southern indiana cave tours

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Myst'ry River

America's greatest voyage underground.

Explore America's longest navigable underground river in custom electric boats.

1-Hour Tour

Tours leave hourly or more often. Reservations are not available.

Decend 400' to reach the river. Ascend again on your exit.

Wet Weather

Tours occasionally not possible during wet weather. Check Facebook or call for updates.

Canyon Hall

Cave Salmander

Myst’ry River Sluice

Karst Nature Trail

Bluespring Caverns Park

Adventure & Fun - Above & Below

A visit to Bluespring Caverns will bring you, first of all, to the park above the Caverns. Mine for gems in our gemstone mining sluice, hike our trails, enjoy a picnic lunch and explore an underground world of wonders on our guided boat tour.

• Gemstone Mining

Karst Natural Area Trail

• Myst’ry River Boat Tour
• Picnic areas and shelter
• Clean, spacious restrooms
• Free parking

The park also offers our Overnight Adventure Youth Program and Kayak High Adventures both with advance reservations.

Bluespring Caverns is a natural wonder. Our hour-long boat tour allows you to explore and experience the majestic underground. Passages and water-courses are illuminated by the pocket of light that follows your tour boat through darkness.

Glimpse elusive cave creatures.

• Rare, blind cavefish
• Blind crayfish in constant search for food
• Spotted red-orange salamanders
• Solitary bats hanging on a high ceilings

Wet Periods

Visit during a wet period, and you will hear and see the power of the underground river; though many of its creatures will have retreated to quieter areas.

Since Bluespring Caverns contains a natural underground river, tours may occasionally not be possible due to area floods. Please call us prior to your visit during exceptionally wet weather periods. 812-279-9471

Indiana’s Largest Sinkhole

Before or after your tour, enjoy our half-mile, nature trail in the Ruth & Emery Bolton Natural Area.

Experience the connection of the land above to the great caverns hidden below as loop around Indiana’s largest karst plain sinkhole, over 90 feet deep and covering ten acres.

FOR YOUR SAFETY, PLEASE FOLLOW AND STAY ON THE TRAIL.

Myst’ry River Gemstone Mine

Semi-precious gems & fossils.

Take the opportunity to prospect for your own semi-precious gemstones and fossils at the Myst’ry River Gemstone Mine. Our mining sluice is located on the front porch.

Pick Your Fun, Prospector to Mother Lode, $5 to $25.

Park Aerial Veiw

Colglazier Visitor Center

Unique gifts & souvenirs.

At the Colglazier Visitor Center, you will find a varied selection of unique gifts and souvenirs. Be sure to take home a unique souvenir to remember your amazing experience.

Tour tickets and other services are on our large porch area.

• Shop for unique gifts
• Parking is free.
• Picnic facilities, a picnic shelter, and restrooms are on-site.

Got Questions?

What's the temperature inside the cave.

53 Degrees  

Temperatures underground are a constant 53 degrees year-round. A light jacket is recommended.

Do I need to arrive at a certain time?

Any time before 4:00 pm  

Tours leave on the hour or more often during peak season. Our last tour leaves at 5:00 pm EST.

Do I need a mask?

Masks are not required at this time  

Masks/face-coverings are not required at this time.

Can I make a reservation?

We do not require or accept reservations for this tour. Upon your arrival, you will be scheduled for the next available tour. Tours leave hourly or more often 9 AM to 5 PM. Late afternoon tours can fill early on busy weekends and holidays.

What is the length of the tour?

1 Hour  

Our Myst’ry River boat tour is one hour in length and covers 1-1/4 miles aboard our electric-powered boats and a 400’ walking section.

Are tours available for groups?

Absolutely  

Group reservations and rates for groups of 12 or larger are available on many calendar dates. Visit our Group Tours page.

Are tours available every day?

March 16 - October 31  

While Bluespring Caverns Park is open every day from March 16 through October 31, tours on Myst’ry River can occasionally be unavailable due to area flooding. Check our Facebook page or our website for timely information during wet periods. You can also call us at 812-279-9471 for immediately up-to-date information.

What should I bring to tour the Caverns.

A Few Recommendations  

No special equipment is required. We recommend a light jacket, and closed-toe, non-slip shoes. The Caverns is 52 degrees.

You can also bring a camera just don’t drop it overboard!

Is the Myst’ry River Voyage boat tour handicapped accessible?

Our parking lot, Visitor Center/Gift Shop, and our Gemstone Mining sluice are handicapped accessible. Due to the natural constraints of the Caverns, our Myst’ry River tour is not handicapped accessible. For more detailed information, please call us.

What forms of payment are accepted?

We accept many.  

We accept cash, check, credit, and debit cards.

We absolutely loved this cave. We were the only ones on the boat tour and the guide was super nice and full of information. We will come back and do cave kayaking!

Indiana Cave Trail

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Your Descent into Beauty

Also Available

Bluespring caverns park, america's greatest voyage underground.

Mine for gems in our new sluice, hike our trails, enjoy a picnic lunch and explore an underground world of wonders on our guided boat tour. Be sure to take home a unique souvenir from our gift shop to remember your amazing experience with us.

Click photo to zoom

• Myst'ry River Boat Tour
• Overnight Adventure Youth Program
• Karst Natural Area Trail
• Picnic Shelter

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Indiana Caverns

Indiana's longest cave.

Discover. Explore. Experience. Above and below the earth at the midwest's longest cave at Indiana Caverns Family Adventure Park. Our tour features heights, depths, ice age fossils, AND a boat ride 110 feet down. New surface fun: Bat Chaser, The Plunge, Escape Rooms and Feed the Goats.

