Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave is a lava tube located on the Markagunt Plateau in the Dixie National Forest of Souther Utah, and is one of the largest lava tubes in Utah. The cave has over 2,200 feet of passage and is about a quarter mile long. It was formed by cooling lava and water less than 2,000 years ago. Due to moisture and its elevation of 8,050 feet above sea level the cave stays cool year round.

The cave looks like a big hole in the ground at first glance and is fun to explore. Take a good light for every person. The cave is pitch dark after the first turn. The exit is a small tube that allows only enough room to slide through on your belly. If you are large or claustrophobic turn around and go back the way you came. Water seepage at the end of the cave makes the rocks slippery. Wear appropriate hiking shoes into the cave.

The cave has four chambers, the largest to the west. At the end of the largest tunnel, it narrows to a small opening that can be used as an exit.