If crawling through narrow passageways is your idea of enjoyable outdoor recreation, you’ll love Fault Cave in Golden. While most other caves in Colorado were carved by underground rivers or years of erosion, these caves instead were formed by faults in the rock, resulting in a variety of different cave patterns within one system.
These unusual caves are quite popular with experienced spelunkers, as they offer a challenging and stimulating route not far from Denver as well as the popular ski resort areas.
The caves that make up the Fault Cave system vary from narrow passageways to wide-open spaces, and they are not for those who suffer from claustrophobia–you may have to crawl at certain points. For that reason, it’s recommended that only experienced cavers attempt to explore these passageways to avoid getting stuck or lost.
Be sure to bring a headlamp, as these caves aren’t naturally lit and it’s easy to lose your way. As the saying goes: never go caving alone.
Getting There
Fault Cave is notoriously difficult to find without good directions. Getting to it will require a bit of a rock scramble, but experienced cavers won’t find this to be an issue. Head west out of the town of Golden on 6th Avenue, past the first tunnel. On your left a few hundred yards past the tunnel there should be a parking lot.
Pull in there, and backtrack down the road about 100 yards–the trailhead to the cave starts there.
Details
Address: Golden, CO
Season: Year round