Topside enjoy our new Bat Chaser zip coaster, starting 50 ft up, or "rescue the miners" in our new Escape Room 1000 feet down. Combine activities and save with our discounted packages.

• Walking and Boat Ride Tour
• Cave Exploring trip
• Bat Chaser zip coaster
• Gemstone and Fossil Panning
• Cave Exploring Challenges
• Escape Room
• Cavern of the Sabertooth
• Interpretive displays and trails

Squire Boone Caverns

A treasure of indiana history.

Spend some time exploring our underground cave world, watch our restored grist mill in action as it produces biscuit, pancake and muffin mixes, and don't forget to take home a souvenir from our rock shop. It's Indiana's largest, with over 100 varieties of gems and minerals. Check our website for opening times of our Pioneer Village and for special events.

• Historic Grist Mill
• Pioneer Village

Marengo Cave

U.s. national landmark.

Marengo Cave offers two walking tours, gemstone mining, the Crawl, a gift shop, walking trails, picnic grounds, and more. Friendly, knowledgeable guides interpret our delicate formations and immense passageways. Camping cabins are also available by reservation.

• Crystal Palace Tour
• Dripstone Trail Tour
• Gemstone Mining
• Cave Simulator
• Camping Cabins
• Cave Exploring

Crazy about Caves?

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• Patoka Lake
• French Lick

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Marengo Cave

Known as one of the most-visited destinations in the state, Marengo Cave was discovered in 1833 by the Hiestand children. The cave became a U.S. National Natural Landmark in 1984 after years of exploration and history. Today, the cave is open to visitors year-round and offers two guided tours, the Crystal Palace and Dripstone Trail, plus a variety of seasonal events. The site also includes other family-focused attractions, such as mini-golf and camping facilities.

The Caves at Spring Mill State Park

Spring Mill State Park is home to multiple caves including Twin Cave, Donaldson Cave, and Bronson Cave. The water flowing through these caves never freezes, which allowed for the year round operation of the gristmill when it was in operation dating back to 1817. The dry side of Donaldson Cave can be explored by visitors walking through the park, and Twin Cave can be explored on boat tours seasonally during the summer. These boat tours are given by guides who highlight cave formations and cave animals. 

Blue Spring Caverns

Blue Springs Caverns has over 21 miles of passages and is most notable for having the longest subterranean river discovered in the United States. Visitors can explore the park above the caverns or descend 400 feet underground on an hour-long guided boat tour (subject to seasonal availability).   Ready for your next adventure? Head to Southern Indiana to find out what’s going on down underground. 

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The Cave is Always a Warm 56°...

(812) 734-1200

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Explore indiana caverns family adventure park.

At Indiana Caverns Family Adventure Park, you can choose your own adventure! From the ultimate caving experience on the Deep Darkness tour to a walking cave tour to flying on Bat Chaser or free-falling on The Plunge, there are activities for everyone to enjoy!

(Click here for even more info!)

At Indiana Caverns Family Adventure Park you can choose your own adventure! From the ultimate caving experience on the Deep Darkness tour to a walking cave tour to flying on Bat Chaser, or free-falling on The Plunge, there are activities for everyone to enjoy!

Open Daily at 9AM EST

Closed only on thanksgiving and christmas day , cave tours leave frequently throughout the day and are scheduled as needed , hours of operation.

Monday – Friday           9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday – Sunday       9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Memorial Day—Labor Day

Monday – Friday          9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday – Sunday      9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

September—October

Monday – Friday         9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Saturday - Sunday       9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

November—March

Everyday          9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

From Memorial Day To Labor Day, We Have Extended Hours

The Gift Shop Is Open Until 6:00 PM • Tour Ticket Sales Close At 5:00 PM On Weekdays And 5:30 PM On Weekends.

Spring And Fall Tour Ticket Sales Close At 4:30 On Weekends.

Bat Chaser and Plunge Hours May Vary. Check Their Pages Or Call Ahead To Be Sure.

The cave temperature  is 56 degrees all year. 

Weather is never a problem for cave tours. they are open rain or shine.

Advance tickets are not required and are available for purchase upon arrival for groups of 11 or less. 

Call (812) 734-1200  in advance to reserve your  Group Adventure of 12 or more. 

How long are wait times?

Wait times vary based on demand.

How long is the cave tour?

Just the right length!

80 minutes on average

Time times may vary from 75-90 minutes depending on the size of the tour, walking ability and even the questions asked. Visit our tour pages for tour distance, boat ride time, depth, and other tour-related information.

Do I Need A Jacket?

If you wish!

56 Degrees 

The cave is 56 degrees year round-like a pleasant spring or fall afternoon. You may appreciate a jacket or long sleeves during the underground boat ride. Good walking shoes are recommended. However, most anything without high heels should be fine. Thong sandals and flip flops are not suitable.

Who can go on a cave tour?

We try to accommodate most!

People Of All Ages Are Able To Enjoy The Cave Tour. 

Although Indiana Caverns is not wheelchair accessible, almost anyone who can walk unassisted and do stairs at home should be able to enjoy the tour.

Elevation Details

There are 110 feet of elevation change in Indiana Caverns. Visitors must be able to walk up ramps and several sections of stairs to get to the boat ride portion of the tour. There are handrails throughout. After the boat ride, it's back up the way you came via several sections of stairs and a ramp.

Small Children or Infants

We have children of all ages do the tour. They must be carried in a front carrier for the cave tour if they cannot yet walk. Strollers, back carriers, and large diaper bags are not allowed; remember, there is no place to change the baby once in the cave.

Please enjoy your drinks and snacks before the tour—no food, drink, or snacks allowed in the cave.

