, along with the federal Cave Resources Protection Act (CRPA) applicable on federal lands, prohibits damaging, altering, or removing any natural, cultural, or biological resource from a cave. This includes breaking or collecting speleothems — even fragments already on the floor. Purchasing speleothems from any source encourages further destruction.

Graffiti in caves is both illegal and permanent. Paint, carbide residue, charcoal marks, and inscriptions damage irreplaceable surfaces and cannot be fully removed. The Nevada Cave Survey actively supports prosecution of cave vandals and participates in cave restoration projects — including graffiti abatement — across the state.

If you witness vandalism in a Nevada cave, document it with photographs, record the location, and report it to the responsible land management agency (BLM, USFS, NPS, or Nevada State Parks) and to the Nevada Cave Survey.

Do Not Share Cave Locations

The Nevada Cave Survey has a strict policy prohibiting the sharing of cave locations, GPS coordinates, access directions, or any other information that could enable someone to find a specific cave. This is not a preference — it is a firm rule, and it exists for serious reasons. Nevada's caves are fragile beyond what most people appreciate. A single influx of unprepared visitors can break formations that took tens of thousands of years to grow, disturb bat colonies that may not survive the disruption, contaminate water sources used by downstream communities, and introduce pathogens or invasive organisms into ecosystems with no natural defenses. Some cave-obligate species in Nevada exist in only one cave on Earth. The damage from a single poorly planned visit is often permanent and irreversible.

Beyond ecological harm, broadcasting cave locations creates legal and access problems that affect everyone. When land managers see evidence of misuse — trampled formations, waste, vandalism, rescue callouts — they close caves. Closures are difficult to reverse and remove access for responsible cavers and scientists for years or decades. Landowners who discover that their property coordinates have been posted online routinely revoke access permanently.

Social media, geocaching platforms, hiking apps, and casual conversation are all vectors through which well-intentioned people have caused serious harm to Nevada's caves. A post that seems harmless — a photo with a recognizable entrance, a vague mention of a canyon or range — can be enough for determined searchers to locate a cave. Once that information is public, it cannot be recalled.

Do not post cave photos that reveal locations or identifying landmarks. Do not share GPS coordinates, waypoints, or driving directions to caves with anyone outside of organized, vetted caving groups. Do not place caves on maps, geocaching listings, or any publicly accessible platform. If someone asks you for directions to a specific cave, the answer is no — regardless of how experienced or trustworthy they seem. Direct them to the Nevada Cave Survey to pursue proper channels. The caves that are best protected are the caves that most people do not know how to find.

Caving Courtesy in Nevada

Public Land Access

The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Nevada State Parks manage the vast majority of Nevada's public lands, including many significant cave systems. Some public land caves are open for visitation without a permit, but many require advance coordination, a special recreation permit, or a cave-specific key or combination.

Before visiting any cave on public land in Nevada:

Contact the managing field office or ranger district in advance.
Confirm whether a permit, reservation, or gate key is required.
Ask about seasonal closures - bat hibernacula and maternity colonies are often closed for months at a time.
Ask about decontamination requirements for white-nose syndrome prevention.
Allow adequate time for a response - federal and state agencies are often understaffed and may need days or weeks to respond.

Leave No Trace in Nevada's Caves

Nevada's desert cave environments are particularly slow to recover from disturbance. Footprints in muddy cave floors can persist for decades or centuries. Trash decomposes extremely slowly in low-humidity caves. Human waste left underground can persist indefinitely and disrupts cave invertebrate communities.

Carry out everything you bring in, including food wrappers, used batteries, spent carbide, and any trash you find left by previous visitors. Use a sealed human waste container if you will need to relieve yourself underground. Leave the cave and its surroundings cleaner than you found them.

What to Bring

Lighting

Each caver must carry a minimum of three independent light sources. Your primary light should be a high-quality LED headlamp mounted on your helmet, leaving both hands free for climbing and crawling. Secondary and tertiary lights should also be helmet-mountable and capable of serving as a primary if needed. Carry more batteries than you expect to use.

Plan your underground time around your battery supply: turn back when your primary source has consumed no more than one-third of its capacity. The return route often involves more uphill travel and may take longer than the trip in. Never enter a Nevada cave - even a short one - relying on a phone screen or a single light source.

