Explore Indiana’s underground — 4 unique cave experiences

Indiana is home to more than 1,000 caves — some of which remain untouched — because of its karst environment, which is a landscape formed by the dissolution of carbonate rocks.

The exciting part for adventurers? Many of the caves in this midwest gem are open for exploring.

• Plus, plus, plus: Four of Indiana's most popular caves are under a four-hour drive from St. Louis.

🏞 Cave IN Indiana

A trip to Indiana isn't complete without exploring the state's renowned caves.

The deets: Explore these four caves by foot or by boat.

• Visit Bluespring Caverns to cruise along the nation's longest navigable underground river by electric boat and see the cave in a whole new way. The one-hour tour is illuminated by the pocket of light that follows your boat through darkness — plus, you'll see bats, rare cavefish and spotted red-orange salamanders.
• Go underground at Indiana Caverns Family Adventure Park with a cave tour to view Ice Age bones and fossils, travel through Big Bone Mountain, and see beautiful formations and a 40-foot waterfall. Visitors can also learn to mine, sifting through the sand to uncover gemstones and fossils.
• A U.S. National Natural Landmark, Marengo Cave is the state's most visited natural attraction with two different tour options for explorers. Crystal Palace winds through formation-filled "rooms" and past huge flowstone deposits, while Dropstone Trail is known for delicate soda straws, totem pole stalagmites and Penny Ceiling.
• Get up close with unique formations at Squire Boone Caverns. This living cave features rushing streams that carry more than a million gallons of water through the cave and over rarely seen underground waterfalls.

Worth a mention: Exploring Indiana's caves is more fun when you stay the night.

• Marengo Cave offers four rustic cabins and a large campsite — or you can opt for a more traditional hotel or bed and breakfast nearby the other caves.

Next steps: Indiana's Trip Builder Tool can help you map out the best route once you decide which attractions you'd like to visit.

Explore Indiana's caves.