Still have questions? Give us a call!

What if it is raining?

No Worries!

Indiana Caverns Is Open Rain or Shine  

Rain makes the cave even more beautiful! We are not closed for rain or other weather patterns. 

Can I buy tickets online?

Yes, up to 11 Tickets! 

Individuals may buy up to 11 tickets online. Show your receipt at the counter to receive your actual tickets and launch time.

Groups of over 10 people should make advance reservations by phone (for single or combo tickets) to park attractions.

Advance Tickets Are Not Required And Are Available For Purchase Upon Arrival For Groups Of 11 Or Less.

Can I take my pet?

Please no pets or fur babies!

The short answer, no.

Pets are not allowed in the cave, for their protection and the protection of the cave’s delicate environment.

What is there to do nearby?

tons of things to do!

A Whole Lot  

There is an excellent selection of shopping and dining options, wineries, hotels, cabins, and bed & breakfasts, many within 10 minutes of the cavern. 

Check out  www.thisisindiana.org  for nearby attractions and things to do. 

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Indiana Caverns

1267 Green Acres Dr SW, Corydon, IN, 47112

1-812-734-1200

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Website: by Chance graphics, LLC  |  Copyright 2024 Privacy policy , all rights reserved.

If you need immediate assistance, please feel free to call the Indiana Cavern's office at: 812-734-1200

Individuals Individuals & Families

• Indiana Caverns

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST

Tours are scheduled on demand, arrive by 5 pm to be sure of a tour! We're just off I-64 in Southern Indiana at the Corydon exit (105). We are closed Thanksgiving & Christmas.

Ticket Price

$19.95 adult $11.50 child.

Price is per person. Child prices apply for children ages 4-12. Children 3 and under are free.

Tour Length

1 hour   20 minutes.

Descend 110 feet underground. Walk and enjoy a 25 minute boat ride on the underground river.

Learn about the ancient cave visitors, ice age peccary, bison, bear, and the types of fossils they left behind.

A hotspot for subterranean life, Indiana Caverns is one of very few locations on the entire earth home to over 20 species of troglobites.

Discover how the cave was formed. Learn about its formations: stalactites, stalagmites, columns, rimstone, flowstone, draperies, and helictites.

Experience true underground beauty with the cave’s waterfalls. During rainy periods, view three 30-50 foot high waterfalls!

Enjoy 25 minutes on a boat ride on our underground river as part of your journey.

Experience panoramic views of Big Bone Mountain with enormous breakdown boulders and an amazing waterfall, one crashing down almost 40 feet onto flowstone. Uncover the cave’s rich past and the animals that called it home, as you learn about its ancient ice age bones .

Travel onward to Sleeping Bear Boulevard for an underground boat trip you’ll never forget! Glimpse blind cave crayfish along with other cave life amid beautiful rimstone dams. Learn how caves are formed, and their special role in the environment.

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1267 Green Acres Drive SW, Corydon, IN 47112 Copyright © 2012 - 2024 Indiana Caverns. All rights reserved. site design: Carrie Caskey

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The Indiana Cave Trail

Four show caves in Southern Indiana make up the Indiana Cave Trail, providing close encounters of the underground kind with unusual karst features

September 9, 2014 //  by  Sandra Friend

Roadtripping through the Midwest, we kept stumbling across show caves in places where cornstalks otherwise covered the rolling landscape. First in Wisconsin, then Iowa. Arriving in Southern Indiana for a meeting at West Baden Springs, we spotted the signs for Bluespring Caverns en route. It was then and there we decided that walking through Indiana’s caverns would be next on our to-do list.

We’d planned to stop at state parks with caves, but a visit to Spring Mill State Park brought the white-nose syndrome problem to light. As we toured the extensive mill complex, an industrial village founded in the early 1800s, we asked our guide about the caves. The creek that fed the sluice to run the mill seemed to be coming right out of the hillside, from a cave.

“None of the Indiana state parks allow you to go in the caves anymore,” said our guide, to our disappointment. We’d learned about this disease at our other stops outside Indiana. It’s a fungus that causes bats to wake too early from hibernation, and they starve to death. At each of those caves, we were made to walk through a sanitizing solution to soak any possible carriers off our feet before we set foot in the caves. Sadly, we crossed our state park stops off the list, knowing there would be no cave exploration possible.

Bluespring Caverns, Mitchell

At an angle I couldn’t have dreamed possible, the path from the gift shop at Bluespring Caverns pitched headlong into a sinkhole. If I hadn’t clung to the rail on the way down, I might have done so as well. “That’s crazy steep!” I said, and my tour companions agreed.

We were relieved to alight on a terrace inside the cave mouth, looking down at the dark river below. This would be an exploration by boat on a waterway through the caverns. Formations were minimal, as the passageway had been carved by flowing water rather than dripping water.

Still, our guide kept us entertained, pointing out cave crickets moving across the masses of mud against the rock walls, and startling us with a sudden moment of darkness in one of the larger chambers as he demonstrated the echo effect of this rocky tunnel.

Marengo Cave, Marengo

“My grandmother square danced inside this cave,” said Shelby Wetzl, which let us know that she grew up knowing all about Marengo. Since the attraction offers two different cave tours, we decided to do both, and had her as our guide. Our group of seven adventurers swelled to 21 by the time Shelby led us down a trail through the woods to a tunnel bored for access into the cave. Beneath a very steamed-up piece of glass were calcite flowers. I saw smaller ones all across the roof of the cave, which has several levels to it. The path was gently sloped.

