List of caves in Canada facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Canada is a huge country with many amazing natural wonders, and that includes lots of cool caves! A cave is a natural underground space big enough for a human to enter. Most of Canada's most famous caves are found in the western part of the country and in southern Ontario. This is because these areas have a lot of limestone, a type of rock that caves can easily form in over a very long time. Exploring caves, also known as speleology, is a fascinating hobby that lets you discover hidden worlds beneath our feet.

Famous Caves in British Columbia

British Columbia is home to some of Canada's deepest and most interesting caves.

Arctomys Cave

The entrance to Arctomys Cave.

Located in Mount Robson Provincial Park, Arctomys Cave is one of Canada's deep caves. It goes down about 536 meters (that's like going down 1750 feet!). It's also quite long, stretching for about 3,496 meters.

Artlish River Cave

A view of Artlish River Cave.

You can find the Artlish River Cave in Artlish Caves Provincial Park. This cave is about 396 meters long and is part of a larger system of caves in the park.

Bisaro Anima

Discovered in 2012, Bisaro Anima is a very deep cave located on a high plateau of Mount Bisaro near Fernie. Explorers reached an incredible depth of 670 meters in 2017! The cave is also quite long, measuring 5,300 meters.

Close To The Edge Cave

Inside Close To The Edge Cave.

This cave is found in Close To The Edge Provincial Park and Protected Area. It goes down 475 meters and is 967 meters long. It's a great example of the unique cave systems in British Columbia.

Cody Caves

The entrance to Cody Caves.

The Cody Caves are located in Cody Caves Provincial Park. If you want to explore these caves, you'll need to join a guided tour. This helps keep the caves safe and protected.

Horne Lake Caves

Exploring a passage in Horne Lake Caves.

The Horne Lake cave complex is a popular spot for cave exploration. It's located in Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park and offers different tours for various skill levels.

Sarlacc's Pit Cave

An aerial view of the area around Sarlacc's Pit.

Discovered in 2018 within Wells Gray Provincial Park, this cave is informally called "Sarlacc's Pit." It's a very significant find and is considered the largest known cave of its type. It's still being explored, but it's known to be over 2,000 meters long and goes down at least 130 meters.

Thanksgiving Cave

Located near Tahsis, Thanksgiving Cave is a very long cave, stretching for 8,386 meters. It's also quite deep, going down 479 meters. In 2017, explorers found a way to go all the way through the cave!

Amazing Caves in Alberta

Alberta also has many impressive caves, especially in its mountainous regions.

Booming Ice Chasm

The icy entrance of the Booming Ice Chasm.

Near Crowsnest Pass, the Booming Ice Chasm is a unique cave. It's 704 meters long and goes down 140 meters. It's known for its ice formations.

Cadomin Cave

The entrance to Cadomin Cave.

Cadomin Cave is located near Cadomin. Unfortunately, this cave was closed in 2010 to protect bats from a serious illness called white nose syndrome, which affects bats.

Castleguard Cave

A passage inside Castleguard Cave.

Found in Banff National Park, Castleguard Cave is the longest cave in Canada, stretching for an incredible 20,357 meters! It's also 384 meters deep. The entrance to this cave is protected, and you need special permission from Parks Canada to enter.

Cave and Basin

The historic Cave and Basin site.

Located right in the town of Banff, the Cave and Basin is a special place. It has a tunnel leading to a natural cavern with warm hot springs. There is an entry fee to visit this historic site.

Gargantua Cave

One of the entrances to Gargantua Cave.

The Gargantua Cave is located near Crowsnest Pass, crossing the border between Alberta and British Columbia. It contains the largest and highest natural cavern in Canada. The cave is 6,001 meters long and 286 meters deep.

Hole in the Wall

The "Hole in the Wall" on Mount Cory.

This isn't a deep cave, but it's a very noticeable feature on the side of Mount Cory. You can even see it from the Trans-Canada Highway about 14 kilometers west of Banff. It's a small cave, only 30 meters long.

Rat's Nest Cave

Located beneath Grotto Mountain near Exshaw, Rat's Nest Cave is 4,003 meters long and 245 meters deep. Like Cody Caves, you can only access this cave through a guided tour.

Caves in Ontario and Quebec

Eastern Canada also has some interesting caves to explore.

Bonnechere Caves

These caves are located in Eganville, Ontario. They are a popular spot for visitors to learn about geology and cave formations.

Eramosa Karst

The entrance to Nexus Cave at Eramosa Karst.

The Eramosa Karst is a unique natural area located in Hamilton, Ontario. It features a variety of karst formations, including caves, sinkholes, and underground streams.

Horseshoe Falls Grotto

The grotto behind Horseshoe Falls.

While not a natural cave, the Horseshoe Falls grotto is a large, man-made tunnel behind the famous Horseshoe Falls of Niagara Falls in Ontario. It allows visitors to experience the power of the falls from a unique perspective. It's 46 meters long.

Saint-Leonard Cavern

Inside the Saint-Leonard Cavern.

Located in Saint-Léonard, Quebec, the Saint-Leonard Cavern is a fascinating underground space. The original cave is 35 meters long and 8 meters deep. In 2017, a second, much longer cave was discovered, stretching for 250 meters!

Trou du Diable

The entrance to Trou du Diable.

The Trou du Diable (which means "Devil's Hole") is located in Saint-Casimir, Quebec. It is the second longest cave in Quebec, measuring 980 meters long.

Other Notable Caves

Canada has many other caves across its provinces and territories.

Bluefish Caves

These caves are located in the Yukon territory, near Old Crow. They are known for their archaeological importance, holding clues about ancient human history.

Charlie Lake Cave

The exterior of Charlie Lake Cave.

Another archaeologically important site, Charlie Lake Cave is located in British Columbia near Charlie Lake. It has provided valuable information about early human settlements.

Fairy Hole

Located in Nova Scotia near Cape Dauphin, the Fairy Hole is a sea cave. It's famous for its connection to various legends and stories of the Mi'kmaq Nation.

Underground Lake

This unique cave is found in New Brunswick in the community of Demoiselle Creek. It's a gypsum cave that features an underground lake. It's 141 meters long and 13.1 meters deep.