The Higginbotham Cave System is a series of two large and several small wild caves in West Virginia that are located underneath the Davis Spring Basin in Greenbrier County.

This cave system is off limits to the general public – only experienced members of the West Virginia caving community are welcome inside this rugged cavern, and then only during certain times of the year, as a courtesy to endangered bats who could potentially use this cave as a winter hibernation space.

But thanks to pictures taken by the folks in the Monogahela Grotto on a trip into Higginbotham Cave #1, you can now get a rare inside glimpse inside the bowels of this West Virginia cavern that’s off limits to most of the rest of us!

Inside, you'll encounter a magnificent work of natural art. Note the massive chambers,
Dave Riggs / Flickr
the huge columns,
Dave Riggs / Flickr
and the many underground formations found inside Higginbotham Cave #1.
Dave Riggs / Flickr
Plus, a stream runs throughout the cave system, providing smooth-as-glass mirrors and even a cascade or two.
Dave Riggs / Flickr

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Oh, and that waterproof clothing you see the cavers wearing?
Dave Riggs / Flickr
That's for protection during the stream crawl.
Dave Riggs / Flickr
So far, 2.83 miles of the Higginbotham Cave System have been explored.
Dave Riggs / Flickr
This cave system is part of the largest karst basin in the state - a whopping 73 square miles.
Dave Riggs / Flickr
Karst refers to a landscape undergirded by limestone. And limestone is a rock susceptible to water erosion, as the rock will dissolve in water. This unique characteristic of limestone allows it to frequently form impressive underground ridges, towers, fissures, or sinkholes as a result. Karst is found throughout the Appalachian region, filling this area with all sorts of both discovered and undiscovered underground cave systems much like the Higginbotham Cave #1 shown in these pictures.
Only experienced cavers with professional equipment should attempt to explore such caves, and then only with permission from the cave entrance owner.
Dave Riggs / Flickr
The rest of us will just have to settle for a glimpse inside these magical underground kingdoms from afar.

Of course, if you really must see inside a West Virginia cave in person for yourself, you can always take a self-guided tour of the nearby Lost World Caverns, where you’ll see another bit of a stream originating from the same famed Davis Spring!

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Davis Spring, West Virginia 24954, USA