We turned right, entering the Graveyard, with its white stalagmite pillars. The tour route, carved deeply into the floor, wound us through forests of stalacitites and stalagmites at face level, working its way downhill past a pile of breakdown. A spotlight shone on a cluster of calcite crystals in a pocket across from glittering flowstone with several tin drinking cups set on the floor. When Shelby said that the water was used to quench visitor’s thirst on tours long ago, I couldn’t help but think of Pluto Water , a natural laxative! And indeed, this water, with its heavy mineral content, did the same.

We walked through broad passageways carved by underground streams. What they lacked in formations they made up for in historic grafitti, with one section lit by old fashioned lanterns. Past the dance hall, where the square dances were once held, was Penny Passage, where people once tossed coins at the ceiling and they stuck there. They twinkled overhead as we walked beneath them. Beyond a rock pulpit once used by a preacher, we entered a room with gorgeous helictites high up on the wall. Shelby played her flashlight across them to show a girl swinging. Curving around Mirror Lake to end the first tour, we ascended, unsurprisingly, into the gift shop. The Crystal Palace tour would be next.

In 1883, brother and sister Orris and Blanche Hiestand discovered the entrance to Marengo Cave through a sinkhole on a neighbor’s property. They kept their secret for a few days before finally telling the farmer at church. Samuel Stewart didn’t even know he had a sinkhole on his land, let alone a cave. The tour led us down into “what they found,” including a shimmering waterfall dropping through a hole in the cave ceiling, and flowstone domes coated with sparkling calcite crystals. We walked through a nook of formations and access to a cave passage from which a steady breeze blew in towards us. The Crystal Palace was the star of this tour, a big chamber with lots of formations.

After we left the caverns, we popped into the nearest restaurant, Van’s Country Table, for lunch. When we mentioned the tour to our waitress, she brought out a surprise for us. We did a double-take. Shelby’s twin worked in the kitchen! We chatted about their jobs for a few minutes before she went back to work.

Squire Boone Caverns, Corydon

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Squire Boone Caverns, taking in the village of shops that surrounded the parking area. The cave’s discovery was by Daniel Boone’s brother in the late 1700s. They’d both explored some of it. Squire built a gristmill which ran on water coming out of the cave, similar to the one we saw at Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell.

It was disappointing to arrive just after a tour had taken off, and the next one wouldn’t be for an hour. I hemmed and hawed before finally saying, “let’s wait.” We scrambled up to Squire’s grave in a cave along a footpath glittery and sparkly with cast-off minerals, especially quartz, from the gem panning sluice. All of the little cabins in the village were closed, so there wasn’t much to do but sit and wait until our guide, Josh, mustered the tour group.

I was surprised to learn that the cave didn’t open for tours until 1972. Its surreal entry is via a 62 foot spiral staircase, as if you were descending from the top of a lighthouse into the earth. Once you’re inside the cave, it has catwalks and stairs, since rushing water is everywhere, especially below. The formations aren’t as grand as the ones at Marengo Cave, but there are showy narrow passageways with rimstone shelves, one with rare cave mushrooms (a rock formation) on them.

Shattered soda straws lay beneath the ledges like coral on a Caribbean beach. Just footfalls from the main path, crevices gaped several stories deep. A steep staircase led us up above a waterfall that dropped several stories. One chamber holds the re-interred remains of Squire Boone, with a modern headstone. Since we’d visited his gravesite aboveground, I wasn’t clear on why this was here, unless it somehow connected with the pit cave above.

The deeper we walked into the cavern, the more fascinating it became. A waterfall flowed beneath the iron grate catwalk, and moments later, we came face-to-face with rimstone pools overflowing in continual cascades, a sight you’d expect to see in Cappodocia or Yellowstone, but not underground. Then, disappointment. We were barred from entering what looked to be an even more beautiful passage up ahead. The tour used to go there, but was closed now because part of the cave collapsed. “How recently?” I asked. Josh didn’t know. “They can’t afford to rebuild it,” he said, as we turned around to follow the catwalks back to the entrance.

When we planned to stop at all of Indiana’s show caves, we didn’t know there was an award for that. For visiting all three Indiana show caves, we got free t-shirts to commemorate our Indiana experience, which the folks at Squire Boone Caverns handed us before we left.

See more of our photos from these three Indiana show caves

MORE TO EXPLORE Last summer, America’s newest cave tour opened. Since 2010, cave explorers were looking for a connection to the 11th longest cave in the United States, the Binkley Cave System, which is more than 36 miles long. The 80-minute tours of Indiana Caverns include both a walking route and a boat trip.

For 2014, the Indiana Department of Environmental Resources has reopened select caves at Spring Mill State Park and Cave River Valley Natural Areafor public exploration. This is a pilot program, with the Indiana Karst Conservancy acting as stewards to teach visitors how to decontaminate before entering a wild cave so as not to spread white-nose syndrome. At McCormick’s Creek State Park , Wolf Cave also reopened, since bats do not roost there.

Visit Indiana’s Show Caves The Indiana Cave Trail now includes four show caves: the three we visited and the new Indiana Caverns in Corydon. Details on this program can be found at the Indiana Cave Trail website .

Bluespring Caverns Marengo Cave Squire Boone Caverns Indiana Caverns

World of Caves

UnderGround Cave Adventures Await

Ultimate Guide to Indiana Caverns, Indiana (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)

We may have been compensated for this post. Please keep in mind that it affects you in no way financially. If an item is being reviewed, we are not obligated to give a positive review and always use our own words. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. If you would like a review done contact Dannelle at [email protected]

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In Indiana, caves and caverns are affordable for summer day trips. But, if you put aside the cost factor, you will understand that caves offer an experience that will remain in your memory for a long time. Most of the caves in Indiana have tours designed for the families, and they are safe too! But it would help if you packed in a jacket as caves like Indiana Caverns have a history of being chilly. 

