--Hail's Cave--

Hail's Cave is in Pulaski county Kentucky. I don't know who owns the land now, but it is probably still in the family of Marvin Hail, who passed away years ago. I talked with him back in 1996, and he gave me permission to go to this cave. He didn't mind people going in there, if they conducted themselves properly and didn't trash or damage the cave. He made a point of that. Damaging and trashing caves are actions that will get caves closed to all but certain people, and maybe everybody. Dumpling Cave is a good example. I mentioned this on another page, but it is worth repeating. In 1996 I wanted to go in that cave, and found the owner and asked permission. He flatly said no. He was tired of people trashing his cave. He wouldn't even let me go in with him. I never did go in that one.

This first picture shows the main entrance. It is across the field from a house where tenants live. I think they serve as watchers for the property,
and anybody wanting to go to the cave should check in with them.

Seems like 2005 was the last time I went there, with Barb and grandkids. We just went through the tunnel with an underground stream, and some of a side area that seems like a maze. We went there in February and June of that year, and we have picures from both times. I also have some from 1996, when I went there with caving friends, and once by myself, but only in the stream part. The stream tunnel has a couple side openings, and an exit, not very far from the main entrance.

The entrance is impressive, and I tended to make a lot of pictures of that, more each time. Barb did too. I went at different seasons, and time of day. Sometimes there was more water flowing. Getting to the entrance, we walked across the field, then down the bank to the creek channel, and then followed along the rocky streambed.

Two ways to go. There is slope up the left side of the entrance to the far ledge, which is plenty wide. Visitors can walk along there a short distance until they get to a side passage, also walkable. That goes back a short distance to a pile of breakdown. It looks like the end of the line, but isn't. You can go around some rocks on the right and continue. Back in there are different tunnels that loop this way and that, some connecting. Can't say for sure how it is. There is a slope that leads up to a higher passage. I haven't been in there yet, but know about it. Somebody I know went, and said there is sizable space up there. In 1996, one of the friends I was with went up a narrow ascent and stuck his head into the upper passage, and noticed a good breeze. Based on what little I have heard about this place, it seems that there is a fair amount of cave.

A frontal view.

Juist inside the entrance, this shows the ledge on the far wall. To go back through the creek tunnel, it is necessary to get up on the ledge on the right side. It is a little difficult here, at this corner. Some rocks were placed there to use as a step.

In this view, both ledges are visible. It looks like the right one goes up to a wall, but the way is not blocked. On the left, just past the front person, is the side tunnel mentioned above, that goes to a pile of breakdown.

This photo shows that wall of breakdown mentioned previously. David in photo; 1995, when we began exploring caves.

Going around behind that breakdown leads into this area, kind of like a maze.

Some parts are quite high. Passages meander this way and that, going up and down. There is a low tunnel, not very long, that goes back around to where you come in behind the breakdown.

I like the creek tunnel, for an interesting, non-complicated walk through a cave. It is nice hearing the water flow through there. I haven't seen the place with a lot of water, but have seen more than what is shown here.

This part of the cave is a good place to take somebody wanting a cave experience, but nothing complicated, or far underground. It is advisable to warn visitors to stay away from the every edge of the ledges, the right side mostly. Some thin layers stick out and might snap off.

This tunnel has some bends. Barb, and our dog.

This is near one of the side openings, which allows light inside. 1996 photo, with David and Arnold.

One of the side openings, the last one. The next photo shows it from the inside.

This is the last side opening, not very far from the end of this tunnel.

The intrance again, from the inside.

This place is interesting any time of year.

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