Need enjoyable out of doors issues to do in Indiana? Strive these caves and caverns

As the Indiana climate heats up, you are in all probability on the lookout for your subsequent out of doors journey to be of the cooler selection. And fortunate for you, these caverns and caves usually vary from 50 to 60 levels year-round.

So seize a jacket, pull up your GPS route and journey to those native historic spots for a little bit spelunking. Here are 5 Indiana caverns and caves you’ll want to discover this summer season.

Bluespring Caverns

1459 Blue Spring Cavern Road, Bedford; bluespringcaverns.com

The lovely Bedford caverns lie an hour and a half south of Indianapolis. Their hour-long boat tour is “America’s longest navigable underground river,” according to its website, descending 400 toes earlier than ascending once more to the exit. The caves host various animals like salamanders, bats, blind crayfish and blind cavefish. Tours usually go away on the hour, from 9 a.m. to five p.m.

After the boat tour, the caverns provide gemstone mining, by which kids can prospect for fossils and gems. Visitors may also go to Indiana’s largest sinkhole by mountaineering the half-mile Karst Natural Area Trail, protecting 10 acres and reaching 90 toes deep.

Cost: $25 for adults, $12 for youth (age 15 & underneath)

Squire Boone Caverns

100 Squire Boone Road, Mauckport; squireboonecaverns.com

These caves function the largest rimstone dams accessible to the public within the United States. See stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone on the cavern partitions, ceilings and flooring. The guided one-hour strolling excursions go away each 30 – 40 minutes. The tour is a couple of third of a mile lengthy stroll on lighted, paved walkways and metal bridges. There is a 73-step spiral staircase on the finish, which isn’t suggested for these with critical medical situations.

When you are completed with the strolling tour, you’ll be able to go to the candle-making cabin, providing 23 totally different colours with 22 scents. They even have white candles which are unscented for individuals who are allergic to fragrances. You may also take a look at the Squire’s Barnyard to pet the livestock, and see how corn is floor into cornmeal and grits on the historic Boone’s Mill.

Cost: $26 for adults, $16 for kids (ages 4-11), $24 for seniors, infants are free

Wyandotte Caves

7315 S. Wyandotte Cave Road, Leavenworth; https://bit.ly/3DnxMZe

The Big Wyandotte Cave excursions are solely out there at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, or by reservation Monday by means of Thursday. The Big Wyandotte Cave options “uncommon formations known as helicities, plus gypsum, epsomite, and prehistoric flint quarries add variety.” These excursions will solely be supplied by means of Labor Day weekend.

The Little Wyandotte Cave tour will likely be out there from 9 a.m. to three:30 p.m. each half-hour on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This 30-minute tour is totally separate from the Big Wyandotte Cave, providing a “complete view of many flowstone and dripstone formations.” The tour is taken into account simple and is open to all ages.

Cost:  $18 for adults, $9 for kids (ages 6-11) for Big Wyandotte Cave tour; $8 for adults, $4 for kids (ages 6-11), free for kids 6 years previous or underneath for Little Wyandotte Cave tour

Indiana Caverns

1267 Green Acres Drive SW, Corydon; indianacaverns.com

Indiana’s longest cave tour is roughly 80 minutes lengthy, with sights just like the Midwest’s largest deposits of Ice Age bones and fossils, together with a 40-foot waterfall. The strolling and boat tour is on grated metal walkways with sections of stairs, descending and ascending 110 toes under the floor to the underground river. The cave will not be accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. These caves are open 9 a.m. to five p.m. by means of Labor Day.

The caverns even have an outside zip line/metal rollercoaster known as the “Bat Chaser,” listed because the “only the second ride of its kind in the United States and first within the Midwest.” They additionally provide “The Plunge,” a 50-foot drop on a managed descent. Tickets usually are not out there for on-line buy.

Cost:  $27 for adults, $17 for kids (ages 4-11)

Marengo Cave

400 E. State Road 64, Marengo; marengocave.com

Marengo Cave affords two totally different excursions: the Crystal Palace and the Dripstone Trail. The Crystal Palace is a straightforward 40-minute tour filled with formation-filled rooms. The Dripstone Trail is a 60-minute tour recognized for “delicate soda straws, totem pole stalagmites, and Penny Ceiling.” Both excursions go away each Half-hour, with the caves open 9 a.m. to six p.m. all days.

You can race to resolve the “Miner’s Maze,” a wood life-size maze full with 4 checkpoints. For an additional problem, discover the letters B-A-T-S or R-O-C-Ok. Or each! The maze prices $5 and takes roughly 10-Half-hour to resolve.

Cost: $32 for adults, $20 for kids (ages 4-12), free for ages 3 and underneath

Brooke Eberle is an Audience Editor. You can attain her at beberle@indystar.com. Follow her on BlueSky @brookeebs.bsky.social or on X @brookeeberle97.