Pettyjohn Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pettyjohn Cave |
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First Room of Pettyjohn Cave
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| Location | Walker County, Georgia, U.S. |
| Nearest city | LaFayette |
Pettyjohn Cave is a really cool underground place in Walker County, Georgia. It's also known by names like Wilsons Cave or Petty John's Cave. This cave is found on the side of Pigeon Mountain in the Appalachian Plateau area of Northwest Georgia.
It's a very long cave, stretching over 31,490 feet (about 6 miles!). It also goes down deep, reaching 235 feet underground. You can get to the cave from a gravel parking area. Pettyjohn Cave is one of the longest caves in the United States.
Pettyjohn Cave is a popular spot for students and people who love exploring caves, called spelunkers. It's mostly a horizontal cave, meaning you walk more than you climb straight down. However, it's a "wild cave," not a commercial one with lights and paths. This means you need special gear and training to explore it safely. Always bring at least three sources of light, water, a helmet, sturdy boots, and the right clothes. Many people get hurt here each year if they are not prepared.
If you're interested in exploring this cave or others, you should join a local caving club, also known as a grotto. These clubs teach you how to explore safely. Members also help protect caves and even help with cave rescues.
Exploring Pettyjohn Cave's Passageways
When you first enter Pettyjohn Cave, you'll climb down into a big open area. It's a good idea to use a handline to help you get down to the stream level.
One of the most famous and tricky parts of the cave is called the Worm Tube. This is a very tight crawl that's about 150 feet long. You can't avoid it if you want to reach the Echo Room and other areas deeper inside. Other interesting paths include the Mason-Dixon Passage and the Pancake Squeeze. If you're heading to the waterfall or Raccoon Room, you can take the stream canyon passages and the Z bends as another way to get around the Pancake Squeeze.
Remember, never use any ropes or lines you find left in the cave. They might not be safe. Also, please help protect this amazing cave by not touching or damaging the rock formations. Always take out any trash you bring in.
Cool Places to See Inside the Cave
The Bridge Room is a great spot to take a break. You can sit with your legs hanging over the edge and listen to the stream flowing 80 feet below you.
The Worm Tube leads you to the Echo Room, which is the biggest room in the entire cave. Another cool spot is the Volcano Room. It's shaped like a large funnel and leads down to the stream passage and a deep pool of water called a sump. The Over-Under Room and the Signature Room are also popular places to visit inside Pettyjohn Cave.
Amazing Cave Formations
Pettyjohn Cave has many beautiful rock formations. These are also called speleothems. Here are some you might see:
- Stalagmites are formations that grow up from the cave floor. They form from minerals dripping down from the ceiling.
- Stalactites hang down from the cave ceiling or walls. They are like icicles made of rock.
- You can also find pillars (when stalagmites and stalactites meet), thin soda straws, round cave pearls, flowing flowstones, and bumpy cave popcorn.
- There are even waterfalls in the stream passage section of the cave!
Wildlife in the Cave
Pettyjohn Cave is home to some special animals. During the winter, tricolored bats and little brown bats use the cave for hibernation. This is because the cave stays cool but doesn't freeze, which is perfect for them. These bats eat only insects, like small beetles, moths, and gnats.
