List of longest caves in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of the longest caves in the United States per length (over 50 kilometres or 30 miles) of documented passageways. Many passageways are still being discovered; this list is based on the latest verifiable data.[1] Some caves and cave systems are partially accessible to the general public. Other caves have restricted access; restrictions may include limiting access to experienced spelunkers or scientific research teams.
| # | System | Length | Location | Coordinates | Associated parks, protected areas |
Access | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mammoth Cave | 685.6 km (426.0 mi)[2][3][1] | near Brownsville, Kentucky | 37.18758°N 86.10357°W | Mammoth Cave National Park, also a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. Longest cave in the world. | Some public access[4] | |
| 2 | Jewel Cave | 354.86 km (220.5 mi)[5][6][1] | near Custer, South Dakota | 43.72944°N 103.82944°W | Jewel Cave National Monument | Some public access[7] | |
| 3 | Wind Cave | 270.498 km (168.1 mi)[8][1] | near Hot Springs, South Dakota | 43.55804°N 103.47955°W | Wind Cave National Park | Some public access | |
| 4 | Lechuguilla Cave | 244.8 km (152.1 mi)[9][10][1] | near Carlsbad, New Mexico | 32.1906420°N 104.5033091°W | Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Restricted access, requires authorization[11] | |
| 5 | Fisher Ridge Cave System | 215.908 km (134.2 mi)[1] | near Brownsville, Kentucky | 37.1873°N 85.9751°W | partly within Mammoth Cave National Park | ||
| 6 | Helms Deep Cave | 119.896 km (74.50 mi)[1][12] | Perry County, Tennessee | 35.566667°N 87.683333°W | None.Entrances are on private property. | Restricted access, requires authorization | |
| 7 | Great Savannah Cave System,(Maxwelton Sink Cave[13]-McClung Cave[14]) | 88.530 km (55.01 mi)[1][15] | near Greenbrier County, West Virginia | 37.859703°N 80.406044°W | None. Entrances are on private property.[13] | Restricted access, requires authorization[13] | |
| 8 | Fort Stanton Cave | 90.493 km (56.23 mi)[1] | near Lincoln County, New Mexico | 33.506670°N 105.493610°W | Fort Stanton–Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area | Restricted access, requires authorization.[16] | |
| 9 | Friars Hole Cave System | 84.587 km (52.56 mi)[1][17] | near Renicks Valley, West Virginia | 38.067203°N 80.329775°W | None. Multiple entrances, most on private property. | Some entrances closed. Some entrances require authorization. Some entrances accessible.[18] | |
| 10 | Binkley's Cave System | 74.190 km (46.10 mi)[1] | near Corydon, Indiana | 38.1824995°N 86.1501717°W | None. Entrance on private property. | Some public access[19] | |
| 11 | Wakulla-Leon Sinks Cave System | 72.1 km (44.80 mi)[1][20] | Wakulla County, Florida | 30.2354147°N 84.3028754°W | None. Underwater cave system. | ||
| 12 | Whigpistle System | 71.3 km (44.30 mi)[1][21][22] | Edmonson County, Kentucky | 37.1196°N 86.1362°W | none | ||
| 13 | Hellhole | 70.1 km (43.56 mi)[1] | Germany Valley, West Virginia | 38.771361°N 79.378103°W | None. Entrance is privately leased and owned. Home of two federally protected bat species. | No public access at any time. Restricted scientific access.[18] | |
| 14 | Double Bopper Cave | 68.7 km (42.69 mi)[1][23] | Coconino County, Arizona | Grand Canyon National Park | Restricted access, requires authorization[24][25] | ||
| 15 | Blue Spring Cave | 67.4 km (41.88 mi)[1] | near Sparta, Tennessee | 35.962811°N 85.385311°W | none | Restricted access, requires authorization[18] | |
| 16 | Kazumura Cave | 65.5 km (40.70 mi)[1] | Pahoa, Hawaii | 19.518890°N 155.031110°W | None. Entrance on private property.[26] | Some public access for fee.[26] | |
| 17 | Carlsbad Caverns | 63.5 km (39.46 mi)[1] | near Carlsbad, New Mexico | 32.177057°N 104.441039°W | Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Public access.[27] | |
| 18 | Organ Cave | 61.9 km (38.46 mi)[1] | Greenbrier County, West Virginia | 37.7181564°N 80.4362982°W | None. Entrances on private property. | Some entrances closed. Some entrances require authorization. Some entrances accessible.[18] | |
| 19 | Crevice Cave | 50.2 km (31.19 mi)[28] | Perry County, Missouri | 37.7527°N 89.8749°W | none | ||