Ultimate Guide to Carver’s Cave, Minnesota (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)

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Ultimate Guide to Carver’s Cave, Minnesota (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)

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Carver’s Cave is a huge cavern below Dayton’s Bluff that the Native Americans presumably used for a long time. The cave was lost due to the construction of the railroads, but it was rediscovered in 1913. The re-discovery had excited many explorers and spelunkers, but the soft sandstone around the cave entrance crumbles frequently, forms debris, and the caves close again. The area in the vicinity of the cave entrance has been cleared multiple times, but the entrance itself is now fully gated.

Carver's Cave Cover Image — Photo Credit: Hope and Dreams

Carver’s Cave, Minnesota

The unique feature of Carver’s Cave is the spring-fed stream that runs through the property. A present, the cave is fully barricaded and made inaccessible to the public. However, the entrance of the cave is visible from across a pond.

History of Carver’s Cave

The Native Americans have always referred to the Carver’s Cave as Wakan Tibi, which means Dwelling of the Great Spirit. Jonathan Carver visited the area in 1766 and again in 1767 and called it the ‘Great Cave.’ Although Carver had vividly described this cave, it might seem a bit crude in today’s age.

Carver Cave always held special significance for Captain Jonathan Carver because it was here that he negotiated a treaty by which Dakota granted him a big tract of land on the eastern side of Mississippi. The entrance to the cave was about 10 ft wide, and the height was around 5 ft. Approximately 20 ft from the entrance is the beginning of a lake whose waters are transparent and crystal clear.

The inside of the cave has many ancient hieroglyphics, which appeared to be very old as they were covered in moss at the time of discovery. In 1852, David Dale Owen, a Midwestern geologist, coined St Peter Sandstone for the rock layer in which the cave was found. In modern times, however, geologists have determined that the sandstone dates from the Ordovician Period (505 to 438 million years ago).

Geological Cave Formations

Carver’s Cave is in the sandstone bluff that borders the northern edge of the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary. When Jonathan Carver came here in 1766, he described the cave’s interior as having multiple figures cut into the soft stone. However, the later visitors have not spoken of such markings, and it is assumed that flowing water or ceiling collapses might have destroyed or eroded the markings.

Wildlife in Carver’s Cave

Carver’s Cave is a historic in Minnesota, and sadly, much of it was destroyed when the railroads arrived in the state. The ecosystem of the Carver Cave plays a huge role in providing food for the amphipods. These amphipods serve as prey for the fishes that enter the cave.

Carver's Cave beavers have been spotted in the area

The most unusual creature that was ever observed was a beaver in 1999 just inside the cave entrance. The other species the explorers have regularly seen are freshwater shrimps, flatworms, frogs, and snails. Reports state the existence of blind crayfish inside the caves, but it has not been fully verified.

Is Carver’s Cave Haunted?

It is a historic cave and is not haunted.

How Big is Carver’s Cave?

The cave was 100 ft long as of 1913.

Carver’s Cave Tours

Explorers say there is only a two-foot gap between the floor and the ceiling, and you will have to crawl inside. Another problem is you cannot crawl a big distance as, very soon, you will be hitting the waters.

Almost 2/3rd of the cave is covered in the waters of a subterranean lake. Although it drains in larger quantities, the cave floor is still covered in water. The water is very deep, and your feet would not even be able to touch the bottom! The water is shining and crystal clear here, and there is no doubt that it comes from the springs.

However, the cave is not open to the public and there are no plans to open the caves in the future. There are no ways to enter the cave on special tours or occasions as the gate is made from a wall of iron slabs, and there is no real entrance to the cave. The cave was closed to make it completely inaccessible to the public.

Tour Prices and Discounts

There are no charges for the cave and there is no provision for cave tours.

Is Carver’s Cave Cold?

The stream water temperature passing through the cave is always at a chilly 52 degrees F.

What to Wear?

There are no cave tours here, so you can wear anything you feel comfortable with. However, a good pair of walking shoes will come in handy as a little bit of walking is involved if you want to check out the surrounding areas.

Carver’s Cave Hours

There are no set timings for this cave as entry is restricted, but you may come between sunrise and late evening to view this cave.

What to Do (Beside Tours)

Carver’s Cave is not open to the public anymore. However, once you come here, you can enjoy the surroundings and participate in various activities such as walking the trails, photography, birdwatching, and nature observation. One can enjoy nice views of the St Paul skyline upriver from here. However, there is no access to the river due to the railroads, which are still used here.

Best Time to Visit

Since the caves are not open to the public, and people will have to look for other activities to keep themselves busy, there is no best time to visit. We suggest that you come here at your convenient time.

How to Get to Carver’s Cave

The cave is located below Dayton’s Bluff, a neighborhood on the eastern side of the Mississippi River. To be more precise, the cave is located on a sandstone bluff on the park’s northern edge.

Hotels near Carver’s Cave

There are decent hotels in the St Paul region where you can put for the night. Hampton Inn & Suites and DoubleTree by Hilton deserve special mention.

Carver’s Cave Fun Facts

Jonathan Carver discovered the cave in 1767; the cave was so named.
The cave’s existence was fully known to the local Dakota people for a long time.
Explorations have revealed that, just like the other caves in the St Paul area, the cave was also used for many decades but then abandoned due to the city’s growth.

Carver’s Cave Details

Length: 100 ft as of 1913
Time Recommended: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Kid-friendly: Yes
Dog-friendly: Yes
Fees: Free
Hours: Daylight till late evening, no set timings

Visiting Carver’s Cave

Do you need more information before visiting? You can search the internet or ask the local authorities of Ramsey County, and they might tell you more about the historic caves.

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