Indiana Caverns, Indiana

Indiana Caverns is the longest cave in the Midwest. Families can learn about the history of the cave during a walking tour, or you may opt for a more in-depth adventure tour. There are many activities that the kids and other family members can enjoy. So, if you are in Indiana, you must come and visit Indiana Caverns with your family. 

History of Indiana Caverns

In 1918, Arvel H. Miles purchased an 81.5-acre farm just a mile south of Corydon. A sinkhole entrance to Binkley Cave was opened on the farm before the explorations of the 1930s. Harvey Binkley purchased the farm in 1944, after whom the cave is now named. Most of the explorations of the cave have been done by the Indiana Speleological Society. 

In 2010, Shane Myles and Tim Pride discovered an area called Blowing Hole Boulevard. The west end of Blowing Hole Boulevard is an 85 ft tall room known as the Big Bone Mountain. The room was so named as many sets of animal bones were found in this room. Excavations by the Indiana State Museum revealed that the bones originated from the Pleistocene Ice Age animals. 

In 2012 the Indian Speleological Survey started investigating a possible connection between Binkley Cave and the Blowing Hole Cave. Rocks partially blocked a passageway connecting the two caves. However, dye testing and smoke bombs revealed an exchange of air and water between the two caves.

Digging started on both sides, allowing the cavers in both the caves to shake hands with each other through the rocks. This proved that the two caves were one and not separate from each other. This made the Brinkley cave system 35 miles long, making it the longest cave in Indiana. 

In June 2012, developmental work began on the Indiana Caverns, and it was opened to the public in June 2013. The Indiana Speleological Survey continues its exploration of the Binkley Cave. With the help of color dye, it has been possible to identify two local springs as the final destination of the two unexplored cave passageways.

Exploration of the waterways would add several miles to the already existing length of the cave. At the end of 2015, the surveyed cave length was 42.57 miles, and there is a potential of adding 10 miles which would be discovered in the future. 

Geological Cave Formations in Indiana Caverns

Binkley Cave is a solutional cave wherein the dripping water carries calcium bicarbonate into the cave. The calcium carbonite crystallizes into the bottoms and sides of the existing helictites, stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone sheets that grow over time. The flowing water brings other minerals into the cave to create gray, white, red, and tan colors on the formations and walls. 

Wildlife in Indiana Caverns

The vast extent of the cave is host to various living species in the underground stream. Salamanders are pretty commonly seen in the caverns and the waters; one would be able to spot the blind crayfish and lots of other cave critters. The Indiana Caverns is a biological hotspot as there are 21 known species of troglobites. 

Is Indiana Caverns Haunted?

Indiana Caverns is a family adventure park and is not haunted. 

How Big is Indiana Caverns?

The Indiana Caverns is more than 43.9 miles long. 

Indiana Caverns Tours

We all know that Indiana is home to a huge system of fascinating caves. The Indiana Caverns is the longest cave in the state, and it offers beautiful walking tours so that the visitors get to know more about the history and features of this cave.

It is a unique blend of walking/boat tours, and it is only for 80 odd minutes, but the actual duration depends on how fast or slow the group is walking. The cave tour at Indiana Caverns is truly unique, and you will get to learn a lot of things that you never had the chance to know.

The sad part is that the tour is not wheelchair accessible, and anyone who can walk for long periods can complete this tour successfully. The visitors can view various wildlife species like salamanders, blind crayfish, and other cave-dwelling critters. As you wander through the different passageways and walk down the stairs, you will be amazed by the spectacle on offer and find Indiana Caverns as nothing short of paradise.

Around halfway into the tour, you will get a chance to rest your leg on the super cool boat ride as you explore the caverns on the underground river. The guide will tell you about the geological formations that have taken place here, and he will also explain the process by which they are formed!

You will also get to know about the general history of the cave system. You may also spot a few human bones from as far back as the Stone Age if you are lucky. The best part of the walking cave tour is that the tour takes place 363 days of the year, irrespective of the weather. The locals say that the rain only makes the cave beautiful.  

Indiana Caverns Tour Prices and Discounts

There are four packages for the Cavern Tours, and you can choose anyone as per your budget and convenience. 

SILVER – includes Cave Tour and Gemstone Mining 

• Adults – USD 33 
• Children (4 to 11 years) – USD 23 

GOLD – includes Cave Tour and Bat Chaser

• Adults – USD 37
• Children (4 to 11 years) – USD 26

BRONZE – includes Cave Tour and Escape Room

• Adults – USD 41
• Children (7 to 11 years) – USD 21
• Children (4 to 6 years) – USD 14

PLATINUM – includes Cave Tour, Bat Chaser & Gemstone Mining

• Adults – USD 46
• Children (4 to 11 years) – USD 37

One may also opt for Cave Tour only, wherein the tickets are priced at USD 25 (Adults) and USD 14 (Ages 4 to 11 years).

Is Indiana Caverns Cold?

The temperature of the cave is 56 degrees throughout the year. 

What to Wear?

One might need a jacket or long sleeves during the underground boat ride. Since the cave tour involves a lot of walking, proper walking shoes are highly recommended, although any shoes without high heels should be fine on the cave tour. However, flip-flops and sandals are a strict no-no.  

Indiana Caverns Hours

The Indiana Caverns open daily at 9 am EST. 

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What to Do at Indiana Caverns (Beside Tours)

Indiana Caverns is a family adventure park, and the fun does not end with the cave tours only. There are loads of fun-filled activities in the park, and we are sure that you will enjoy each one of them. 

