Caving - Goshute Cave, Wendover, Nevada 8/10/24

Perfect first cave. No mandatory small spaces but plenty of side tunnels to explore for the adventurous. Heavy on the formations!

Sample Itinerary:

Stop by Salt Flats Rest Stop for fun pictures - 9:30 am

Gas in Wendover (Maverick at 2nd exit) - 945 am

Trailhead - 11:30 am (3 hr 45 min drive)

Hike to Cave - 11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Explore Cave - 12:30 am - 5:30 pm

Hike Down - 5:30 -6:15 pm

Dinner in Wendover - 7:45 pm

Home - 11:00 pm

Directions: 

Salt Flats Rest Area Westbound, Wendover

Maverick, Wendover

Goshute Cave Trailhead, Cherry Hill, Nevada

Google maps may try and take you through farmer fields for the last 5-7 miles. DON'T go that way. At the junction of hwy 93 and alt hwy 93 go north about 13.6 miles to the Cherry Creek turn off on the left. Dirt road. Follow this road about 12.3 miles past the big tractor tire on the rt and farm house on your left. Turn right and head up 1.3 miles on a dirt road up to the trailhead (may need high clearance here if road is bad - was fine for us with AWD)

Activity: 

• Optional Stop - Salt Flats Exit (rest stop before the Bonneville Race Way exit) for a quick break with a cool view

• Hike to cave - Hiking from the parking area to the cave entrance is a steep 30-45 minute hike. You can see a huge black hole north west from the parking area. The cave entrance is down left of the grotto behind the juniper tree. There's a small rock slab about 20 ft climb at about 45 degree slope at the very end of the hike. We use a handline or rope in case the current one is gone tied to the juniper. At the start of the hike, there's a map of the cave, which is extremely helpful because the cave is extensive.

• Caving - Goshute Cave - Once in the cave, the first chamber is very dusty. Masks recommended. Head left to the Dance Hall and explore. The rest of the cave is a main chamber heading downhill with small maze offshoots. Mostly standing room with occasional crawl-throughs. Beautiful formations - wear gloves and don't remove anything from the cave!

Bathrooms - last ones are in Wendover. None at trailhead

Cell reception - spotty at trailhead; full reception at cave entrance

Dogs - no

Tips: 

• DO NOT SHINE LIGHTS DIRECTLY AT BATS if you see them.

• DO NOT TAKE ANY PARTS OF THE CAVE OUT OR BREAK ANY FORMATIONS.

• DO NOT WRITE YOUR NAME OR HANDPRINTS EVEN IN MUD AS THIS DEFACES THE CAVE. WEAR GLOVES AT ALL TIMES IN CAVE.

Gear: Helmet, headlamp, small flashlight, extra batteries, (3 sources of light) knee pads. Clothes you are ok to get dirty - Hiking pants or old jeans, synthetic t-shirt,0 801798 7828 q long sleeve shirt, light waterproof jacket (optional), camelback or regular back pack, 2 Liters water, 3-4 snacks, brown bag lunch, first aid kit, hiking boots/running shoes, face mask for dust when entering cave, gloves (leather is best), change of clothes, baby wipes, $ for dinner in Wendover, $ for gas chip in, knee pads