Why explore Jewel Cave?
The physical and mental challenges provided by cave exploration address a deep-seated human desire to venture beyond the known into the frontier. Exploring cave passages where no one has ever been before is certainly exciting, and it also provides important information required for both cave and surface management. It is imperative for the continued protection of Jewel Cave that managers learn where the cave is in relation to surface features. For this reason cave explorers must meticulously survey each passage that they find, and create a detailed map.
