It has been a while since we went on a Grotto trip and I want to make sure I can include and give people opportunities to explore and enjoy some of the caves in Nevada. I announced a trip for the grotto and I got a great response from people for a recreational trip to Goshute cave and Snake Canyon cave.

Goshute cave is one of the more popular, and decorated caves in Nevada that REQUIRES a permit to gain access. Please reach out to the Ely Forest service, local grotto, or just reach out to me and I can put you in contact with the department that grants permits.  

We ended up having six people head out to central Nevada, Tim Gocha, April Gocha, Justin Bailey, Randy Paylor, and James Edwards. 

Goshute cave was discovered back in the late 1800s and was at one time, a commercial cave but due to the location and the caves challenges, the commercialized project closed.

The cave has been known to have some very interesting Hydro thermal and hypogenic properties which gives the galleries and side passages very interesting to enjoy. 

Unfortunately there is some graffiti and writings on the wall but given the amount of traffic that this cave has had, the cave is relatively in good condition.

The cave has around 4000 feet of total surveyed passages which might continue in some sections that are not quite accessible to to humans.

Entering the cave is though a smaller hole to the left of the obvious looking entrance. 

The passage, and the duration of the cave contain mammillaries which are a type of calcite that forms on the ceiling and overhanging walls of submerged rock. Mammillaries tend to occur in shallow phreatic conditions near the surface of the water table. Under the right conditions,  calcite can precipitate and coat the bedrock forming balls on the walls. 

 The trunk passage is a walking corridor that is around 15ft to the ceiling and at time appears be around 20ft to the ceiling.

Aragonites, folia, and frost work decorate the cave with some rooms full of speleothem galleries. 

The group headed down to the bottom of the sloping trunk passage and started to climb through some small passage to a flowstone with a fixed rope.

This fixed rope took us to an upper level full of mammillaries and another section where we could squeeze down into a small passage.

I went back to get some photos and the group attempted to get into TJ hideout which proved to be a lot more difficult than anticipated. It was really tight and nobody was able to fit through.

We started to back track a bit and after snapping a few more photos, we saw another group of 12 people come in from the wasatch grotto.

When we all exited the cave, we noticed a lot of smoke covering the valley floor from the fires in California. It was impressive, sad, and odd...all at the same time to see such a view.

Goshute cave is a fantastic cave for all cavers at all levels and I highly recommend a visit here.

I am having a hard time believing that goshute cave is the only cave inside of this range.