Helmet

A properly fitted helmet is non-negotiable. Choose a helmet rated for rock climbing or caving by the UIAA or CE (European Committee for Standardization). Standard bicycle helmets, hard hats, and bump caps do not provide adequate protection from falling rocks or impact during a fall. Keep the chin strap buckled at all times underground.

Clothing

Nevada's caves vary significantly in temperature and moisture. Desert limestone caves at lower elevations may be relatively warm and dry - but even these require more clothing than the surface temperature suggests, since you will be moving slowly through cool air. Higher-elevation caves in the Snake, Spring, or Ruby mountain ranges can be quite cold, sometimes near or below freezing near cave ice deposits.

General guidance:

Avoid cotton in all but the warmest, driest caves. Cotton retains moisture and accelerates heat loss.
Wear synthetic base layers (polypropylene, polyester) that wick moisture and retain warmth when damp.
A durable outer layer - coveralls or heavy synthetic pants and jacket - protects against abrasion from Nevada's often-sharp limestone and dolomite.
Wear lug-sole boots with ankle support. Athletic shoes do not provide sufficient grip or ankle protection on irregular cave surfaces.
Bring gloves - even thin synthetic gloves protect hands from cuts and scrapes and help preserve formations by keeping skin oils off cave surfaces.
Consider kneepads and elbow pads for caves with significant crawlways.

Essential Gear List

Helmet with three mounted or easily helmet-mounted light sources
Extra batteries for all lights
Gloves (synthetic or rubber)
Sturdy lug-sole boots with ankle support
Durable outer clothing layer (coveralls preferred)
Synthetic base layer
Kneepads and elbow pads (for crawling caves)
Food and water for the expected trip duration, plus extra
Emergency mylar blanket or large heavy-duty plastic bag (hypothermia prevention)
Small lightweight pack of durable synthetic material
Sealed container for human waste
Pencil and waterproof paper
First aid supplies appropriate for the group size
Emergency whistle
GPS device or compass and printed map (no cell service in Nevada backcountry)

Before the Trip

Research the Cave

Nevada's caves vary enormously in difficulty, hazard type, and access requirements. Before visiting any cave, gather as much information as possible from the Nevada Cave Survey, the managing land agency, and experienced cavers who have been there. Understand the cave's layout, known hazards, typical conditions, and any access restrictions. Confirm that the cave and the type of trip you are planning are within your group's collective skill and experience level.

Check Weather and Conditions

Nevada's desert climate can produce conditions that create sudden hazards underground. Flash flooding is a serious risk in karst caves during and after thunderstorms - Nevada's summer monsoon season (July through September) can produce intense, localized rainfall that sends water pouring into cave entrances with little warning. Check weather forecasts carefully before any cave trip, and if there is any chance of significant rainfall in the watershed above or near the cave, postpone the visit.

In winter and early spring, snowmelt can also feed rapid water rise in cave passages. Some Nevada caves that are dry in summer are flooded or inaccessible in spring.

Call Outs

Before every cave trip, designate a reliable contact person on the surface - your "top cover" - and give them detailed written information:

The name of the cave and a general description of the area
The names, contact numbers, and vehicle descriptions of everyone in your group
Your planned entry time and expected return time
The name and phone number of the local cave rescue resource
Clear instructions on what to do, and when, if they do not hear from you

If you exit the cave later than your agreed check-in time, contact your top cover immediately to prevent an unnecessary rescue callout. Cell service is often absent near Nevada's remote caves - plan your communication strategy around this reality.

Cave Rescue in Nevada

Cave rescue is a highly technical operation requiring specialized equipment and trained personnel. The National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) trains rescue teams throughout the country, and Nevada has cavers with NCRC training. Contact the Nevada Cave Survey for current information on the appropriate rescue contact for the region.

When calling for cave rescue in Nevada, dial 911 and clearly state that you need a cave rescue-trained team. Provide a description of the cave location and the access route. Dispatchers in rural Nevada counties may not be familiar with cave rescue protocols; be prepared to be specific about what is needed.

All cavers are encouraged to complete NCRC cave rescue orientation training and a wilderness first aid course before caving in Nevada's remote terrain.

Cave Like a Caver

Teamwork Underground

Responsible caving is a team discipline. Every member of a Nevada caving group shares responsibility for the safety of the entire team and the integrity of the cave. Move together, communicate regularly, and make decisions as a unit. A single person's poor judgment - rushing through a section, ignoring fatigue, dismissing a concern - can endanger the whole group. Travel at the pace of the slowest member. Stop regularly for rest, water, and food. After a difficult section, wait until the next team member arrives before moving on. Offer help without being asked. A minimum group of four cavers is recommended for any serious Nevada cave trip: if one person is injured and cannot self-rescue, two can go for help while one stays with the injured caver. Groups larger than six should divide into smaller teams.

