Bear Cave

Bear Cave: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this cave: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit Bear Cave

Season: Year-round; October to March is most comfortable, some caves flood in heavy rain.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Bear Cave — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 37.50969, -88.75811. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Bear Cave

• Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area · sanctuary · Pope · ~11 km · Must-see
• Shawnee National Forest · sanctuary · Johnson · ~12 km · Must-see
• Bay Creek Wilderness · sanctuary · Pope · ~16 km · Must-see
• River to River Trail · sanctuary · Ballard · ~17 km · Must-see
• Dixon Springs State Park · sanctuary · Pope · ~21 km · Must-see
• Lake of Egypt · lake · Williamson · ~22 km · Must-see
• Lusk Creek Canyon · sanctuary · Livingston · ~24 km · Must-see
• Dog Hollow · viewpoint · Livingston · ~25 km · Must-see
• Lusk Creek Wilderness · sanctuary · Pope · ~26 km · Must-see
• Ferne Clyffe State Park · sanctuary · Johnson · ~27 km · Must-see
• Lake of Egypt · lake · Ballard · ~27 km · Must-see
• Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve · sanctuary · Johnson · ~29 km · Must-see
• Heron Pond – Little Black Slough Nature Preserve · sanctuary · Ballard · ~29 km · Must-see
• Sahara Woods State Recreation Area · sanctuary · Saline · ~30 km · Must-see
• Cache River State Natural Area · sanctuary · Johnson · ~33 km · Must-see
• Golconda Marina State Recreation Area · sanctuary · Pope · ~36 km · Must-see
• Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area · lake · McCracken · ~36 km · Must-see
• Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area · lake · Massac · ~36 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Bear Cave

Other caves near Bear Cave

• Sand Cave · cave · Pope · ~12 km
• Peter Cave · cave · Pope · ~15 km
• Frieze Cave · cave · Pope · ~19 km
• Saltpeter Cave · cave · Pope · ~23 km
• Cave Creek Glade Nature Preserve · cave · Johnson · ~25 km
• Cave Creek Glade Nature Preserve · cave · Ballard · ~25 km
• Hawk's Cave · cave · Johnson · ~25 km
• Shelter Cave · cave · Pope · ~30 km
• Herod Cave · cave · Pope · ~36 km
• Panther Den · cave · Union · ~37 km

All caves in Illinois

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