Location: Near Stab, Kentucky--around 10 miles east of Somerset, Ky. From Somerset, go out East 80 almost to Buck Creek. You can see the old bridge on the right, and some buildings and houses. That is Stab. A little before that, turn right at the last right turn before the bridge on 80. After turning, you will quickly come to a T, which is the old road. Turn left and go through Stab and up a slight hill and take the first turn to the right, which is Short Creek Rd. It winds down to Short Creek, and the entrance to Short Creek Cave, which is on the right. There is a little parking area. This place belongs to Elwood Taylor and his wife who live in Stab. They don't mind people going to the cave property as long as they don't trash the place. That's generally true of many people who own property that others want access to for caving, hiking, or whatever. Visitors should be considerate. Dumpling Cave, west of Science Hill, Ky is off limits because visitors left trash and graffiti. I talked with the owner a few years ago and he was fed up with people trashing his cave.

Short Creek is just that, and so is the cave. The setting is like a little park and people have had cookouts there. People have been baptized there too, and some have been married by the creek. An old picture in a book on Pulaski County shows this cave entrance with a group of people gathered for a baptism. There used to be a mill too. Click here for a bigger picture.

This stream emerges from under a rock wall at the left, curves a short distance, and then rushes inside the cave, where it turns left and runs a little way and then turns right and runs toward the back opening, but drains underground before reaching the opening. During much rain, water will rise and then flow out the back opening.

The water in this pool, shown above, is cold, probably 56 degrees. Caves are generally 56 degrees year round. On the right is the left opening on the front side, by the road. You can go in the right entrance, walk a short way, and come out the left entrance. You could go out the back side if you want to wade. A pool of water is wall to wall back there, and I don't know how deep. There is ledge a above the main entrance that is accessable from the front side, to the right of that entrance.

This view is from a point past both front entrances, and facing back toward them. The mound of gravel and sand in the middle is down slope from the "left entrance", which is to the right of it.. This picture was a time exposure, with multiple flashes. The outside light helped to light the cave, most of it coming from the second entrance near the mound.

Below left is a view of the rear opening, with a person sitting on a rock in front. At right is a view from inside that same opening.

To get to the back side, just walk across that big grassy field that borders Buck creek. The field is across the road from The Taylor home. I asked permission the first time I went there. On the other end of the field, you will find the creek bed that runs between the back side of the cave and Buck Creek. You can go downslope into the creek bed, turn left, and follow it to the mouth of the cave.

This is how the back side of Short Creek Cave looked one spring after a few days of rain. A river of water came out of there.

Same place, different view. A torrent of water came rolling and frothing out of that mouth.

This is the road out front of the cave. When I got there that day, the road was still clear. I left and went to the back side for about an hour and then came back and found this. The cave is on the right side.

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