The cave sits in a limestone-rich valley where water has carved dramatic geological features over millennia. Sinking Valley is home to not just Tytoona Cave, but also Arch Spring, which is Pennsylvania's eighth largest spring. These two features are connected underground through a stream system, a relationship confirmed through dye tracing experiments. The spring's massive limestone arch serves as the cave's natural exit point nearly a mile downstream from the entrance.
Cave length: Nearly one mile from entrance to exit at Arch Spring
Size: Approximately 7-acre nature preserve
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| Tytoona Cave, Pennsylvania - Source: joseph20059 |
Ownership: Huntingdon County chapter of the National Speleological Society (NSS)
Acquired: December 23, 1997 from Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Location: Sinking Valley, Blair County, Pennsylvania
On the Tytoona Cave's history, it was first described in maps and writings in 1788. One of the earliest stories is of soldiers chasing a few Native American men (who'd just attacked settlers) until they escaped into the cave, causing the soldiers not to follow them. In the 1947 and 1972 there were attempts to turn it into an attraction but nature didn't play along all that well and hurt these developments. The 1972 attempt was the last time anyone tried to commercialize the site.
During its commercial periods, the cave operated under two different names: first as "Tytoona Cave" and later rebranded as "Indian River Caverns." Both ventures ultimately failed due to persistent flooding and the cave's lack of showy formations that typically draw tourists to show caves. What the cave lacked in accessible beauty, however, it made up for in hidden wonders. Early cave diving expeditions in the underwater passages revealed extensive rooms with beautiful formations that remain inaccessible to most visitors. These diving explorations came to an end after a tragic diver fatality in 1988, and diving in the cave has been restricted ever since. Despite numerous attempts, divers were never able to physically traverse the underground connection to Arch Spring due to underwater blockages.
Regardless of how the cave entrance appears in photos, it's actually quite big. Depending on the time of the year you'll be able to enter the cave and walk a ways in without getting wet. Though it's recommended that you pay attention to every step you take when going inside, for your own safety. Also, don't venture too far in unless you're a professional and never enter the water unless you have diving gear. Tytoona is dangerous and has even claimed the lives of experienced cave explorers, including one in the mid-80s.
The cave has been surveyed at least 3,740 feet in length, though the complete system from entrance to the Arch Spring exit likely extends close to a full mile. The entrance sits within a large sinkhole where a stream flows, sometimes a trickle, sometimes a torrent depending on recent rainfall. Inside, the passages are generally wide and follow the sloping limestone strata, though water and challenging terrain make navigation difficult in places. Much of the cave remains fairly accessible to experienced cavers, but conditions become significantly more difficult and wetter beyond a feature known as the "Log Jam." While you won't encounter many bats in Tytoona Cave, you may spot crayfish and salamanders in the water, and occasionally other small creatures like muskrats, snakes, and frogs that have wandered into the cave system.
The exit is nearly a mile down, at Arch Spring, and is located on private property. So viewing from that side will require permission from the landowner and entry may or may not be possible through the Arch Spring side due to past logjams.
For those interested in visiting Tytoona Cave, there's an opportunity to inspire visitors to learn about the cave and its history. It's a great natural sight to visit and will appeal to everyone, of any age. The entrance to the cave itself is unlike most caves elsewhere in the state and around the country. You can also volunteer to help take care of the cave, its grounds, and help in keeping them clean. They've had problems with vandalism, spray-painting, in the past and some of these volunteers also help keep vandals and "partiers" out.
The transformation of Tytoona Cave from a vandalized party spot to a respected nature preserve represents one of Pennsylvania's conservation success stories. The Huntingdon County Cave Hunters, working alongside the National Speleological Society, implemented comprehensive educational programs, organized cleanup operations, and established formal conservation policies that changed how the site was perceived and used. After lengthy negotiations and careful planning, the NSS's acquisition of the property in 1997 formalized these protection efforts. Today, the preserve is managed by a dedicated NSS committee that welcomes responsible cavers while maintaining strict stewardship standards. The site serves as both a recreational destination and an educational resource, demonstrating how active volunteer involvement and community investment can rescue and preserve important natural features for future generations.
Learn more about the Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve:
Tytoona Cave: a New NSS Nature Preserve by Garrett Czmor
Tytoona Cave on oocities (archived GeoCities pages)
Tytoona Cave Preserve: A NSS Cave Preserve
Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve
Flickr Photos of Tytoona Cave
During its commercial periods, the cave operated under two different names: first as "Tytoona Cave" and later rebranded as "Indian River Caverns." Both ventures ultimately failed due to persistent flooding and the cave's lack of showy formations that typically draw tourists to show caves. What the cave lacked in accessible beauty, however, it made up for in hidden wonders. Early cave diving expeditions in the underwater passages revealed extensive rooms with beautiful formations that remain inaccessible to most visitors. These diving explorations came to an end after a tragic diver fatality in 1988, and diving in the cave has been restricted ever since. Despite numerous attempts, divers were never able to physically traverse the underground connection to Arch Spring due to underwater blockages.
Regardless of how the cave entrance appears in photos, it's actually quite big. Depending on the time of the year you'll be able to enter the cave and walk a ways in without getting wet. Though it's recommended that you pay attention to every step you take when going inside, for your own safety. Also, don't venture too far in unless you're a professional and never enter the water unless you have diving gear. Tytoona is dangerous and has even claimed the lives of experienced cave explorers, including one in the mid-80s.
The cave has been surveyed at least 3,740 feet in length, though the complete system from entrance to the Arch Spring exit likely extends close to a full mile. The entrance sits within a large sinkhole where a stream flows, sometimes a trickle, sometimes a torrent depending on recent rainfall. Inside, the passages are generally wide and follow the sloping limestone strata, though water and challenging terrain make navigation difficult in places. Much of the cave remains fairly accessible to experienced cavers, but conditions become significantly more difficult and wetter beyond a feature known as the "Log Jam." While you won't encounter many bats in Tytoona Cave, you may spot crayfish and salamanders in the water, and occasionally other small creatures like muskrats, snakes, and frogs that have wandered into the cave system.
The exit is nearly a mile down, at Arch Spring, and is located on private property. So viewing from that side will require permission from the landowner and entry may or may not be possible through the Arch Spring side due to past logjams.
For those interested in visiting Tytoona Cave, there's an opportunity to inspire visitors to learn about the cave and its history. It's a great natural sight to visit and will appeal to everyone, of any age. The entrance to the cave itself is unlike most caves elsewhere in the state and around the country. You can also volunteer to help take care of the cave, its grounds, and help in keeping them clean. They've had problems with vandalism, spray-painting, in the past and some of these volunteers also help keep vandals and "partiers" out.
The transformation of Tytoona Cave from a vandalized party spot to a respected nature preserve represents one of Pennsylvania's conservation success stories. The Huntingdon County Cave Hunters, working alongside the National Speleological Society, implemented comprehensive educational programs, organized cleanup operations, and established formal conservation policies that changed how the site was perceived and used. After lengthy negotiations and careful planning, the NSS's acquisition of the property in 1997 formalized these protection efforts. Today, the preserve is managed by a dedicated NSS committee that welcomes responsible cavers while maintaining strict stewardship standards. The site serves as both a recreational destination and an educational resource, demonstrating how active volunteer involvement and community investment can rescue and preserve important natural features for future generations.
Learn more about the Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve:
Tytoona Cave: a New NSS Nature Preserve by Garrett Czmor
Tytoona Cave on oocities (archived GeoCities pages)
Tytoona Cave Preserve: A NSS Cave Preserve
Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve
Flickr Photos of Tytoona Cave
