Clarksville cave is a popular horizontal cave in Albany County, NY. With about 4,800 feet of passage and three entrances, Clarksville is surely the best-known and most-visited wild cave in the Northeast. Clarksville cave is named after the town in which it is located, Clarksville, New York. People have been visiting the cave since the early 1800’s.
The cave has three entrances and the forest and cave preserve is about 20 acres managed by the Northeastern Cave Conservancy. The bedrock that makes up the cave is known as Onondaga Limestone that formed in a shallow sea 400 million years ago. Clarksville is a “solution” type cave, it formed as the limestone bedrock was slowly dissolved by acidic water over tens-of-thousands of years.
Our experience involves three hours of guided exploration of the cave. A variety of fossils exist within the cave such as: sea lilies, trilobites, brachiopods and several species of coral. • Stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone mineral deposit structures, created over thousands of years as acidic water slowly disolves the limestone are also found in the cave..
Additional information regarding this experience
What's Included?
Caving Permit
Caving guides
Headlamp and two additional sources of light
Helmet
Kneepads
Garbage bags for dirty clothes
What to Bring
DRESS: Caving involves lots of crawling around on dirty, rough, damp surfaces. Plan on getting dirty. Raincoat and rain pants are a good idea. Sturdy shoes with good traction are also important. The cave is 52 degrees so keep that in mind with appropriate layers.
Gloves to keep hands warm and minimize cuts and scrapes. Gardening or thick rubber gloves are generally adequate.
A large, plastic trash or leaf bag, carried for quick retrieval. Wearing it (make a hole for you head or face) can help prevent hypothermia, or keep you dry
Food to eat before and after entering cave. No food is allowed in the cave.
Drinking water
An extra layer of clothing, such as a long underwear top or sweater, for long periods of inactivity.
CHANGE OF CLOTHES – after the caving experience you will want to have a change of clothes that are warm and dry for the ride home.
Other Notes:
All surfaces inside are extremely slippery and will be wet.
If a guest’s body structure does not allow them to comfortably fit through the cave enterance, they cannot safely join this experience.
The Pictograph Room is offered to adults only, visiting this area is a “challenge by choice” option for adult guests only.
Price:
$175
Age:
10+
Fitness Level:
Moderate
Skill Level:
Intermediate
Dates/Times:
May through September. Call to book a private group
Waiver:
Each participant, or their guardian, must sign a waiver to participate in an Adventure East experience. Following payment of your online booking, your reservation confirmation will include a link to e-sign the waiver. Due to insurance requirements, we are unable to accommodate guests who do not sign a waiver.