The Bat Chaser is a unique combo of zip lining and steel rail coaster in a family-friendly environment. The suspended, single rail zip moves through the treetops and over the rolling surface of southern Indiana’s cave. It is a thrilling experience, and the Bat Chaser is one of its kind in the US. 

The Plunge is a new attraction at Indiana Caverns, a 50 ft quick drop experience that will set your adrenaline pumping. Here you will plummet five stories before you come to rest on your feet. The Plunge is a safe activity that gives you the thrill of free fall but with a controlled descent. 

Escape Room

It is a challenging activity where you form a part of the Rescue team to pull out the Adventure Mine crew trapped more than 1000 ft below due to a mineshaft collapse. The rescue operation needs to be completed before the clock runs out. 

Pygmy Playground

This is where you get to meet the baby pygmy goats. There are five of them, and you meet and feed them. 

Gemstone Mining

Ever tried your hand at gemstone mining? Here you get an opportunity to sift through the sand to uncover gemstones and fossils. Get to the Gift Shop, pick out a bag, and head to the Peccary Mining Sluice. You can enjoy identifying the fossils and rocks when you get the treasures. 

Deep Darkness

The Deep Darkness is a 4-hour underground challenge when you will descend into utter darkness and climb and splash your way through the underground stream. You can continue the upstream journey on a kayak. 

It is a fun activity for the kids wherein they experience caving without getting muddy. You will get the sturdy carver’s helmet, light, and gloves. One has to crawl 400 ft underground on hands and knees to taste what real cave exploring is all about. 

The Gift Shop is the favorite haunt for all visitors, and why not? They have goodies for all age groups and adults. The price of the items ranges from USD 0.50 to USD 300. The kids love the huge collection of children’s books here. 

Best Time to Visit Indiana Caverns

The best time to come to Indiana Caverns is weekdays, especially between Monday and Thursday. The cavern tours leave throughout the day at different times, starting from 9 am. 

How to Get to Indiana Caverns

The Indiana Caverns is located two miles south of the small town of Corydon. The family adventure park is easily accessible from I-64. 

Hotels near Indiana Caverns

There are no camping facilities at Indiana Caverns, but you can always come down to Buffalo Trace Park Campgrounds, with 14 primitive sites and more than 50 modern campground sites. There are some excellent hotels in the vicinity of Indiana Caverns, such as Holiday Inn Express & Hampton Inn by Hilton.

Places To Stay Nearby

Indiana caverns fun facts.

• Indiana Caverns is part of the Binkley Cave System, the longest cave in Indiana. 
• The Indiana Caverns offers boat/walking tours 363 days a year. 
• The underground boat tour is unique as visitors get an opportunity to see ice age fossils and a variety of other experiences. 

Indiana Caverns Details 

• Length: More than 43.9 miles long
• Time Recommended: 3 to 4 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Dog-friendly: No
• Fees: USD 25 onwards
• Hours: 9 am to 5 pm

Download our Indiana Caverns Guide (Unofficial) 

Visiting indiana caverns.

Do you need more information before visiting Indiana Caverns? Call (812) 734-1200 for an information packet. 

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THE 5 BEST Indiana Caverns & Caves

Caverns & caves in indiana.

• Nature & Wildlife Areas
• Hiking Trails
• Playgrounds
• Caverns & Caves
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Big Groups
• Good for Kids
• Hidden Gems
• Adventurous
• Good for Couples
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Marengo Cave

2. Bluespring Caverns

3. Squire Boone Caverns

4. Wyandotte Caves

5. Donaldson Cave

6. bluespring caverns, what travelers are saying.

21 Fun Things To Do in Indiana with Kids this Weekend

• Food & Drink
• Places to Stay

Plan a Trip

Plan Your Southern Indiana Getaway

Wyandotte cave.

• 7315 S. Wyandotte Cave Rd. Leavenworth, IN 47137 Leavenworth, IN 47137" class="loud_attraction_meta_address_directions" target="_blank">Get Directions
• 812-738-8232
• View Website

The tours are offered Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Jackets are recommended for all cave tours since cave temperature is always 52 degrees F. Comfortable and sturdy shoes are a must. Pets, alcohol, and tobacco use are strictly prohibited. There are two cave tours available:

Little Wyandotte, which is an easy 30 minute tour, is open to all ages. Tours are offered at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only. Cost is $8 for ages 12 and older; $4 for ages 6-11; and free for ages 5 and younger. Maximum group size is 15.

Big Wyandotte, a 2 hour rugged tour,  for ages 6 and older only, and are offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only. Cost is $18 for ages 12 and older; $9 for ages 6-11. Minimum group size is 15 and maximum is 25.

If you tour Big Wyandotte Cave, you will be required to walk across a rough decontamination surface near the cave entrance as you exit the cave to prevent the movement of the fungal spores that cause White-nose syndrome in bats. (WNS does not affect humans.)

Big Wyandotte Cave tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for children ages 6-11 and adults 12 and older.  Tours of Big Wyandotte are considered rugged and are available only to visitors ages 6 and older.

Little Wyandotte tours start at 9 a.m. and are available every half-hour until 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Tours of Little Wyandotte Cave are considered easy and are open to all ages.

For more information call the park office at 812-738-8232.

Estimated Time To Experience Activity

Standard Hours of Operation

*hours pulled from attraction’s Google listing. Actual times may vary seasonally or change without notice.

