Beware: You should never explore wild caves alone or without proper gear. Consider getting in touch with a Grotto of the National Speleological Society at www.caves.org or a qualified cave club. These groups are skilled and will train you. Without sufficient knowledge, preparation, and equipment, cave exploring can lead to serious injury or death.
Louisiana is a state that doesn’t offer a whole lot of options when it comes to caves. In fact, according to some, there’s only one real cave here, but it is still an interesting one.
While it’s unlikely that people travel to Louisiana just for its caves, there’s still some good fun to have there. You have probably heard of the Mardi Gras celebrations, jazz music, and lots of incredible food. There’s plenty to do there, and when you’re done filling up with the diverse cuisine, consider exploring some of the natural sites that are found here too.
The birthplace of the American blues, Louisiana is a popular destination for tourism for good reason. Let’s take a look at some of the few caves you can find in the state.
Murrell’s Caves
Located in Western Louisiana, this complex network of caves are historically significant for being hideouts for John Murrell.
John Murrell was an outlaw popular in the 1880s, and he often used these caves for an array of things. These uses include a living space for Murrell and his men, storage for horses and mules, and a storage area for stolen treasures.
The caves had many rooms of varied shapes and sizes, so the area was practical for what Murrell needed to do. Legend had it that Murrell’s treasure remains in the caves, and people often went searching for it.
Unfortunately in 1942, the US Forest Service chose to dynamite the caves in order to stop people from getting lost or injured. Murrell’s Caves have been mostly destroyed, but there are still remnants you can see.
Wild Caves
Rumor has it that Louisiana has many unmarked, unregulated caves. These caves are not easily reachable, so be sure to do your research and keep a good map in handy.
In addition, these caves are not regulated by the government. You must be careful while searching and exploring them if you choose to do so. If you want to find a wild cave on your own, search areas near other caves/caverns and areas with heavy erosion.
It is somewhat common for a cave to have a nearby unexplored area when you’re around certain wild caves. Erosion provides us with the right atmosphere for caves to form, so being wary of these traits could lead you to brand new areas to explore.
Wolf Rock Cave
Definitely the most known cave in the state, Wolf Rock is the only technical cave in Louisiana.
Notable for its use by the Archaic People as early as 2500 BCE, barracks by the Union side in the Civil War, and as a popular campsite in the 1950-60s, this cave has been popular for many years. Experts believe the cave itself is as old as 30 million years.
Wolf Rock Cave was put under the jurisdiction of the United States Forest Service in the 70s. They deemed the area unsafe and unstable for public visitation, which led to its destruction by explosives, as they sealed parts of it off. The area can still be visited but the large room said to be inside is now closed to the public, making the trip a bit lackluster.
The trail to get to the cave is quite short, only about 300-600 feet (91-180 meters), and quite leisurely. You can bring children, pets, and the whole family if you are exploring together.
There’s a narrow entrance that more adventurous cavers can try to get through, though you will have to crawl. Inside, it’s quite damp and you will want some good footwear and perhaps knee and elbow pads.
Be careful though, because depending on when you go, you may come across some wild animals. Bats, coyotes, and even black bears lurk around the area.
Conclusion
We would love to learn more about some other options in Louisiana, but unfortunately there aren’t many. In time, as people explore some of the wild caves on their own, it’s likely we will update this list of Louisiana Caves.
Until then, feel free to check out some of the neighboring states for more spelunking options!
Texas Caves