Pettyjohn's Cave — Attraction in LaFayette

This is one of the most beautiful caves I’ve ever seen, despite its reputation as a sacrificial cave. Despite its beauty, this cave holds many dangers which me and my party learned well after losing light near the volcano room and trying to get out with one flashlight. Please don’t come here before doing thorough research, staging all your gear, and bring at least three sturdy lights per person. I didn’t do this and it could’ve cost me my life. This cave has many formations, including soda straws, cave popcorn, and several massive deposits of flow stone. This cave will require a lot of climbing, meaning pulling your entire weight up onto rocks, potentially hurting your knees in the process, so bring knee pads. This is not a place to bring small children, as this cave contains many sudden drop offs that go down for over fifty feet onto solid rock. The ground is slippery throughout, and this cave will require you to do several technical climbs. Never cave alone, and never push yourself past your limit. Bring a survey, food, and water. Don’t forget extra lights, knee pads, and long, sturdy pants. This cave is cold, and should you get wet and then sap your strength you could easily freeze to death, so try to avoid water where you can. I unfortunately lost my phone in this cave, in a crawlspace above the entrance to pancake squeeze. Go to where you’d enter the area leading to volcano room and the echo room, and then go to the crawlspace above in the entrance room, it is on a shelf way above where you enter the area going to the pancake squeeze. If anyone can find my phone then I’d be incredibly grateful, and anyone who can recover it regardless of its condition will receive a 50$ reward. Please respond to my questions thread to tell me any info you may have on its location. Head to the “questions” page on the pettyjohns google maps maps marker and mine should be near the bottom. I also recommend you train physically, as this is a cave that despite its reputation as beginner friendly is still a wild cave, and is still incredibly dangerous if not handled correctly. Despite these dangers, I’d highly recommend you visit this amazing gem of a natural formation, and hopefully have quite the adventure...

How do you rate a cave? Well this one is frequently trashed by people with zero education on caves, or potentially GAF about environmental matters. You'll find everything from graffiti to beer cans and even bottles with Pee in them.

You'll come across inexperienced travelers wearing flip flops and headlamps from Walmart with no head gear. You'll find they don't know enough to watch for cave life and kill salamanders as they enter and exit. They'll park with no sense of courtesy for others who might be visiting the cave.

But it doesn't have to be this way. This is a really great cave that can be fantastic for helping others gain interest and knowledge about caves. You can be the difference by becoming aware of the challenges faced by caves and cave life, becoming part of the solution by taking your trash out, leaving the graffiti at home, and practicing safe caving by wearing protective and proper gear; and being mindful of...

If you bring any kids, good luck because the cave can be dangerous, 13 and up in my opinion. Go when it is dry outside if possible because the rocks can get slick even underground and water does hangout in the cave, not just in the deeper parts, and getting stuck in puddy mud and hard to walk in. Plan on bringing the right equipment for caving or this cave will kick your butt, I slipped on a slick rock and busted mine last year in November of 2022, luckily I did not break anything but I did have a horrible bruise so be careful, bring a change of clothing you will deff be very muddy. Do not rush or go with someone that will rush you or your iffy about trusting because your life may depend on it, and take time to experience the cave in full. Would deff go back, Good...