Of the nation's many cave areas, few can rival south-central Indiana in the perfection of its karst features. Located in a northward-extending arm of the Interior Low Plateaus, a sequence of Paleozonic age limestones, sandstones, and shales has been spared the cover of glacial drift which masks the bedrock in five-sixths of Indiana.

Differential erosion of these explosed rocks has produced a distinctive physiography consisting of a broad limestone plateau, called the Mitchell Plain, bordered on the east and west by highlands of more resistant rocks. These Mississippian age rocks include the limestone units of the Ramp Creeek, Harrodsburg, and sSalem (Sanders Group), and the St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, and Paoli Limestones (Blue River Group), with a total thickness of about 500 feet. This sequence is underlain by interbedded siltstones and shales of the Borden Group, which are exposed to the east of the Mitchell Plain to form the Norman Upland. The limestone sequence is overlain by interbedded sandstone, limestones, and shales of the Chester Series which form the Crawford Upland to the west of the Mitchell Plain. These geologic relationships extend southward into Kentucky, where karst development is even more striking.
Most of Indiana's caverns and associated karst phenomena are located in the Mitchell Plain and in limestone ridges capped by sandstone in the Crawford Upland. Four factors combine to make this a classic karst region:

1. Erosion has exposed the limestones over a large, continuous area because of the low regional dip (30 feet per mile to the south-southwest) and lack of glacial cover;
   
2. The humid climate of southern Indiana favors solutional processes;
   
3. Most of the limestones are dense and compact so that solution is concentrated along joints and bedding plains rather than dispersed throughout intergranular spaces;
   
4. Master (base-level) streams are incised deeply into the limestones, creating local hydraulic gradients sufficient for karst development over an extensive areas.

Information about caves and caving will be posted in the Cave Information Room located at the Campground. Self-service kiosk computers and volunteers will be able to provide information about what caves to visit, cave access information, landowner relations, and other useful tips.

Indiana caves remain roughly 58 degrees F. (14C) year-round, offering a cool escape from the hot and humid Indiana summer weather. Historically, July is the rainiest month of the year and it is not uncommon for afternoon thunderstorms to pop up. This is Convention, of course! Please consider this before venturing into any flood-prone cave!

Within an hour’s drive of the Convention campground, there are nearly 1000 known caves. Most of these lie on private property, and many of them may not be available for visitation during the Convention. Please check with the Convention staff before you venture out, and we will help make your visit a successful one.

What caving safely and caving safety?
Check out this informative series, Caving, coming back alive
Or check out the NSS Site, Caving Safety & Techniques

Commercial Caves:

  Bluespring Caverns - In 1940 a large pond suddenly disappeared overnight in a torrential downpour. The following day, the morning sun revealed an entrance to miles of breathtaking limestone caverns and what is known as the world’s longest underground river.

      Marengo Cave - In 1984, the cave was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service as the area’s most highly decorated cavern.

  Squire Boone Caverns - It was the Boone brothers, Daniel and Squire, who in 1790, discovered the caverns that are now part of the Village. Squire’s life was spared when he hid in the caverns from a band of pursuing Indians.

      Wyandotte Caves - Nestled in the hills of the Harrison Crawford State Forest, Wyandotte Caves have fascinated visitors for over 150 years.

There will be three pre-convention caving camps. These will start on Thursday or Friday before Convention. Find out more about each camp with the link provided.

1.   Indiana - The St. Joseph Valley Grotto will host this camp near the town of
     Orleans, Indiana

2.   Kentucky - The Fort Knox Grotto will host this camp at Camp Carlson, Kentucky

3.   Kentucky - The CRF will host this camp at Hamilton Valley, Kentucky

1.   Kentucky - The Louisville Grotto will host this camp at Lone Star Preserve,
     Kentucky