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Points of Interest

Mammoth Cave

Ancient, sprawling cave complex with a range of chambers & explorable lava tubes.

(619)
Duck Creek Village, UT

About

Mammoth Cave is a lava tube system on the Markagunt Plateau east of Duck Creek Village, managed by Dixie National Forest. It is one of the largest lava tubes in Utah — formed by cooling lava less than 2,000 years ago — and sits at roughly 8,050 feet elevation, keeping the interior cool even in midsummer. Duck Creek Village is about 35 miles west of Bryce Canyon, making this a reasonable side trip when combining Bryce with Cedar Breaks National Monument or a night in the Cedar City area.

What to Expect Inside

The cave has over 2,200 feet of passage across four distinct chambers, the longest of which extends to the west. The cave is entirely undeveloped — no electric lights, no paved walkways, and no handrails. The floor is a mix of lava rock and dirt that can be muddy and slippery after rain. A headlamp is required; a single flashlight is not enough. Bring at least two light sources per person, and wear closed-toe shoes with genuine traction. Budget 1–2 hours for a full exploration.

Visiting Logistics

  • Open May through October only — the seasonal closure protects bats that hibernate in the cave during winter
  • No fee, no permit, no reservation required as of current USFS guidance
  • Access via Duck Creek Ridge Road from Duck Creek Village; the trailhead is signed off the forest road
  • No facilities at the trailhead — the nearest services are in Duck Creek Village

Kids who can handle uneven terrain enjoy this cave; it has genuine exploration feel. Arrive with more light than you think you need.

Reviews (619)

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4.5

619 reviews

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Tamara
Tamara

in the last week

This is a really unique opportunity to see Utahs largest lava cave up close! While most caves we have visited to involve a tour. this one you simply drive up to on a dirt road…so bring your all-wheel-drive or ATV when you come! Another thing we found interesting was that there were no tickets, no entry fee, and no map - just a big hole in the dirt ground which you must bravely enter into. On a hot summer day, our family found this to be a cool adventure in every sense of the word. We spent about an hour using our cell phones to guide us through the caves. Sneakers were totally fine footwear, and we didn’t need a sweatshirt since it was warm outside. We stayed to the larger cave zones where we could walk upright - but other visitors reported crawling in other sections of the cave. We hope you give Mammoth Cave a visit and love this adventure as much as we did!

Alan Wayman
Alan Wayman

in the last week

Make sure you take the uintah flats road. On the way there Google Maps sent us down a different side road that was only meant for higher clearance vehicles and not our old van. We had to straddle the sides of the road because there were big ruts in the middle. We came back on the Uintah flats road and that worked much better. It was longer but more passable. The caves themselves are interesting but not really marked with any guidance of where to go or what to see.

Jeffrey J
Jeffrey J

in the last week

Don’t follow Google Maps directions. It takes you on a 4x4 only road. Take 064 instead Once you get near Duck Creek Village, head east on State Road 14, then turn left onto Forest Road 067. Go another five miles until you can turn right onto Forest Road 064. You’ll drive for about another mile and then turn left and look for the sign. The way to Mammoth Cave Utah is clearly marked making it easy to follow all the way to the parking lot near the lava tubes

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