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Virtual Tour Station 11 The Devil's Icebox


DiFoxfire explains the ancient cave system that lies below in the sinkhole that serves as the entrance to Devil's Icebox Cave. Pictured below is a karst window that gives a glimpse of the stream that flows from the Devil's Icebox Cave - upstream into Connor's Cave - downstream. Connor's Cave runs only about 150 feet into the hillside before it reaches a siphon, a point where the water and ceiling meet.

 

The first extensive exploration of Devil's Icebox Cave (the upstream side) was by Ben Yates who reported exploring five miles in 1924. Two years later, on August 25, 1926, he and his son William boasted exploring, "eight miles along the main channel and four miles of side passages." We now know that the cave actually has a total mapped passage distance of a little more than six miles. The adventurous cavers who finally accurately mapped the cave did not have an easy task because most of the first one-half mile is filled with water and must be entered by boat. The cave maintains a nearly constant 56 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be very uncomfortable for a wet and weary caver.

Because Devil's Icebox Cave has such a fragile and potentially hazardous environment, only experienced and properly equipped groups may explore the cave. Exploration is permitted only on park-led Wild-Cave Tours in the spring and fall.

Connor's Cave may be entered year-round without a permit. A good flashlight and appropriate shoes are recommended.

 

 

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Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Home Page

 

This webpage was last updated on April 16, 2008

 

FoRB Office

Outdoors Building
200 Old 63 South, Suite 204
Columbia, Missouri 65205

(573) 815-9255

 

 

Contact the FoRB office at
Mjdonlsn@aol.com

 

Contact the Park Office at:
(573) 449-7402
Check trail conditions at:
(573) 442-2249

The Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park (FoRB)  is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 1992 to promote understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the natural and cultural resources of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and to aid in the preservation of the park. All photos are the property of the webmaster unless otherwise noted. All webmaster photos may be freely copied and used for educational and/or personal non-profit use.