Navigation

As you move through a cave, regularly turn around to study what the passage looks like from the return direction - experienced cavers say that every cave is two caves: the one you see going in and the one you see going out. Memorize landmarks, intersections, and climbs. At any junction where the exit route is not obvious, place a small cairn of loose rocks pointing in the direction of the exit. Use a written note or sketch to track your route in complex cave systems.

If you become lost, stop moving and systematically assess your options. Check each passage methodically, marking explored routes with small rock cairns. If your light is running low and you cannot find the exit, locate the driest, most sheltered spot available and wait for rescue. Stay warm, conserve your light, and make noise when you hear others approaching.

Minimal Impact Movement

Move deliberately and carefully through Nevada's caves. Stay on established trails in heavily visited areas. In less-traveled passages, keep your group to a single path to limit the area of disturbance and establish a natural trail for future visitors. Avoid touching cave walls and formations. Watch where you step - a bootprint in a cave mud bank can outlast a human lifetime.In Nevada's remote caves, human waste must be packed out. There is no acceptable underground disposal option. Bring a sealable waste container appropriate for the length of your trip. Never use a cave passage, pool, or stream as a toilet - human waste disrupts invertebrate food webs, contaminates water sources, and creates conditions that can spread pathogens to future visitors and cave-dwelling organisms.

No Fire, No Smoke

Fire and smoke - including cigarette smoke - pollute cave air, leave permanent soot deposits on formations and walls, and stress cave-dwelling organisms. Do not smoke in caves or near cave entrances. Do not use carbide lamps without following careful collection protocols - used carbide and carbide residue are toxic to cave organisms and must be packed out.

Alertness and Fitness

Fatigue and impairment are leading contributors to caving accidents. Enter every Nevada cave well-rested and clear-headed. Avoid alcohol and any substance that impairs judgment or coordination before or during any cave trip. Tell your trip leader or team members about any medical conditions that might affect you underground. Know your fitness limits - Nevada's cave approaches are often long, hot, and strenuous, and the cave itself may demand additional physical effort. New cavers should begin with short, straightforward trips and build experience progressively.

Hazards

Nevada's caves present real hazards to unprepared visitors. Awareness is your first line of defense - understanding what can go wrong allows you to prevent it. A caving accident in a remote Nevada cave can become a life-threatening situation, not only for the injured caver but for the teammates who must respond and the rescuers who must reach them.

Falls

Falls are among the most common caving accidents. Nevada's limestone caves frequently contain vertical drops, slippery flowstone slopes, and unstable breakdown piles. Move slowly and deliberately. Test each foothold and handhold before committing weight to it. Maintain three points of contact on climbs. Use extra caution near pit edges - cave floors near drops are often polished smooth and may be angled toward the pit. Learn and practice belaying techniques before encountering situations where they are needed.

Rockfall

Caves are not static environments. Nevada's caves contain ceilings and walls that may shed rock with little warning, particularly in areas with fractured limestone or near recent seismic activity. Never position yourself directly below another caver who is climbing. If you dislodge a rock, shout "Rock!" loudly and immediately. If you hear "Rock!", press yourself against a wall, make yourself as narrow as possible, and do not look up.

Flooding

Flash flooding is a serious hazard in Nevada's karst caves, particularly during the summer monsoon season. Water can rise rapidly in cave passages that appear dry and safe. Any sign of rising water - increasing stream noise, debris floating in pools, a musty smell - is cause to immediately exit through the highest available passage to the entrance. If thunderstorms are possible anywhere in the watershed above the cave, do not enter.

Some Nevada caves collect snowmelt at their entrances and can become flooded or icy during winter. Confirm current conditions with the managing agency or recent visitors before entering.

Hypothermia

Even in Nevada's desert climate, hypothermia is a genuine cave hazard. Cave temperatures in the 45–60°F range feel cold when you are wet, tired, or stationary, and hypothermia can develop surprisingly quickly. Dress in synthetic layers, stay as dry as possible, keep moving when you can, and shelter from airflow when resting. Carry an emergency mylar blanket or heavy-duty plastic bag for emergency warmth. Know the signs of hypothermia - uncontrolled shivering, loss of coordination, confusion - and take them seriously in yourself and your teammates.

