INDIVIDUALS, GROTTOS AND COLLEGE OUTING CLUBS
All caves require that you follow standard safe and conservation minded caving practices.
There are no bathroom facilities at NCC preserves. Please plan ahead. The NCC supports the principles of Leave No Trace.
The National Speleological Society, Inc. (NSS) and the Northeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (NCC) are completely separate 501(c)(3) organizations. Both are staffed by volunteers. Neither charge a fee for use of their properties but are happy to receive donations at the addresses listed below. We have combined this information to help make your visits to these caves easier.
Contact your local caving club through caves.org if you are looking for a guide as they may be able to help you.
Please refer to individual preserve pages for permit requirements for each preserve.
For special use groups such as summer camps, church groups, scouts, and school groups, please contact the NCC special use coordinators to schedule trips into the caves. Insurance or certificate thereof may be required for these groups, and they may be required to show proof that they are complying with their own rules regarding caving. A PDF version of the NCC special use group form requirements can be found here.
CAVES OWNED BY THE NORTHEASTERN CAVE CONSERVANCY (NCC)
Knox Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Kneepads highly recommend
- Special Use groups require a permit
- All others must contact preserve manager for permit
Contact Preserve Manager:
knox@necaveconservancy.org
Clarksville Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party. Maximum of 15.
- Special Use groups require a permit
- For others open caving from 7AM to 11PM
Contact Preserve Manager:
clarksville@necaveconservancy.org
Bentleys Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party. Maximum of 15.
- Special Use groups require a permit
- For others no permit
- Park in the main parking area off Rt 22.
Ella Armstrong
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Special use groups require a permit.
- For others no permit is needed.
- Park at Ella Armstrong parking area.
- Each party member must be proficient in vertical caving techniques and have their own set of gear.
Contact Preserve Manager:
ella_armstrong@necaveconservancy.org
Onesquethaw Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Special use groups require a permit.
- All others must contact preserve manager for permit and provide the number in group.
- Kneepads are required.
Contact Preserve Manager:
onesquethaw@necaveconservancy.org
Sellecks, Levys, Cave 575
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Not recommended for special use groups.
- Open caving, no permits needed.
- Each party member must have own vertical equipment and be proficient in its use.
- Park in NCC parking area.
Contact Preserve Manager:
sellecks@necaveconservancy.org
Merlins Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party, maximum of 8.
- Not recommended for special use groups.
- All others must contact preserve manager for permit.
- Trips must be led by a Merlins cave steward.
- Park in the Merlins parking area, do not block gate.
Contact Preserve Manager:
merlins@necaveconservancy.org
Bensons Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Each party member must be proficient in vertical caving techniques and have their own set of gear.
- Visitors are strictly forbidden from continuing north into Secret Caverns unless written permission has been obtained from the Secret Caverns Management.
- Special Use groups require a permit.
- All others must contact preserve manager for permit.
Contact Preserve Manager:
bensons@necaveconservancy.org
Crossbones Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Window sheet for parking.
- Read information sheet.
- Date specific release form (sign in sheet).
- Each party member must be proficient in vertical caving techniques and have their own set of gear.
- Key needed.
- Not recommended for special use groups.
Merlins Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party, maximum of 8.
- Not recommended for special use groups.
- All others must contact preserve manager for permit.
- Trips must be led by a Merlins cave steward.
- Park in the Merlins parking area, do not block gate.
Contact Preserve Manager:
merlins@necaveconservancy.org
Bensons Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Each party member must be proficient in vertical caving techniques and have their own set of gear.
- Visitors are strictly forbidden from continuing north into Secret Caverns unless written permission has been obtained from the Secret Caverns Management.
- Special Use groups require a permit.
- All others must contact preserve manager for permit.
Contact Preserve Manager:
bensons@necaveconservancy.org
Crossbones Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Window sheet for parking.
- Read information sheet.
- Date specific release form (sign in sheet).
- Each party member must be proficient in vertical caving techniques and have their own set of gear.
- Key needed.
- Not recommended for special use groups.
Spider Cave
- Minimum of 3 in party.
- Open caving.
- Not recommended for special use groups.
- Park in the large pull-off down from the cave on the opposite side of the road.
Contact Preserve Manager:
spider@necaveconservancy.org
Alan Traino Preserve
- Minimum of 3 in party for either cave.
- Special Use groups require a permit
- For others no permit is required.
Contact Preserve Manager:
traino_preserve@necaveconservancy.org
CAVES OWNED BY THE NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY (NSS)
Note: These caves are owned by the National Speleological Society (NSS), which is a separate organization from the NCC. The links contained here are for informational purposes only; please refer to the NSS preserve pages for details and access requirements on these caves.