Caving Permits

Properly equipped caver examines some rimstone dams.

Dr William Elliott, MDC

PLEASE do not bring any clothing, footwear or equipment into the cave that has been in a cave in the northeast US within the past five years. This is to prevent spread of White Nose Syndrome, a fatal disease of bats. (See link for map of affected area.)

Three caves in the park are open to cavers on a permit basis, Bluff Cave, Lost Man Cave and Branson Cave. Experienced cavers may submit a request and if granted will be given the combination or key to the cave in question. Permits are only available during the summer months. Permit requests may be downloaded and mailed or e-mailed back to the park's terrestrial ecologist. CONTACT

Before sending your permit, please read these Rules and Regulations. Also fill out and include this White Nose Syndrome Questionaire with your permit request.

• Branson Cave Permit Info on Branson Cave



• Lost Man Cave Permit Info on Lost Man Cave



• Bluff Cave Permit Info on Bluff Cave

These are not caves for casual visitors! If you would like to tour a cave with a guide, please visit our Round Spring Cave during the summer months for an underground adventure.

Caving is at your own risk, and all cavers are responsible for insuring that the park and county sheriff's office are notified by a responsible individual if you are overdue. The National Park Service does not accept responsibility for your safety. Cave Safety Tips

As all responsible cavers know, caves are delicate environments. Please keep the following rules in mind:

OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS CLOSED AND RESTRICTED CAVE USE RULES AND REGULATIONS

REGULATIONS

Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing from its natural state non-fossilized and fossilized paleontological specimens, cultural or archeological resources or the parts of any of these is prohibited. {36 CFR 2.1a.1.iii}

Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing from its natural state a mineral resource or cave formation (speleothems) or parts of any of these is prohibited. {36 CFR 2.1a.1.iv}

Tossing, throwing, or rolling rocks or other items inside caves or caverns is prohibited. {36 CFR 2.1a.3}

Smoking is prohibited within all caves administered by the National Park Service. {36 CFR 2.21b}

Transportation and/or use of tobacco products in a cave is prohibited.

Transportation and/or use of alcoholic beverages before or during the cave trip is prohibited.

Touching, harming, or otherwise harassing the life forms in the cave is prohibited.

Camping or picnicking is prohibited in a cave or within 50 ft of the cave entrance.

Pets are prohibited from being in a permit cave.

Entry into a restricted or closed cave without a valid permit for the date of entry in possession of the trip leader is prohibited.

Transporting and/or using glass containers within fifty feet of any cave, stream, or trail administered by Ozark National Scenic Riverways is prohibited.

Gas lanterns, gas stoves, and other camping appliances are prohibited in a cave. (This does not preclude the use of carbide lamps as a primary light source. Carbide must NOT be discarded in the cave.)

Placing permanent climbing aids is prohibited. Technical climbing in or around cave entrances is prohibited.

Swimming or wading in spring branches is prohibited.

RULES

1. Cavers in regions outside the WNS-affected and adjacent states should be using clothing and gear that has never been used in caves or mines in the affected or adjacent states, and should thoroughly clean and contain all clothing and gear upon exiting those locations. Because there is a lag time between the initial point of contact with the causative agent(s) of WNS and the first visible evidence of its presence, we cannot be certain that apparently unaffected sites do not pose a risk for contamination. In order to minimize the risk that WNS could travel across state, regional or national boundaries on clothing and equipment, we are advising that clothing and equipment used outside of the affected region be decontaminated following the protocols available on the Service WNS Web site (see below). This recommendation does not supersede state or local caving orders, and we request that cavers respect and observe all state and local cave closures and advisories (per U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service related to suspending activities in caves to protect bats from white-nose syndrome, 3/26/2009).

2. All scientific activities that involve entry into caves or mines where bats reside should be evaluated to determine if the activity has the potential to facilitate the spread of WNS. Much of the research currently under way in bat hibernacula is related to WNS and/or monitoring, and continued research is essential to advancing our understanding of WNS. All non-WNS related research conducted in caves and mines should be coordinated with federal and state conservation agencies (as per No. 1 above). Potential benefits of research will be weighed against the risk posed to bats. Research or monitoring activities should not be conducted if risks cannot adequately be addressed (per U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service related to suspending activities in caves to protect bats from white-nose syndrome, 3/26/2009).

3. For all scientific activity, no equipment or clothing that has been used in any cave or mine in a WNS-affected or adjacent state should be used in a cave or mine in an unaffected state. Within an affected state, no equipment or clothing that has been used in a WNS-affected county should be used in an unaffected or unknown county. As an added precaution, researchers should decontaminate all clothing and gear, using protocols available from the Service or a local state agency, when exiting any hibernacula (per U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service related to suspending activities in caves to protect bats from white-nose syndrome, 3/26/2009).

4. The caving group must consist of at least three, but no more than eight members including the group leader. A group must stay together. The leader must be an adult.

5. Only one permit (group) is allowed in a cave each day, unless permit otherwise states.

6. Each caving group must have a first aid kit in their possession.

7. Each member of the caving group must wear a hardhat or helmet while traversing a cave, unless the permit otherwise states.

8. Each member of the caving group must carry at least 3 reliable, independent, electric light sources, preferably with the primary light source helmet-mounted.

9. Each member of the caving group must carry adequate food and/or water for the expected duration of the trip.

10. Each member of the caving group must wear sturdy footwear and clothing which is of a type adequate for this type of activity. Shorts, sandals or tennis shoes are not permitted.

11. Each member of the caving group must provide some means to contain their litter, feces, and urine and must transport such out of the cave for proper disposal.

12. No route marking systems are to be used except for an occasional piece of surveyors’ flagging or some equivalent marker, with the date printed on it, and to be picked up as the group exits the cave. Route marking by placing arrows on the floor or walls or other surface is strictly prohibited. Route marking by stringing a line through the cave is prohibited.

13. Some areas of a cave may be marked as closed or restricted. Please stay out of these areas.

14. When entering and exiting a gated cave, make sure to lock the gate behind you. Use clean hands to operate the lock.

15. The Trip Reports must be completed and returned to Ozark National Scenic Riverways within seven days after the trip date, even if the trip was cancelled.

16. Publishing or publicizing the location of a cave is forbidden. Failure to follow the above regulations may result in loss of future permit privileges. The trip leader is responsible for the actions of the members of the group.

REMEMBER Cave features are non-renewable resources; once damaged, they will not “grow” back. Practice low-impact caving by staying on well-traveled routes. Travel slowly, with care, so as to not overly impact the cave environment or life. Do not touch cave life or cave speleothems (stalactites, stalagmites, etc.). Do not leave anything in the cave.

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