The Best List of Caves in Michigan

We may have been compensated for this post. Please keep in mind that it affects you in no way financially. If an item is being reviewed, we are not obligated to give a positive review and always use our own words. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. If you would like a review done contact Dannelle at DannelleGay@gmail.com

Sharing is caring!

There are innumerable caves in Michigan. Some of these are artificial and remnants of the mining heritage of the state. But there are many caves which were built naturally.

Michigan is known for its natural beauty. It is one of those places on Earth where you will get forests, beaches, and waterfalls in abundance, making your jaws drop in awe. But does Michigan have any caves? Yes, the natural beauty of the state even goes underground.

The Best List of Caves in Michigan

It is not essential to decipher how they were built because each one of them deserves a close look. 

The Top Caves to Visit in Michigan

Ever since Tom Sawyer got lost in the caves, the Americans got interested in cave exploring. Some of the caves in the state are on private property; some are hidden in the wilderness, while others are plan abandoned mines. The best bet is to go on a guided tour to learn about the history and fun facts about the caves.

Some of the top caves in Michigan are – 

• Devil’s Kitchen
• Pellerito Cave
• Hendrie River Water Cave
• Skull Cave
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
• Adventure Mine
• Eben Ice Caves
• Grand Island Ice Cave
• Millie Hill Bat Cave
• Alger Underwater Preserve
• Spider Cave
• Bear Cave
• Traverse City Cavern
• Kirk Park

The caves that are mentioned are some of the most exciting that you will find in Michigan. All the caves are safe as there is no known danger. Now, let’s break this down a bit into different categories for quick reference. 

Best Caves in Michigan

Following is a detailed overview of the famous caves of the state. 

Underground Wine Caves in Michigan

Michigan is a favorite state among wine enthusiasts. The region has a wide variety of vineyards, wineries, and wine-centric shops. 

Mari Vineyards, Traverse City

The cavern has a constant temperature of 60 degrees F, and humidity is at 70% – ideal conditions for winemaking. If you are keen to explore the system of wine caves, then you can book a tour at Mari Vineyards. The tours must be reserved at least two days in advance as the seats are limited. Visitors are allowed a session of wine tasting in the production area. 

As soon as you arrive here, you will be amazed by the sheer beauty of this place. The facility is spread over 31,000 sq ft and is fully dedicated to providing the best wine that Michigan can offer. The beauty of the site is further accentuated by the series of “wine caves” that extend below the earth and provide a perfect environment for the barrel-aging process.

Underwater Caves in Michigan

Alger Underwater Preserve, Lake Superior

The Alger Underwater Preserve has one of the fascinating cave attractions in the state, the sea caves. The caves are portions of the underwater sandstone cliffs where the sandstone has been eroded over the years.

So, today, we get a series of shallow caves that goes down to only about 20 ft but offers an excellent opportunity for the snorkelers. The area is also one of the most popular scuba diving areas in the Great Lakes, and there are great shallow water diving opportunities. 

Caves in Michigan Upper Peninsula

Adventure Mine, Greenland

In Greenland, you will come across a man-made cave that would remind anyone of the glory days of mining in the state. Adventure Mine runs a tour of this mine which is part of the string of copper mines found throughout the Upper Peninsula. Some of these mines are still in operation today. Adventure Mine is one of the best-preserved copper mines in Michigan, and when you visit this cave, you can visualize the state’s early days. 

Millie Hill Bat Cave, Iron Mountain

The Millie Hill Bat Cave is in the Iron Mountain in the Upper Peninsula. The name of the cave indicates that this cave is full of bats. If you want to observe the bat migration patterns, you need to come down here in April and September. If you come at the right time, then you will be in for a beautiful visual treat – a massive display of bats in flight. 

Kayaking Caves in Michigan

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising

People come to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for all kinds of fun and adventure. Munising is a beautiful town that offers excellent scenery and amusement for people of all ages. There is a cluster of breathtaking sea caverns that are located along the 15-mile-long lakeshore. These sea caverns have been formed through years of weathering of the limestone cliffs.

You can hop on a tour boat and see the caves from a distance and click photographs of the caves and the beautiful expanse of waters of Lake Superior. If you feel adventurous, you can grab a kayak and view these caves from close quarters. The limestone formations are known as Pictured Rocks as the striped surfaces look straight out of a painting. 

Ice Caves in Michigan

These form on glaciers, due to constant freezing and thawing cycles. The caves are generally not very large but ice sculptures often decorate their walls.

Eben Ice Caves, Upper Peninsula

The Eben Ice Caves are formed when the melting snow runs over the edge of a cliff and freezes, creating ice caves. If you are coming here during the summer, you may not find any water running over the cliff. The perfect combination of slow-melting snow and frigid temperatures causes the formation of ice caves.

It is not one of those attractions where you can pull up your car and walk a few feet. It is not a long hike here, but you need to be ready to stretch your legs. The hike from the parking area to the ice caves is about 0.75 miles. 

As you can see, the state of Michigan has some pretty great offerings to cave lovers! Make certain to always be safe and prepared before entering any cave so you can make your cave experience a good one!

Other articles you may find helpful or interesting:

• Ultimate Guide to Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
• Ultimate Guide to Mega Cavern (Tours, Pricing, History)
• Ultimate Guide to Lake Shasta Caverns, California (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
• Ultimate Guide to Spring Valley Caverns, Minnesota (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
• Ultimate Guide to Colorado Bend State Park, Texas (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)