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Anyone been to Maquoketa Caves?

crash_zone

crash_zone

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
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Sioux Falls, SD
Can anyone who has been to the caves at the Maquoketa State Park tell me:

A) would you recommend wearing a helmet?

B) is it neat? I've been to the Devils Ice Box in MO (really cool) - but Maquoketa is a lot closer and the gf has never been camping/in a cave before...just wondering if it is worth the time to hit the caves there or just camp.

And just to keep form with other threads:
A) What sort of Hawk fans should I expect to find in a cave? (it is dark and damp) :eek:

B) Does HB like to camp?
 
I grew up not far from there.

It's worth a visit, but don't expect a Carlsbad Cavern experience.

Decent camping and Mississippi is not far away.
 
Grew up in Dubuque/Eldridge so I've spent a lot of time in the caves.

Nope you definitely don't need a helmet. I've been about as far back as you can go in just about all of the side paths and there's not any major danger spots.

If you plan on going off the sidewalks and actually down into the cracks, bring clothes you don't mind getting ruined, there's a LOT of clay in there that is nearly impossible to get out.

To toe the line:

Last time I was there with my girlfriend we walked out of a small pathway I'd never found before and there were 2 people doing it on a picnic table.

I assume they were hawk fans and couldn't find the nearest john
 
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Maquoketa is by far my favorite Iowa State Park. The camping is great and the caving is a ton of fun.

You shouldn't need a helmet, but bring jeans and t-shirts that you don't mind getting really dirty and flashlights. The caves aren't spectacular, but the fun is crawling around and exploring. Check out the Y cave (you will probably get wet) and the bat passage in the main cave (it's a small passage you can find at one of the entrances of the main cave).

Have fun!
 
My friends and I have been up there a few times. We liked going to the nearby Drive-In theater more than the caves, but it's a great area to go spend a weekend camping and relaxing.
 
Bring a canary.

we found a cave a few years back and entered with no light. Our lead spelunker stopped out on instinct and lit his lighter. Almost walked off a 15ft drop.
 
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