Big Brush Creek Cave – Vernal, Utah – N This amzing cave is located high in the Uintah Mountains, Big Brush Creek Cave tends to be a popular destination for cavers. One can drive to the trail anytime there is not snow (depending on the year). The entire Big Brush Creek, along with thousands of acres of snowmelt (beware of flooding), flows into the cave during spring runoff. Please check with local forest services to get an updated report before entering the cave.
It is the second longest cave in Utah at 4.92 miles and 858 feet deep. (The cave could be pushed deeper if it was not for the bad air in dead air passage) Best time to visit would be in summer through fall. If you have snowmobiles winter is a good time to visit. Avoiding visiting during spring dew to high unexpected, deadly runoff. (The cave has killed before) The cave is part of a larger caving system, and is similar to its brother, Little Brush Creek Cave. Ice crystal formation up to a foot long, and ice structures over 20′ long, make this cave an amazing winter wonderland.
Inside the cave, passage ways are narrow and cold. Many tunnels are plugged with logs and debris forced into it in past floods. Much of the cave is spent crawling and winding over very tight passages. Further into the cave it opens up into a canyon that takes you all the way to the bath tub room and to dead air passage.
Photo By: Benjamin Zack
This is where most turn back due to the bad air there that could be deadly depending on the conditions. The wood and debris from flooding is pushed back and then ferments with CO2, which creates the bad air conditions. This is a large cave and should be an all day event. If you make it deep enough it will require rope for small drops and climbs. This cave tends to stay cold and wet. The average temp is around 45-50 degrees F. This is a great starter cave when it comes to big caving.
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