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Spring
Cave Downloads |
CAVE
CLOSURES IN EFFECT... The USFS has announced
a 12 month cave closure for Colorado caves on National
Forest. Their list will include Spring Cave, Fulford
Cave, and Hubbard Cave... For details, please visit
this link
Park
Description:
Located
near Buford, Colorado (near Meeker)... Spring
Cave is a superb Colorado Odyssey. Its most characteristic
feature is its underground water features. From
the subterranean river, stream, and lakes to its
mysterious
water passage,
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Spring Cave retains many unknown secrets. Early
summer access can be blocked due to high water
levels and fast moving water from the spring runoff.
Our recommendation is that visitors wait until
August or September... PLEASE BE CAREFUL NEAR
MOVING WATER AND WATCH OUT FOR
HIDDEN CURRENTS IN ALL WATER
FEATURES. We also recommend that visitors bring
their own mountaineering ropes. Several sections
require ropes to descend/ascend and the ropes
left behind can be of questionable integrity.
Please visit our virtual tour as we proudly present
this top notch weekend adventure. Spring Cave
is accessible via a dirt road and then by trail.
During the summer months, most cars (with regular
clearance) should be able to access the trailhead.
Please bring plenty of cash, in small bills, as
there are FEES for staying in the park. For more
information, please download the "Area Information"
pdf and the "Cave Travel Notes" pdf
(below).
Park Affiliation:
USDA
White River National Forest
Trail
Description:
The
Spring Cave Trail is a short, steep, and well
marked trail that rises a little over 300 ft.
in 0.64 miles. As it climbs and bends, you will
get a great view of South Fork Canyon. Not long
after you see the canyon, the trail abruptly
ends at Spring Cave. For
more information, please download the "Waypoints
& Tracks" GPS file & Elevation
Profiles (below).
Ratings (up to 5.5):
Hiking = Physical
Rating/Technical Rating... 2.0/2.0
Mountain Biking = Physical
Rating/Technical Rating... Not Applicable
Trail Running = Physical
Rating/Technical Rating... Not Applicable
Wildlife:
Bears,
Mountain Lions, etc.
Potential
Hazards:
MOVING
WATER, HIDDEN CURRENTS in water features, Rising
Water, Falling Rocks, Flood, Falls, and Wild
Animals
For an up-to-date report on avalanche conditions...
visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center
(link
below).
Navigation:
Because of the complexities of this cave, we
recommend downloading all
Maps, Area Information, Driving Directions,
Elevation Profiles, and GPS Downloads (below).
Please
Note... GPS
units do not work in caves or underground.
Facts and History:
Discovered
in December of 1891 by a prospector named Hooper,
Spring Cave initially did not attract a lot
of visitors. Apparently, the citizens of Meeker,
Colorado were not interested in tales of a cave
with an underground river. This began to change
in the 1920s and the White River National Forest
installed a sign along the White River that
indicated where the trail to the cave was. In
September of 1931, ranger Earl Ericson produced,
from his field notes, Spring Cave's first known
map.
In November of 1962, Mauck Briedis and Stephan
Kaeds (of the Colorado School of Mines Grotto
National Speleological Society) performed a
tape and compass survey which was later adapted
into a map which has been used for over 4 decades
(currently featured at the Cave's Entrance).
In 1975, the first known scuba diver team pushed
beyond the Water Passage. Over the years there
have been several scuba dives pushing further
into the cave. The collection of dives has revealed
that there are 3 more water passages (or sumps)
beyond the Water Passage featured on the updated
map. To date, there is no account of reaching
the end of Spring Cave. Many believe there are
a lot of passages yet to be discovered. In September
of 1996, it was discovered that the nearby Summer's
End Cave might be a source for Spring Cave's
water when flourescein dye successfully trickled
from Summer's End Cave to Spring Cave's stream.
In September of 2008, BigDaddyMaps.com performed
a compass and electronics survey to chart beyond
the Bridge Room, into the lower sections of
the cave, and all the way to the Water Passage
(updated Map featured in the "Maps"
pdf link below).
During their voyage, the BigDaddyMaps.com team
attempted to navigate the Water Passage in a
personal floatation device. Unfortunately the
floatation device was slightly too wide to breach
all the way into the room beyond the Water Passage.
When it was all said and done, they got within
8 feet of breaking thru into the next room.
The team returned in September 2009 to continue
their survey. Although they were able to survey
other areas of the cave, they were foiled (once
again) by the water passage... this time by
cold temperature. The team, from BigDaddymaps.com,
will return (again) in September of 2010 to
continue their exploration and mapping of Spring
Cave. This time they are bringing their dry
suits.
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