All Level 3 Field Trips
Level 3:
All Level 3 trips have a minimum age limit of 15. These trips will offer prolonged hiking and exposure to the weather. Some of these trips take you off designated hiking trails into more difficult and rough terrain. Trips can last up to 6 hours in length. Level 3 caving trips are more strenuous and physically demanding than level two cave trips. They offer prolonged crawling and or belly crawls through small, constricted passages. Extended periods of bending, stooping and longer tighter belly crawls might be required. Wet conditions, which may or may not exist, can create the possibility of hypothermia. You must be able to fit through a 12-inch squeeze test. Level 3 cave trips will last 3-6 hours in length.
Saturday 8:30am 
3 hours Level: 3 Limit: 20 During this four-mile hike, you will learn to decipher tell-tale surface features that are indicative of a dynamic sub-surface environment. Cave entrances, sinkholes, pits, shelters, springs, arches, and bridges will be featured on this scenic ramble. The hike follows the Three Bridges Trail, with several short off-trail ventures.
Trip Fee: $5.00 - Meets at lodge . No transportation required.
Saturday 8:30am 5 hours Level: 3 Limit: 18 This is an extensive cave system with many dusty crawling and walking passageways. The dust will be flying in the crawls so if you have breathing problems this is not the trip for you. Highlights include encountering the famous Bills Crawl, a 100 ft. belly crawl utilizing only your elbows and toes. The trip to the cave entrance is a 300 ft. climb up a 30 degree banking, so you should be in good health to participate in this trip and have past caving experience. This cave is one with a long history including a short stint as a commercial cave in the late 1800s. In case of cold weather, it is suggested you wear a coat to the cave entrance and leave it until the return. Note: 20 miles of car travel roundtrip. These caves are on private property and we have permission to visit them during Winter Adventure Weekend Only!
You need: Helmet, Chin Strap, Headlamp, 2 Extra Lights, Ankle-High Boots, Knee Pads, Gloves And More.
Trip Fee: $10.00 - Meets as lodge. Transportation required.
Saturday 9:30am 6 hours Level: 3 Limit: 15 A BIG cave, with numerous entrances, and just getting there is a challenge. You'll hike about a half mile to the cave through cow pastures and steep sloping hills and maybe snow and ice, and then you must decide, "How wet do I really want to get?" Understand that eventually you'll be making that half mile hike back to your vehicle. Wet gear is recommended if you want to get really wet, but most will choose only to get their boots wet. There are only a few short necessary crawls, but for those of you that love to crawl, opportunities will be available. Bring a change of clothes for afterwards. NOTE: This trip attempts to avoid as much water as possible. NOTE: 25 miles of car travel round trip. The cave is on private property and we have permission to visit the cave only during Winter Adventure Weekend!
You need: Helmet, Chin Strap, Headlamp, 2 Extra Lights, Ankle-High Boots, Knee Pads, Gloves And More.
Trip Fee: $10.00 - Meets at lodge. Transportation required.
Saturday 10:30am 4 hours Level: 3 Limit: 10 This trip will show you that Bat Cave does not have to be a cave for beginner cavers. On this trip you will visit most of the tight long crawl passages found within the cave. This trip consists of some walking passage, extended hand and knee crawls, rock scrambling, and belly crawls that will leave you wet, muddy, sore and exhausted.
You need: Helmet, Chin Strap, Headlamp, 2 Extra Lights, Ankle-High Boots, Knee Pads, Gloves And More.
Trip Fee: $10.00 - Meets at lodge. Transportation required.
Saturday 11:00am 6 hours Level: 3 Limit: 15 A BIG cave, with numerous entrances, and just getting there is a challenge. You'll hike about a half mile to the cave through cow pastures and steep sloping hills and maybe snow and ice, and then you must decide, "How wet do I really want to get?" Understand that eventually you'll be making that half mile hike back to your vehicle. Wet gear is recommended if you want to get really wet, but most will choose only to get their boots wet. There are only a few short necessary crawls, but for those of you that love to crawl, opportunities will be available. Bring a change of clothes for afterwards. NOTE: This trip attempts to avoid as much water as possible. NOTE: 25 miles of car travel round trip. The cave is on private property and we have permission to visit the cave only during Winter Adventure Weekend!
You need: Helmet, Chin Strap, Headlamp, 2 Extra Lights, Ankle-High Boots, Knee Pads, Gloves And More.
Trip Fee: $10.00 - Meets at lodge. Transportation required.
