Bogley

[gonzo]

While scrolling around on Google Maps I saw an area labeled "Danger Cave State Park" near Wendover. But, I can't find an entry for it on the Utah State Parks & Recreation website. Similarly, a Google Search doesn't seem to come up with much information.

Has anyone been out there? What's it like? I feel like I have to go just because of the name. How can you resist something like "Danger Cave"? (Man, if the NPS wanted to increase visitors they should rename all the parks something like "Eye Gouging Glass Shards National Park". Guys everywhere would line up to get in.)

[Summit42]

Post this in Caving I bet someone in there knows.

[Udink]

From what I found on Google, it was set aside as a state park, but due to lack of funding, it was never developed. It looks like it's now just a "State Historical Monument," meaning that it's still set aside from any type of development, but there aren't really any amenities like you'd expect at a state park. Some of the USGS maps show it as a state park, but on most of them it's listed as a historical monument.

Oh, also, the cave is famous for a boatload of artifacts found inside dating from 11,000 years ago, though it's had relatively recent use by natives as well. Apparently there is/was a lot of history there. It's gated off completely, I suppose you have to be an archaeologist to gain access.

[Summit42]

Where is Jumar when you really need him?

[jumar]

Quote: Where is Jumar when you really need him?
I'm hiding under a rock. :haha:

I don't know much about Danger Cave. But if you google it along with Jukebox cave, you'll find some info.

Here's a few things I found.
http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/american_indians/dangercaveprovidedcluestoancientutahdwellers.html

http://www.utaharchaeology.org/sldavis/




Here's some general information.

Quote: DANGER CAVE & JUKE BOX CAVE
These caves are of pre-historic nature with excavations of Danger Cave on-going by the University of Utah Anthropology Dept., proving human occupation of the area dating back 10,300 years. Juke Box Cave as well has a more recent and interesting history of being used as a dance hall complete with a poured concrete floor laid by service men stationed here during World War II and working at the base camp of the Gunnery Range located just north of this area. Items from Danger Cave and Juke Box Cave can be viewed at the Utah Museum of Natural History. To deter vandalism, which was rampant in the early 1990’s steel bars have been placed on the entrances, sorry.

Directions: Travel east on Interstate 80, take Exit #4 and turn left. Proceed for approximately 0.5 miles and turn left at a lone paved road. Proceeding west the road will eventually turn to dirt and you will need to travel another 1.5 miles till reaching the base of Wendover Peak (the mountain with the radio towers on top) where both caves are located on the eastern side of the mountain, Danger Cave towards the southern end and Juke Box Cave to the northern end.

[gonzo]

I'm not really that interested in caving, I just found it strange that it would show up on a map as a "State Park", but have relatively no information about it on the web. I guess since the steel bars are there I can cancel my impromptu Wendover trip this weekend.

[davis_b_1]

Why cancel a Wendover trip they are so much fun :friday: :friday:

[northernoutpost]

Danger Cave may be closed, but the Silver Island Mountains are pretty cool. Lots of caves visible from the circle road and up on the ridgecrest. Worth exploring, I think (but then I'm pretty easy to impress...)

[Scott P]

Quote: I'm not really that interested in caving

Danger Cave isn't really a caving destination. It's more a rock shelter where archeological remains have been found. The reason for the state park was teh archeological remains but only a few years ago the cave was full of (modern) trash for at least a few decades.