Park rangers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park recently posted a photo on social media of a Flaming Hot Cheetos bag dropped carelessly by a visitor. The visitor might have thought the lost snack was merely a piece of garbage someone else could have picked up. But the post explained how the food source disrupted the cave’s fragile ecology and sparked mold growth.
Humans don’t always recognize how delicate caves are and that they must be approached carefully—or left alone completely. Along with a fragile ecosystem, some people may not realize that caves contain ancient art and that these places are considered sacred spaces, and preservationists say they must be treated with respect. Here are some you can visit in the U.S., as long as you’re respectful.
Top Caves in the U.S. for Ancient Rock Art
Visitors keen on seeing cave art in the U.S. should focus on rock art on overhangs, canyons, or bluffs. Dark zone cave art — meaning art that is deep within a cave beyond external light — is typically off-limits to the public.
“There is a safety issue involved with caves. You can’t take the public in. It’s just too dangerous,” says Jan F. Simek, a distinguished professor of anthropology emeritus at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
