Little Brush Creek Cave | Vernal

Caving Little Brush Creek Cave - Vernal Caving Little Brush Creek Cave

Vernal

Overview | Getting There | Route | Photos | Maps | Comments

Overview

RATING: Family Friendly At the Entrance/Experienced cavers only beyond

Fri

Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

38 | 22

Sat

Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

38 | 23

Sun

Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

31 | 24

Mon

A slight chance of snow showers after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 26. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

26 | 14

Tue

A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 26. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

26 | 17

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SEASON: Winter, Summer, Fall
GEAR: Headlamps, helmets. Standard caving gear if going beyond entrance room.
WATER: Deep in the cave are pools of ice cold water.

Fri

Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

38 | 22

Sat

Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

38 | 23

Sun

Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

31 | 24

Mon

A slight chance of snow showers after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 26. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

26 | 14

Tue

A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 26. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

26 | 17

View Full Weather Details
Looking out the entrance of Little Brush Creek Cave

Looking out the entrance of Little Brush Creek Cave

Little Brush Creek Cave is currently the longest mapped cave system in Utah, with a total of about 7 miles of mapped passages. The cave, on the southern slope of the Uinta Mountains near Vernal, is well-known for its length, but also the ice formations that develop in the winter.

Why the ice? Little Brush Creek cave sits at a cool altitude of 8,160 feet. Its entrance, located at the bottom of a cul-de-sac canyon with a disappearing stream, acts as a cold trap, capturing dense, cold air descending from higher elevations. Without a lower exit, the cold air remains trapped inside. The entrance faces north and is deeply shaded, preventing warming from the sun. Inside the cave, significant ice forms as groundwater continues to drip even when temperatures outside drop below freezing, resulting in impressive ice formations that take a long time to melt.

Warning: The entrance rooms are very popular to visit, and I would say suitable for most groups. Continuing beyond the entrance room, however, quickly becomes the domain of experienced cavers only. The cave contains pits, low crawls, ice-cold pools, and many other hazards. There has been at least one serious rescue in the cave due to an injury falling into a pit. If wanting to explore deep into the cave, I would highly recommend contacting the Wasatch Grotto. This is not the place for inexperienced cavers.
Seasonal Notes: The cave contains ice in the winter. You cannot drive to the trailhead in the winter, but can walk from the highway. Be careful when visiting the cave in the winter, as the approach down is very slippery. Spring and summer bring flowing water into the cave, and it is difficult and dangerous to enter even the initial room. Mid-to-late summer, when the stream dries up, is a nice time to visit, but the ice will likely be melted by then.
Checking out the gated second entrance.

Checking out the gated second entrance.

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