Crowders Mountain PoInts of Interest
Caves Index


Crowders Mountain State Park is filled with numerous caves of varying sizes.  While none of them are spectacular, compared to other "deep" caves, some of them are quite interesting, and some quite ruggedly beautiful.  The surrounding terrain, however, is beyond spectacular.

NC Caves are mainly found scattered across the Southern Blue Ridge physiographic province, although some do occur in other regions of the state. While there are several different types of caves, the most common types found in North Carolina are solution caves, fissure caves, and rock shelter / boulder caves.

These types of caves differ primarily in the way they are formed. Solution caves are created by the action of water, dissolving the underlying rock to form tunnels. Fissure caves are formed by movement of the earth’s surface that results in cracks of the rock layers. Rock shelter / boulder caves are formed by erosive forces, weather events, earth surface movements, and other factors, which essentially leave spaces underneath or behind surface rock. The vast majority of caves in North Carolina are rock shelter / boulder caves.

Some people may wonder why do I keep putting my backpack and/or walking stick in the photos - it's to get an idea of the relative scale.  Without them for reference, it's hard to tell whether you are looking at a small or large rock feature.

If you choose to visit any of these caves, please use extreme caution.  Many of the caves require climbing to reach, and have long drops and jagged rocks.  Special equipment is recommended.  At minimum, use protective headgear, headlamps, and gloves.

Caves marked with (**) are very neat and/or larger than average!


Main Index


RidgeTrail Caves:
RidgeTrail Cave


Kings Pinnacle Caves:
Balanced Rock Cave
**Big King Cave ~20 ft deep, large**
Cliff Water Cave
Crevice Cave
Forest View Cave
Gully Cave
**I-85 Cave ~25 ft deep, large**
Kings Morning Cave
**Kings Skylite Caves (x2) ~22 ft deep**
Low Slant Cave
Lowwwin Cave
Pinnacle Corner Cave
Pinnacle Jumble Cave
Quartz Stripe Cave
Shady View Cave
**SlopeSide Caves ~50 ft long, neat formations**
Tiny Pinnacle Cave
**Ton O Rock Cave ~30 ft deep, upward!**
V-Cave
Wide Crawl Cave


PinnacleTrail Caves:
PinnacleTrail Cavelet


Hidden Wall Caves:
Damocles Sword Cave
Hidden Wall Caves
Hidey Hole Cave
Ramp Cave
**VerticalTunnelCave-Bottom ~43 ft deep**


RockTop Trail Caves:
**VerticalTunnelCave-Top w/ a 48 ft drop**
Crypt Cave
Hill Scramble Cave
Fallen Rock Cave
LeanTo Cave
Teeny Cave
Wide Briar Cave


Crowders Tower Caves (more or less downslope north from the Tower):
**Red Rock Cave** - Neat Formations
Small Hole Cave


Hidden Canyon Caves (more or less downslope south from the Tower):
Almost Cave
Canyon Cave
Cavelet Cave
**Green Jumble Cave** - Neat formations


Crowders Mtn Caves:
Above Flag Pole Cave
**Abyss Cave** ~28 ft drop
Alien Cave
**Arrow Slit Cave**
Barely A Cave
**Climbing Caves ~30 ft deep**
Climb Upto Cave
**Crawl Cave ~24 ft deep**
Death Trap Cave
Edge Down Cave
**Far Peak Fissure Cave ~28 ft deep**
Far Peak Rock Roof Cave
Fat Man Squeeze Cave
**Flag Pole Cave ~28 ft deep**
Fortress Cave
**His & Her Closet Cave ~24 ft**
**HollyTreeCaves ~23 ft**
Lone Outcrop Cave
**Long Crack Cave**
Narrow Slit Cave
Pup Tent In Wall Cave
**Ravine Caves - Several Unique**
Rock Jumble Cave
**Side Peak / Overhung Nook Cave ~30 ft deep**
Side Wall Cave
Small Climbing Cave
**StairStep Cave**
Stone Block Cave
Thin Curve Cave
**Tight Ledge Cave ~24+ ft deep**
Tiny Top Cave
Two Level Cave


Little Peak Caves (near the golf course):
Hidden Outcrop Cave
Little Peak Cave


TowerTrail Caves:
Tower Trail Cave




Crowders Mtn East Side Caves
Crowders Mtn East Caves

Crowders Mtn West Side Caves
Crowders Mtn West Caves

Kings Pinnacle Caves
Kings Pinnacle Caves
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