There is something so fascinating about caves! Even man-made caves have a mysterious quality. Here is a collection of cave hikes, both large and small in Utah! Under each link is the name, the distance, the difficulty and the location (county). For some of these you’ll want to bring a flashlight to help you explore.
Timpanogos Cave
Of course Timpanogos Cave needs to be first on the list!
It is actually a series of caves filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and other amazing natural underground features.
Remember to reserve a time for your tour and be prepared for the steep hike there. All the details can be found here:
Neff’s Cave
Neff’s Cave is actually one of the deepest caves in the entire United States!
Neff’s Cave was naturally developed along a fissure in the earth and is 1,700 feet deep! It has rarely been entered and requires professional rope descents. Therefore more of it is closed off to the public for safety. Now you can only go in about 30 feet.
It’s still fun to walk in when you pass on this short trail Neff’s Canyon Loop.
Lava Tubes
The Lave Tubes are caves were created long ago in Snow Canyon State Park. Bring a flashlight and a friend if you plan to go inside these caves.
Kanab Sand Caves
This next one is man-made, but lots of fun with good photo opportunities. The Kanab Sand Caves, also called Moqui Caverns, were created for sand mining to create glass.
These require only a short hike, but one part is a bit slippery.
Ledgemere Cave
Ledgemere Cave is actually a man-made cave you can explore at the Ledgemere Picnic Area in Big Cottonwood.
This is a fun one for little kids to explore with help and can be combined with a picnic.
Rock Canyon Cave
Rock Canyon Cave is similar to Ledgemere Cave, except this one requires a moderate hike.
Hobbit Caves
The Hobbit Caves are tiny kid-size caves an easy stop in Logan Canyon.
There is a waterfall next to the Hobbit Caves and this “hike” is only a couple minutes, so it’s great for all ages.
Belly of the Dragon
The Belly of the Dragon is actually a man-made culvert under the road, but it feels like a cave (even though if you look closely you can already see the light coming in from the other end.
Kids love walking through this tunnel and the name adds greatly to the adventure!
Babylon Arch Caverns
The Babylon Arch trail is just north of St. George. The hike is named after the small arch along the trail, but the path also goes along the Virgin River, where there are some small caverns.
Wind Cave
The Wind Cave in Logan Canyon is a series of very cool formations high on the canyon wall!
Contrary to what the name suggests, this formation was created by water erosion, not the wind. This trail is steep and mostly exposed, but the views and cave are beautiful!
Mossy Cave
This is not really a cave, but a big overhang grotto that has water dripping inside. In the summer it fills with moss and in the winter with icicles.
There is also a waterfall along this family-friendly, easy trail just outside Bryce Canyon National Park.
Donut Falls
The waterfall part of Donut Falls cascades into a cavern.
The scramble to climb up in the cavern is more challenging, but the rest of the hike is easy.
Dripping Rock Falls
Dripping Rock Falls isn’t really a cave either, but you can climb under the overhang and it feels a bit like a cave.
Cathedral Gorge
Cathedral Gorge is actually over the border in Nevada, but it isn’t too far from Cedar City and cool enough to include.
Cathedral Gorge is a very cool state park filled with unique rock formations, that make slots and caves. This is a really fun place to play and explore!
Little “Caves”
Along some trails there are tiny “caves” or little spots for kids to play they are in a cave. Here is a list of trails that have them:
For other hikes, check out my recommendations. Look by location, difficulty, length, suitability, or other attractions, like lakes, waterfalls, giant flags, fall leaves, wildflowers, or winter hikes.