Saturday 12:30pm 3 hours Level: 3 Limit: 20 A multi-mile hike after a short drive to Cascade Cave. This will be an on-trail/off-trail hike up the valley paralleling the Cascade Cave System (Cascade, Sandy, Jones, Tire Creek, Waterfall caves) demonstrating a variety of impressive karst features including streams, an insurgence, springs, many cave entrances, a karst window, and arches. Time and weather permitting, various sandstone features can be visited as well (caves, springs).
Trip Fee: $5.00 - Meets at lodge . Transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm 4 hours Level: 3 Limit: 10 This hiking and caving trip will take you into the beautiful Tygart's Creek Gorge. This trip will consist of 1 1/2 hours of scenic hiking through rough terrain and steep inclines around Tygarts Creek. Along the way you will get to see two - three different wild caves. Skyscraper Cave is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in Carter County. On this trip you will have to navigate through a very narrow canyon passage and a very tight S-turn side crawl for about 15-20ft. But the formation filled room at the end makes it well worth the crawl getting there. After Skyscraper Cave you will venture off to another cave or two found within the Tygarts Creek Gorge. The caves are on private property and we have permission to visit the cave during Winter Adventure Weekend Only!
You need: Helmet, Chin Strap, Headlamp, 2 Extra Lights, Ankle-High Boots, Knee Pads, Gloves And More.
Trip Fee: $10.00 - Meets at lodge. Transportation required.
Saturday 1:00pm 4 hours Level: 3 Limit: 8 Visit at least 4 Caves, 2 Natural Bridges and one overlook on the lodge side of Smoky Lake. This trip will consist of 2 miles of hiking with some being both on and off designated trails. There will be some decent elevation changes at times during the hike. You will want to dress in layers and for the elements we are having outdoor and at least one of the caves has the potential to get you wet.
You need: Helmet, Chin Strap, Headlamp, 2 Extra Lights, Ankle-High Boots, Knee Pads, Gloves And More.
Trip Fee: $10.00 - Meets at lodge. No transportation required.
Saturday 3:00pm 1.5 hours Level: 3 Limit: 7 Experience the drop of a lifetime as you rappel through the sinkhole in the top of Carter Cave's Natural Bridge! Enjoy not only the experience of rappelling but also the natural beauty of the area as you descend over 60 feet into the bed of Cave Branch Stream. Thousands of people enjoy the view of our Natural Bridge from the ground up, but only a few get to enjoy the view from top down. Here is your chance to be one of the few! For your safety and comfort, there is a weight limit of 250 lbs, however you must also fit in the harness per manufacturer's safety guidelines. This trip requires a 1/4 mile walk from the Welcome Center to the Rappel Site.
Trip Fee: $5.00 - Follow signs from in front of Welcome Center. Transportation required.
Sunday 8:30am 5 hours Level: 3 Limit: 18 This is an extensive cave system with many dusty crawling and walking passageways. The dust will be flying in the crawls so if you have breathing problems this is not the trip for you. Highlights include encountering the famous Bills Crawl, a 100 ft. belly crawl utilizing only your elbows and toes. The trip to the cave entrance is a 300 ft. climb up a 30 degree banking, so you should be in good health to participate in this trip and have past caving experience. This cave is one with a long history including a short stint as a commercial cave in the late 1800s. In case of cold weather, it is suggested you wear a coat to the cave entrance and leave it until the return. Note: 20 miles of car travel roundtrip. These caves are on private property and we have permission to visit them during Winter Adventure Weekend Only!
You need: Helmet, Chin Strap, Headlamp, 2 Extra Lights, Ankle-High Boots, Knee Pads, Gloves And More.
Trip Fee: $10.00 - Meets as lodge. Transportation required.
Sunday 9:00am 4 hours Level: 3 Limit: 10 This hiking and caving trip will take you into the beautiful Tygart's Creek Gorge. This trip will consist of 1 1/2 hours of scenic hiking through rough terrain and steep inclines around Tygarts Creek. Along the way you will get to see two - three different wild caves. Skyscraper Cave is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in Carter County. On this trip you will have to navigate through a very narrow canyon passage and a very tight S-turn side crawl for about 15-20ft. But the formation filled room at the end makes it well worth the crawl getting there. After Skyscraper Cave you will venture off to another cave or two found within the Tygarts Creek Gorge. The caves are on private property and we have permission to visit the cave during Winter Adventure Weekend Only!
You need: Helmet, Chin Strap, Headlamp, 2 Extra Lights, Ankle-High Boots, Knee Pads, Gloves And More.
Trip Fee: $10.00 - Meets at lodge. Transportation required.