Going Caving in West Virginia
Inside Organ Cave. Photo by Valerius Tygart
Organ Cave
Where: Near Lewisburg, W.Va., in Greenbrier County
How to access: The cave has more than 45 miles of mapped passages. Tours are offered year-round, and are by reservation only from November through April.Reservations are recommended May through October. Organ Cave is always closed on Sundays. Prices vary.
Difficulty: Tours range from kid-friendly to more advanced spelunking options called “Exploring Expeditions.”
Fun fact: Organ Cave is part of the longest cave system in the state and is listed as a National Natural Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a part of the West Virginia Civil War Trails. Organ Cave was used in the Civil War as a mining operation for saltpeter to produce gunpowder, and today the cave has the largest collection of saltpeter hoppers from the Civil War.
Contact: Visit organcave.com or call (304) 645-7600
West Virginia Cave Conservancy
Where: Various cave locations in West Virginia and Virginia
How to Access: While the conservancy strives to preserve access to the caves it manages, all commercial use of its properties is banned. Several of the caves require advance arrangements with the conservancy for access.
Difficulty: The conservancy’s cave preserves are largely restricted, and only highly experienced cavers are encouraged to explore these locations.
Fun fact: West Virginia Cave Conservancy is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization committed to preserving and managing cave resources. In order to protect significant caves and preserve the access to them, the conservancy owns and seeks out ownership of cave properties, as well as forming agreements with other property owners for the management of the caves.
Contact info: wvcc.net
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