INTO THE DARK · CAVES DIRECTORY
Washington's cave geology splits between Cascade lava tubes and isolated limestone caves in the Olympic and Selkirk ranges. Ape Cave on Mount St. Helens is the third-longest lava tube in North America — two miles of 42°F passage formed 1,900 years ago with no installed lighting and no infrastructure. A serious lava tube experience. Gardner Cave in Crawford State Park near the Canadian border is the most accessible show cave in the state.
Every cave listed here is on public or accessible land. Always bring three light sources, water, and let someone know your plans before entering any undeveloped cave. Temperature inside: typically 50–62°F year-round. Explore all caves on the Trek4Free map →
The third-longest lava tube in the contiguous United States — 2.5 miles of continuous passage beneath the southern flank of Mount St. Helens, formed when an eruption 2,000 years ago sent a sheet of ba…
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 48.0541°N, 121.5192°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.8959°N, 119.1982°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.8583°N, 121.4630°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 48.4087°N, 123.7539°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 48.9963°N, 117.3710°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.3018°N, 121.9499°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 46.4600°N, 121.8603°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.4510°N, 121.4106°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 48.3962°N, 122.1831°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.4532°N, 121.4087°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.4513°N, 121.4102°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.5447°N, 121.9052°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.4526°N, 121.4082°W
OSM-mapped cave entrance · 47.5186°N, 121.9966°W
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