Ashley National Forest

Recreational Activities

Whiterocks Cave Tours

Vernal Ranger District

WHITEROCKS CAVE TOUR APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Whiterocks Cave tour reservations for the summer of 2009, will be offered to the public through a lottery system, rather than first come first served. This change was made in order to make reservation scheduling more equitable to every one wanting a reservation. For more information or to obtain an application, call 435-789-1181 or visit us on the web at www.fs.fed.us/r4/ashley.

CAVE APPLICATIONS:

A cave reservation may be obtained by sending an application to the Vernal District office. Your application must be received prior to July 25, 2009 in order for us to process your request.

Vernal Ranger District

Attn: Whiterocks Cave
355 North Vernal Ave.
Vernal, UT   84078

AVAILABLE TOUR DATES FOR 2009:

Do not send multiple applications. Entries will only be eligible for one tour on one specified date. You may enter one application with three date choices.

SELECTING SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS:

The drawing will be by random lottery process and completed by July 31, 2009. We will notify you within two weeks of this drawing whether you are successful or not. Please do not call prior to the end of July for status checks.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK:

Tour participants should understand there are inherent risks in wild cave experiences, including serious injury or risk of life. We will provide you with information concerning some of the risks you may encounter while on this tour. Each participant will need to understand the information . Participants under 18 will need a parental signature to attend.

CANCELLING/CHANGING YOUR RESERVATION:

If you receive a cave reservation which you cannot use, please notify the issuing office, Vernal Ranger District, (435) 789-1181 as soon as possible so other applicants can use the reservation. Only the permit holder may make changes to the permit. Should we have a need to cancel the tour due to lack of available tour guides or other reasons, we will try to reschedule at another time.

• Need to be in very good physical condition.
• Hike up to cave takes 2 - 2 1/2 hours.
• Cave tour takes about 1 hour.
• Hike back to the campground takes 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
• More time required for large groups. Group goes as fast as the slowest group member.
• No cave materials may be removed or damaged..
• Don't carry objects in your hands as you need them free to climb. Use a back/day pack.
• Forest Service provides safety helmet and harness, visitors will be required to carry these articles to the top of the trail and back.
• Equipment to bring: flashlight with extra batteries, hiking boots with socks, long sleeve shirt, long pants, hat, gloves, light jacket/sweater, 2 quarts of water (plus water for before and after), sack lunch.