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Where to find caves to explore in Georgia this summer

As the temperature rises, these locations provide a stone cold adventure
AJC
By Mary Caldwell

It might be hard to imagine when you spend your time in the middle of Atlanta's lights and asphalt, but Georgia is home to more than 500 discovered caves.

Most of the state's best caves are in Northwest Georgia, where they were formed by limestone that has dissolved into groundwater over the years.

» Looking for a cool adventure? Explore caverns just a few hours from Atlanta

If you'd like to explore some of Georgia's caves, there are a couple things to remember: 1) Many are on private property or are otherwise closed to the public, so going into a cave without doing some research could land you in serious trouble; 2) Caves can be dangerous — especially if you don't have the right equipment and experience. They're dark, cold, wet environments and some have steep vertical drops.

Unless you have a lot of experience and the proper equipment, it's best to visit a cave as part of a tour.

You'll get to share the fun with others while staying safe and learning about the cave's structures and ecosystem.

The following are some caves to explore in Georgia:

Case Cave

Like Sitton's Cave, Case Cave is found in Cloudland Canyon State Park.

It requires rappelling in order to descend about 30 feet into the cave. About three miles of passageway are inside the cave, which includes a lake.

Pettijohn's Cave is located in Walker County and has several different rooms, the first of which is shown here.
Pettijohn's Cave is located in Walker County and has several different rooms, the first of which is shown here.

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Pettijohn's Cave

Sometimes also referred to as Petty John's, this cave is located in Walker County and has over six miles of underground trails. Several large rooms can be explored, as well as a tight squeeze that's been dubbed the Worm Hole.

Sitton's Cave

Part of Cloudland Canyon State Park, Sitton's Cave doesn't require ropes to safely explore it since it's a horizontal cave, according to Georgia Girl Guides. You'll be able to see cave formations including soda straw stalactites and travel along muddy banks along the side of an underground river.