Getting Stuck

Nevada's limestone caves often contain tight constrictions - passages that appear passable but may trap a caver who has gone in too far. Never force yourself into a passage that feels tight. Enter narrow downslope passages feet-first so you can push out more easily. If you are not sure you can get out, do not go in. Be cautious moving through breakdown piles - shifting boulders can pin limbs or block a passage.

Light Failure

Complete darkness in a cave is total and disorienting. If all three of your light sources fail, do not attempt to move. Sit down in a safe position, stay calm, stay warm, and wait for help. If you are caving in a team with proper equipment, light failure affecting all three sources simultaneously is extremely unlikely - but it reinforces why carrying three independent sources, with extra batteries, is non-negotiable.

Mine vs. Cave

Nevada has thousands of abandoned mine shafts and adits - a legacy of more than 150 years of hard-rock mining. Mines are not caves and should not be treated as such. Abandoned Nevada mines present extreme hazards including bad air (oxygen-deficient or toxic atmospheres), unstable timber supports, open shafts, and explosive and chemical residues. Nevada's abandoned mines kill people every year. Do not enter abandoned mines. If you are uncertain whether an underground opening is a natural cave or a mine working, contact the Nevada Division of Minerals or the NCS for guidance.

Quick Reference

FOR THE CAVE:

Touch nothing: keep hands and boots away from all formations, walls, and mud banks.
Pack out everything you brought in, plus any trash you find.
Carry a sealed human waste container on any serious trip.
No smoking or fires in caves or near entrances.
Leave archaeological, paleontological, and biological materials undisturbed.
Stay on established trails where they exist.
Report vandalism, bat die-offs, and unusual conditions to the NCS and the land management agency.
Follow all bat closure signs and decontamination protocols.
Never share cave locations, coordinates, or directions with anyone.

FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR TEAM:

Train with experienced cavers before venturing into serious Nevada caves.
Check weather - no caving if rain is possible near a karst cave.
File a detailed trip plan with a reliable top cover contact.
Obtain permission or permits before entering any cave.
Carry three independent lights and extra batteries.
Dress for cave temperature in synthetic, not cotton, layers.
Travel at the pace of the slowest team member.
Minimum team of four for serious Nevada cave trips.
Know the cave rescue contact number for the region you are visiting.
Complete NCRC cave rescue orientation and a wilderness first aid course.

NCS Cave Conservation Policy

Core Belief

The Nevada Cave Survey holds that Nevada's cave and karst resources - their geological formations, biological communities, hydrological systems, and cultural heritage - have unique scientific, recreational, and intrinsic value. This value is threatened by both inadvertent damage and deliberate vandalism, and once lost, it cannot be recovered. The responsibility for protecting Nevada's caves belongs to every caver, scientist, land manager, and citizen who benefits from their existence.

Conservation Commitments

The Nevada Cave Survey is committed to:

Documenting and mapping Nevada's caves and karst systems to support conservation and land management.
Monitoring bat populations and cave-obligate species in coordination with Nevada Department of Wildlife and federal agencies.
Participating in and leading cave restoration projects, including graffiti removal and trash cleanup.
Educating landowners, land managers, and the public about the scientific, hydrological, cultural, and ecological significance of Nevada's caves.
Opposing activities that damage or threaten cave resources, including illegal collection, vandalism, improper waste disposal, and reckless public disclosure of sensitive cave locations.
Cooperating with private landowners to provide information about caves on their property and to support responsible stewardship.
Following and promoting rigorous decontamination practices to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome and other cave pathogens.
Maintaining strict control over survey data, sharing it only within vetted scientific and conservation contexts where the conservation risks of disclosure have been carefully weighed.

The Caver's Motto

Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but carefully placed footprints. Kill nothing but time.

Additional Resources

National Speleological Society (NSS) - caves.org | (256) 852-1300 | nss@caves.org

The NSS is the primary national organization for cavers in the United States, with over 10,000 members and more than 250 local chapters (grottos). Join the NSS and a local Nevada grotto to access training, connect with experienced cavers, and support national cave conservation programs.

National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) - caves.org/ncrc

The NCRC offers cave rescue training courses throughout the country. All Nevada cavers are encouraged to complete the NCRC Orientation to Cave Rescue course at minimum.

White-Nose Syndrome Resources usgs.gov | whitenosesyndrome.org

Nevada Land Management Agencies