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Indiana Caves Offer Walking Tours and Serious Spelunking

• Posted By Ashley Dykton

Add To My Planner 3

Looking for something different to do with your family in Indiana? Plan a day trip or weekend getaway to Southern Indiana, where you can find many of our state’s amazing caves. Visiting caves is a great way to explore the region while staying active and experiencing something completely unique. Every cave has different formations that make them special. Kids will be so engaged in the exciting spelunking experience that they won’t even realize they are learning tons about Indiana’s geology and history.

Things to Consider

• Caves are amazing places to visit no matter the weather! The shelter provided by the cave itself and the consistent temperatures inside means that cold and heat outside shouldn’t affect your experience. Some caves may occasionally be affected by flooding.
• Please be aware that caves are naturally full of tight spaces and uneven surfaces. This often makes it impossible to navigate with wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. Check with the cave directly to inquire about accessibility.
• Cave tours often include large changes in elevation and require climbing up and down significant flights of stairs.
• White Nose Syndrome has devastating effects on bats, killing off large populations. To protect the bat inhabitants, some caves will ask that you walk through a decontamination surface.
• Make sure you dress for the activity. Caves are naturally around 50 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so in the summer, bring a jacket and pants to change into. Caves have slippery and unlevel surfaces so make sure you wear good shoes that are slip- and water-resistant.
• Some cave tours include a moment when your tour guide will turn off all the lights so guests can experience total darkness. Prepare your little ones for this, if necessary.

The Indiana Cave Trail

Marengo cave.

400 East State Rd 64, Marengo, IN 47140

Not long after Marengo Cave was discovered by two children in 1883, tours began and visitors were able to explore the natural wonder. Marengo Cave is a U.S. National Natural Landmark and offers daily walking tours of two different areas of the cave. Both walking tours are easy in difficulty with minimal steps and the passageways are well lit.

Crystal Palace lasts about 40 minutes and you’ll experience formation-filled rooms and see huge flowstone deposits. Dripstone Trail is an hour long and showcases skinny soda straws, totem pole stalagmites, helictites, and Penny Ceiling features of the cave.

Tour Prices

Please verify the current pricing with the attraction.

Crystal Palace Tour: $12.95/children 4-12, $21.95/ adults 13+, children 3 and under are free Dripstone Trail: $14.95/children 4-12, $24.95/adults 13+, children 3 and under are free

There is a reduced rate if you plan on doing both tours.

Adventurous Options

If you are looking for more adventure, Marengo Cave offers more advanced spelunking packages, including overnight options. Age recommendations are provided for each tour.

Explore Some More

Extend your trip by camping at a creekside site or staying in one of Marengo Cave’s 4 rustic cabins. Amenities include a playground, fire pit, grills and picnic tables, a gift shop, and a modern bathhouse just a short walk away. There are other on-site attractions such as gem mining, pedal karting, glow-in-the-dark putt-putt, a 5,000-square-foot maze, a 30-foot-tall spiral slide, and a cave simulator wooden maze.

Blue Spring Caverns

1459 Blue Springs Cavern Rd, Bedford, IN 47421

Beginning mid-March and operating seasonally until October 31, you can tour Blue Spring Caverns with an hour-long boat ride on the Myst’ry River. You may even run into some local cave wildlife, including bats or cavefish, along the way. Note that occasionally tours will be unavailable due to area flooding.

Please verify current pricing with the attraction.

$12/children 15 and under, $22/adults

Please note that the tour is not recommended for those under 4 and is not handicap accessible.

Blue Spring Caverns offers an Overnight Adventure for sponsored youth groups of 15-95 guests, ages 9-16. Participants spend 12 hours overnight camping 100 feet underground in Canyon Hall and explore undeveloped parts of the cave that are not available on the daily tours. Another unique experience that Blue Springs Caverns offers is a kayak adventure. Groups of 4-8 people are accompanied by two experienced guides who lead a 3-hour tour on Myst’ry River, America’s longest underground river.

Besides cave tours, you can hike the half-mile nature trail in the Ruth & Emery Bolton Natural Area. Guests can also mine for gems and fossils in the gemstone mining sluice and enjoy the amenities of the Colglazier Visitor Center which has a gift shop, restrooms and a picnic shelter.

Indiana Caverns

1267 Green Acres Dr SW, Corydon, IN 47112

Indiana Caverns in Harrison County features a 75-minute cave tour where you descend 110 feet on a steel walkway and stairs to the underground river. From there, you explore the cave by boat. During your tour you will see different cave formations, a waterfall, and one of Indiana’s largest deposits of Ice Age bones. As you make your way up out of the cave, you’ll pass through the Big Bone Mountain Room and finally take a ramp to the Visitor’s Center.

$14/children 4-11, $25/ages 12+

Save money by bundling your tour experience with other attractions offered at Indiana Caverns.

Indiana Caverns has an immersive cave experience called the Deep Darkness Adventure. During this 4-hour experience, explore the cave system by climbing and crawling through the cave until you get to the underground stream. At this point, you explore via kayak. Note that due to the physical demands of this adventure, Indiana Caverns requires participants to be in good health to join the tour.

Indiana Caverns Family Adventure Park offers more than just tours of Indiana’s longest cave system. Kids who want a taste of serious spelunking can try the Cavern of the Sabertooth caving simulator. In this mudless experience, participants crawl 375 feet underground to see the Sabertooth’s Lair filled with golden skulls and more. Children under 6 will need a parent or older sibling to accompany them and helmets with lights, along with kneepads for adults, will be provided.

Visitors can also take advantage of fun family entertainment, including attractions like a 50-foot quick drop, two themed escape rooms, a Pygmy goat play area, gem mining, and a 603-foot steel zip coaster.

