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Howe Caverns are the second most popular attraction in NY State and are only a 1-hour drive from Herkimer, NY.
Believe it or not there are at least 38 Herkimer County Caves. Many more may exist, but have yet to be unearthed. It’s possible that the locations of some have simply been kept a secret.
Modern man can live in caves
The list below was reprinted from the caves.org website. Caves have been used for thousands of years as homes for humans. But today more than ever before, they can be a source of shelter and serenity. Protected from weather extremes yet capable of providing warm and inviting living spaces, they might be exactly what you’re looking for in a home. Even if they’re not your cup of tea, they do make for great fun exploring.
An organization dedicated to researching caves is The Northeast Cave Conservancy. They are interested in caves and limestone areas where stalagmites and stalactites form. Collecting geological, biological and hydrological data is important to them. So is keeping recreational cave explorers safe.
Keeping safe
Dangers of cave exploration include hypothermia, getting lost, being hit by falling objects, slipping on wet surfaces and falls into pits and crevices.
Handy rules for cave safety can be found in this free online handbook.
Do you live near a cave?
Herkimer County Caves (reprinted from caves.org)
“200 foot cave, Ice Cave Mountain 39-66mr,67p
3-D fracture maze, Ice Cave Mountain 23-107r
400 foot cave, Ice Cave Mountain 39-66m,67r
60 foot cave, Ice Cave Mountain 39-66m,67r
Austins Cave 44-60r,61r
Bottomless Pit 3-21r,37-95r,44-21h,23rg,24m
Buttonhole Cave (see also Schroeders Pants Cave) 3-21r,41-73h
Cave Disillusion 10-69d,24-136r
cave near Jordanville 25-24r,34-52r
cave on county line 25-4r
Chyle Hole 24-137r,25-4r
Corregidor Cave 32-61r
Cullen (Kenyons) Cave 22-79o,27-29dm,44-59r,61r
Cupids Retreat 44-110rx
Daves Crevasse 39-65m
Diamond Cave 3-21r
dig in Herkimer County 28-119r
drains below Little Falls 38-28r
fissure cave south of Van Hornesville 34-131r
fissure in Van Hornesville 25-4r
fissures south of Van Hornesville 21-35r
Hinmans Cave 29-119r
Ice Cave Mountain Cave 34-24r,36-88r,39-64rp,65m
Kitchen, The 34-131r
Moss Island pothole caves 22-63d, 40-43r
Mountain Ice Cave 39-131dm
RCRB Cave 36-90r
Rogers Crevasse 39-65m
Schroeders Pants Cave (Buttonhole Cave, Herkimer System) 5-84a,21-9a,64d,35-75orah,36-108r,37-79p,81rp,90arh,91arh,92ah,95r,
96p,97m,98ah,102ahr,123a,124ap,125p,38-75ah,111r,39-14ha,15m,58ahp,41-47rp,48dmp,49dm,73h,44-22ha,45r,60r,61r
Septic Tank Cave 21-44r,37-137r
silver mine, Stark 34-131r
Split Rock Caves 24-137rx
Stairstep Shafts Cave 10-69d,24-136r,38-61r,44-45r
talus caves near Summit Mtn. 32-61r
Zurlos Pants Cave 3-21r,37-95r”