6 Caving Adventures In Colorado, USA

1. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

A great mix of thrill and exploration await visitors at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. The Park, once known as Fairy Cave, was opened to the public in 1999 by landowners Steve and Jeanne Beckley. They also added an amusement park, which has since been expanded and enhanced significantly. It is America’s only mountaintop theme park, having been built at an elevation of 7,100 feet (2160 meters) of elevation. Cave explorers (spelunkers) and curious tourists can take multiple tours at the caves, including the Historic Fairy Cave Tour, the Kings Row Tour, and the Wild Caves Tour. The last of these tours is open by reservation only and is suited for experienced spelunkers rather than beginners. The cave is known to have 3 miles (4.8 km) of passageway currently although experts believe that the cave has much more - around 10 miles (16 km) in total.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Address: 51000 Two Rivers Plaza Road, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601, United States

Website: Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Opening hours: Sun & Mon: 10am - 5pm; Fri & Sat: 10am - 9pm (closed from Tue - Thu)

2. Fulford Cave

Located in the White River National Forest, the Fulford Cave was discovered in the late 1800s by adventurers. It has since become a popular location for beginner and experienced spelunkers alike. The cave is believed to have been formed by melting glaciers and features a mesmerizing cavernous ceiling along with a flowing creek underground. Proper gear and a map are a must while exploring this cave, but the journey is definitely worth the work. Explorers need to register with the Forest Service to be able to explore a cave - a move that was made to protect the local bat population. There is a campground close to the cave, which acts as a basecamp. Fulford Cave is closed from October 15th to April 15th every year so a visit in the spring and summer is advised.

Fulford Cave

Address: Forest Rd 415, Basalt, CO 81621, United States

Website: United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

3. Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

Cave of the Winds Mountain Park is located in Manitou Springs and it is one of the oldest continuing attractions in Colorado. This cave is steeped in centuries of history and is known to have been a sacred location for Apaches. It was discovered in 1880 and was open to the public a year after. The Cave of the Winds Mountain Park features both the cavernous attraction as well as above-ground entertainment.

Visitors to the Cave of the Winds can choose among three tours - the Discovery Tour, Lantern Tour, and Caving 101 Tour. The Discovery Tour is a family-friendly hour-long tour that allows visitors to walk through 15 rooms in the cave on well-lit concrete paths. Discover the “Manitou Grand Caverns”, during a 90-minute Lantern Tour that sees guests walk through tiny passageways, uneven stairs, small tunnels, and muddy, original floors. Those who are keen on getting a taste of spelunking can opt for the Caving 101 Tour.

Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

Address: 100 Cave of the Winds Rd, Manitou Springs, CO 80829, United States

Website: Cave of the Winds

4. Rifle Mountain Park

Spelunkers that love to explore ice caves can do so in Rifle Mountain Park at certain times of the year. Rifle Mountain Park was created on October 21, 1921, and is located in the northwest section of Colorado. While the park is known for its rock climbing amenities - over 250 bolted climbing routes - and camping sites, there is a unique attraction open to experienced spelunkers. Every year as the falls freeze over, explorers can move through caves whose floor and walls are covered in mesmerizing, crystalline blue ice. These stunning caves give spelunkers the chance to walk behind two frozen waterfalls. There are 2 main ice caves, named as the Ice Palace (Lower Cave) and the Final Curtain (Upper Cave), located along the Koper’s Trail.

Rifle Mountain Park

Address: 13885 Co Rd 217, Rifle, CO 81650, United States

Website: The City of Rifle Colorado

5. Yampah Vapor Caves

Want a cave experience that is relaxing, leisurely and perfect for all types of visitors? Then Yampah Vapor Caves is your answer. Located at a mountain getaway in Glenwood Springs, this is the best place to relax after a long day of hiking and exploring. This property hosts three cave rooms, all of which are kept at a warm 110-112 degrees Fahrenheit (43-44 degree celsius) thanks to the steaming hot mineral waters that flow underneath the structure. Visitors can pay for entry, which starts around USD 17 for adults, and head on over to one of the three cave rooms wth stone benches to sweat it out. There are also cooling rooms close by so you can cool off and go back to the caves.

Yampah Vapor Caves

Address: 709 E. Sixth St., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Website: Yampah Spa

Opening hours: 9am - 9pm (daily)

6. Rifle Falls State Park

Just about 3 miles (4.8 km) away from Rifle Mountain Park, the Rifle Falls State Park offers traditional caving experiences. The State Park is most famous for its triple waterfall and nature trails, that are ideal for both visitors, beginners and experienced adventurers. The main attraction - Rifle Falls is located very close to the parking area while there are steep, rocky paths that lead up and around the hill. The park’s lesser-known attraction are the two limestone caves it hosts, located shortly away from the Falls, off of the Coyote Trail.

Rifle Falls State Park

Address: 5775 Hwy 325 Rifle, CO 81650

Website: Colorado

Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)

Visit the caves in Colorado

Colorado is nothing short of awe-inspiring when it comes to natural wonders. While ski towns like Aspen are more well-known by tourists, the nature parks are definitely worth a visit. Caves and caverns might not be on some people’s vacation planning list but exploring these geological structures - developed over centuries - is a must for nature lovers, spelunkers and those who have a taste for adventure.