Squire Boone Caverns

100 Squire Boone Rd SW, Mauckport, IN 47142

Squire Boone Caverns is named after Squire Boone, who discovered the caverns with his brother, Daniel, in 1790 and now calls the caverns his final resting place. The caverns are known for their unique cave features, including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, waterfalls, and America’s largest public rimstone dams that cover the interior of the cave system. Cave patrons can take the tour that travels 1/3 of a mile through lighted, paved walkways and steel bridges and completes with a 73-step spiral staircase. The times of the tours change during the different seasons, but they are offered daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Day.

$14/children 4 -11, $24/adults and youth 12-59, $22/seniors 60+. Children 3 and under are free.

For an additional $5 added to your cave tour admission, you can purchase a combo ticket that includes a small bag of mine rough for the gem mining sluice, as well as a barnyard food cup for the animals at the Squire’s Barnyard. Other attractions at Squire Boone Caverns include Boone’s Kitchen and Candy Shop, a rock shop that offers various gems and minerals for sale, zip lining, candle dipping, and the historic Boone’s Mill. This restored grain mill from 1800 uses water from the caverns to power the mill’s wheel.

Indiana State Forests and Parks

You may want to consider an annual entrance permit/ Indiana State Park Pass when visiting these locations.

Harrison-Crawford State Forest

7240 Old Forest Rd SW, Corydon, IN 47112

Not for the casual cave tourist, experienced spelunkers may want to pursue permission to explore the caves at Harrison-Crawford State Forest. There are many caves throughout the forested area, but access is not available to just anyone. In fact, for safety and preservation reasons, DNR personnel and the State Forest employees cannot divulge information about the location of cave entrances or other karst features in an effort to make sure only those who are authorized visit the caves.

The Division of Forestry allows limited access to forest cave resources through a registration portal. This is where adventurers register to visit the caves. Goups should include at least one experienced caver. This skilled group leader should have knowledge of all required equipment, make trip safety preparations, and follow the guidance set by the National Speleological Society.

Spring Mill State Park

3333 IN-60 E, Mitchell, IN 47446

Public cave tours at Spring Mill State Park are offered during the summer through mid-October. Visitors can take the Twin Caves Boat Tour, or access the dry side of Donaldson Cave from hiking trail 3. Twin Caves Boat Tours are offered daily from Memorial Day weekend through mid-July, and then on weekends from mid-August until mid-October. Ride a boat 500 feet into the cave before it returns, giving guests views of the cave formations and a chance to search for cave animals, including the endangered blind cavefish. Tours run on the half-hour and reservations must be made the same day, in-person at the Twin Caves shack.

$3/person. Children under the age of 3 are not permitted.

Spring Mill State Park also offers public access to select caves inside the park. In partnership with the Indiana Karst Conservancy, self-guided groups can register for special access to these caves. Access may be permitted to Donaldson/Bronson Cave year-round, the DNR portion of Upper Twin Cave from November 1 to May 15, and Endless and River Caves in Cave River Valley Natural Area from May 1 to August 31.

This state park is also home to a working pioneer village. Guests can step back in time to experience a historic grist mill powered by the cave springs. The village also includes a blacksmith shop, tavern, schoolhouse, saw mill, homes, gardens, and more. Families can also rent canoes and kayaks, visit the nature center, or see the Grissom Memorial honoring astronaut Gus Grissom. Make a weekend of your trip! Spring Mill State Park has both camping and a modern inn on-site.

O’Bannon Woods State Park

7234 Old Forest Rd, Corydon, IN 47112

At O’Bannon Woods State Park, you will find the Wyandotte Caves. The caves are open for tours seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Be aware that tours are only offered on holidays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The Little Wyandotte Cave tour takes you through the smaller cave, where you will find flowstone and dripstone formations. This trek is considered easy in terms of difficulty and lasts between 30 to 45 minutes. The tours of Little Wyandotte are open to all ages.

The Big Wyandotte Tour is a two-hour, rugged, 1.5-mile headlamp/helmet trip through the deeper sections of Big Wyandotte Cave. You’ll see the “Monument Mountain” and unique cave formations like helicities, along with gypsum, epsomite, and prehistoric flint quarries. For this tour, you must be in good physical health and able to navigate steep terrain and many stairs. No one under the age of 6 is allowed on this rugged excursion.

After the tour, you will be required to walk across a rough decontamination surface near the cave entrance as you exit the cave to prevent the movement of the fungal spores that cause White-Nose syndrome in bats.

Little Wyandotte Cave Tour: $4/children 6-11, $8/adults and youth 12+, free for ages 5 and younger. Big Wyandotte Cave Tour: $9/children 6-11, $18/adults and youth 12+

Indiana Karst Conservancy

Sullivan cave, wayne cave, & robinson ladder cave.

Request cave access and locations from the IKC

Indiana Karst Conservancy is a nonprofit group that works to preserve Indiana’s karsts and caves through active conservation. As part of their work, they also manage several caves in Indiana including Sullivan Cave, Wayne Cave, and Robinson Ladder Cave. To gain access to these caves, cavers and groups must be granted permission from the Indiana Karst Conservatory. To protect the integrity of the cave and the species that inhabit it, cavers must follow the guidelines set forth by the IKC. Visitors must use proper caving equipment and protect the cave by following the motto “leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time.” To find out specific information about the caves and how you can visit, contact the Indiana Karst Conservancy.

Spark a love of geology by introducing your kids to the astonishing, underground world of caves in Indiana. Whether you are a casual cave tourist or a dedicated, experienced spelunker, you’re sure to find something to awe and amaze you right here in our home state’s caves and caverns.

For more fun learning opportunities around Indiana, visit some of the state’s children’s museums!

Ashley Dykton

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