Caves

The caves of Washington are as varied as the terrains that contain them.

Within a two hour drive of Bellingham there are several limestone caves that range from tight stream crawls to walking passage and bare limestone to well decorated caverns.

There are ice caves formed in glaciers and ice falls, sea caves along the rugged coast of the Olympic Peninsula, boulder caves formed from the collapse of a Greenstone cliff face, marble caves present in the Cascade mountain range, and world class lava tubes all within daytrip distance.

For the more adventurous, Vancouver Island in Canada has ongoing exploration in some of the most rugged and remote limestone in North America, most of it vertical and nearly all of it big, bigger, and biggest!

Idaho offers some phenomenal caving in marble, limestone, and lava including the most beautiful cave in the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon has even more limestone and lava tubes for those who can’t get enough in Washington.

There will be no shortage of caves or cave types for convention attendees to explore, from family day trips to multi-day hardcore exploration, Washington and the Pacific Northwest has it all!

Pre, Post, and During Convention Caving Trips

BCCR (British Columbia Cave Rescue) - a weeklong seminar the week before convention (July 29 through August 5, 2006) in Gold River, BC.  Visit the BCCR web site or contact contact Phil Whitfield (pwhitfield@telus.net and 250 372-5079) for more information.

Cave Ridge - August 7th, 9th, and 11th.  Visit the Cave Ridge - During convention page for detailed information.

Cave Ridge - August 8th and 10th.  Visit the Cave Ridge - More convention page for detailed information.

Iron Goat Trail Cascade Tunnel - August 8th (& possibly the 10th).  This is not exactly caving.  Visit the Iron Goat page for more information.

Big 4 Ice Caves, Senger's Talus, and Three Mile Creek - During convention self guided trips.  Visit the Local Vicinity Caves page for more information.

Three Mile Creek - August 6th, 12th, & 13th - Pre and Post guided trips.  Visit the Local Vicinity - Three Mile Creek page for detailed information.

Cypress Island - During convention guided trip.  Visit the Local Vicinity - Cypress Island page for detailed information.

Windy Creek Cave - During convention guided trip.  Visit the Local Vicinity - Windy Creek Cave page for detailed information.

Mt. Adams Lava Caves - August 4th & 5th.  Visit the Mt. Adams - Trout Lake page for detailed information.

More Mt. Adams - August 4th, 5th, 12th, & 13th. Visit the Mt.Adams - Trout Lake Guler Camp page for more information.

Still more Mt. Adams - July 31st through August 4th.  Trips to a number of caves of the Indian Heavens Volcanic Field. Visit the Mt. Adams - Indian Heavens Volcanic Field page for more information.

Mount St. Helens Pre-Convention Campout - August 03, 2006 - August 06, 2006

Papoose Cave, Idaho - August 2nd through August 4th.  Visit the Idaho page for detailed information and requirements.

Great Expectations, Wyoming - August 2nd through August 4th.  Visit the Wyoming page for detailed information.

Wymer, Vancouver Island - Post convention trips starting August 13th.  Visit the Vancouver page for trip details.

Cave Ridge - Post convention trip on August 13th.  Visit the King County page for more information.

More trips will be posted here as information is available.