DNR
Home PageDevil's Icebox Wild Cave Tours
What to Expect
Age Restrictions
Equipment (Footwear, Lighting, Clothing Requirements)
Registration Policies and Procedures
Fees/Pre-trip Preparation Packet
Cancellations/Refunds
Difficulty Level Codes
Wild Cave Tour Schedule 
Cave Tour Map
Tour Descriptions
Contact List
Wild Cave Tour Seasons
Devil's Icebox Cave is closed to entry except for those participating in Wild Cave Tours offered April 15 to May 16 and Aug. 1 to Oct. 8. A maternal colony of endangered gray bats uses the cave in early summer and hibernating endangered Indiana bats use it in the winter. To help protect the bats, tours are not offered at these times.
NOTE: Policies and fees are subject to change without notice.
Challenges of a Wild Cave Tour
A Devil's Icebox Wild Cave Tour (WCT) takes a great deal of physical energy and is not for everyone. The first half mile of the cave is a water passage. You must be able to carry a 65-pound boat about one-quarter mile over rocky ground, up or down stairs and across several portages in the cave. At one point, you must also lie flat in the boat to fit through the 15-feet long "Low Spot." Most of the WCT will be spent walking through spacious passages with muddy, slippery and/or rocky surfaces and wading in cold water. Some areas require crawling over mud and rocks or in the water; stooping; climbing; and going through very small passages. All "B" level and above trips (refer to Difficulty Level Codes) include a minimum of four to six hours underground, and total traveling distance of three or more miles. If you lack the physical strength and stamina to complete the challenges described above, choosing to participate may endanger yourself and everyone else in the group.
Orientation, Equipment and Cleanup
Each WCT begins with a 30-45 minute pre-trip orientation to go over safety procedures and be issued caving equipment. The park will provide helmets, canoes, paddles and life jackets. Participants must provide appropriate lights, footwear and clothing, and their own food and drink.
All trips exit as they entered. The WCT ends with cleaning of park equipment by trip participants outdoors while still in cave clothes. The entire WCT experience normally takes from eight to 10 hours. Schedule accordingly.
Potential Hazards
Potential hazards of a WCT include, but are not limited to: injury; hypothermia; flooding; drowning; and a delay of medical attention. For more details, call park staff at 573-449-7422.
Due to the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease devastating bat populations in the eastern United States, please wash and disinfect all cave clothing and equipment prior to your Wild Cave Tour.
Age Restrictions
Participants MUST be at least 14 years old. Participants under age 18 are required to have a parental consent form signed by their parent/guardian. A photo ID may be required to establish age.
Footwear Requirements and Recommendations
All footwear MUST have good traction, good ankle support (no low cut footwear allowed) and good water drainage. We recommend 3/4-top or high-top rubber sports cleats or other 3/4-top or high-top boots with deep (3/4" or greater) widely-spread lugs (tread) on the sole and canvas or nylon uppers that drain well. Leather uppers are acceptable, but do not drain well and may cause you to chill easier and tire faster. The minimum acceptable lug depth is 3/16", though such shallow, narrowly-spaced lugs will suffer from mud remaining between the lugs, causing reduced traction and the need for more exertion and crawling on slippery clay slopes. Wearing poor footwear also increases the likelihood you may slip, fall and be injured. Tennis shoes are not acceptable.
See footwear recommendations for examples, pictures and more detailed information.
Each participants MUST provide a water-resistant, battery-powered primary headlamp that meets the primary light requirements below and two back-up lights in case the headlamp fails. See the secondary light options and rental information below.
Primary Headlamp Requirements
All primary headlamps must:
- be battery operated
- be water resistant or waterproof
- include straps or blade attachments that can be attached to helmets
- include a spare bulb unless LEDs; LED headlamps must have a minimum of three LEDs or one superbright LED
- have enough spare batteries to provide sufficient light for at least 12 hours
Additional Recommendations:
We also recommend that your lamp requires few or no battery changes during the WCT; is bright (if LEDs, six or more bulbs or has brightness-enhancing features); is durable; can zoom and pivot; is lightweight; is reasonably priced; and has an LED/power-saving option.
Unacceptable for Primary Headlamp:
Unacceptable primary lights include LED lamps with less than three LEDs; incandescent lamps without spare bulbs; non-water resistant lights; lights that must be handheld; non-electric lights (such as carbide lamps or candles); and flashlight duct-taped to helmets.
Secondary Light Options
At least one of your back-up lights must be water-resistant or waterproof. We also recommend that at least one of your spare lights be a headlamp. Some lamps that do not rate highly as primary lights may be suitable for back-up or secondary lights. These include: 1) helmet-mounted, long-burning LEDs or incandescent lights that may have a low-distance range, and 2) small, lightweight, water-resistant flashlights that can fit in a pocket or be worn on a neck cord. Carbide lamps and candles are not permitted as secondary light sources.
Light Rental
Park headlamps suitable as primary lights may be rented for $10 each on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of your trip. Park staff cannot guarantee availability and do not have enough lamps or everyone on each trip to rent one. If you do not have three acceptable lights as described above, you will not be permitted on your trip. There is a limit of one rental per person.
Before purchasing a light, read the headlamp checklist guide.
Cave-Appropriate Clothing:
- Sufficient quantity and quality of clothing to keep you warm in a wet, 56° environment
- Non-cotton fabrics such as polypropylene, wool, neoprene, panty hose, nylon, polyester and other synthetic fabrics. We recommend polypro long underwear with a polyester mix one-piece coverall.
- Warm socks: neoprene, polypropylene or wool are best, one thick pair or two thin pairs are recommended
- Gloves: will keep you warm and keep your hands clean for lunch
- Knee pads: most B and all C and D level trips involve crawling
Inappropriate Clothing:
- Cotton or down clothing are the worst materials to wear because they hold water, become heavy when wet and lose their insulating properties.
- A full wet suit is too hot and binding and just not necessary.
- Gore-Tex clothing and boots may be ruined by clay clogging the Gore-Tex pores.
- Plastic rainwear will rip and shred to pieces in just one trip. It does not work.
- Be forewarned that some clothing may be ruined. Clothes worn in the cave usually wash okay, except that whites can become dingy.
Other Items
Packs/Containers/Bags:
No glass containers are allowed. Bring a fanny pack, small backpack or other way to carry lunch, water, etc., preferably with pockets or other easy access to batteries and spare lights. Use small, separate zipper-style plastic bags or plastic containers to keep batteries, lunch and other gear dry and contained. This also helps prevent loss and subsequent damage to cave. Bring a small cloth for cleaning and drying hands before changing batteries. Bring aluminum foil and plastic bags to remove solid human waste. A large trash bag will help keep your car from getting muddy after the trip.
Food and Drink:
Lunch - light and compact, but high in calories, carbohydrates are best
Drinks - water, juice or sports drinks--no alcohol
Snacks - candy bars, power bars, trail mix
No tobacco--Absolutely no use of tobacco products allowed in the cave.
Medication:
If it is essential to your health to take medication, then bring several days worth in the event (highly unlikely) that your exit from the cave is delayed due to high water.
Cameras:
It is okay to bring a point-and-shoot type camera (waterproof disposables are recommended). However, more time-consuming photography is not permitted.
Other:
Bring a small cloth for cleaning and drying hands before changing batteries. Bring aluminum foil and plastic bags to remove sold human waste. Bring a large trash bag to keep your car seat clean after the trip. Note: Don't bring any unnecessary items; you'll have to carry the extra weight all day.
Registration Policies and Procedures
Regular Registration
To register, please call 573-449-7422 or visit the park office one month to 7 days in advance of the trip date. You may register only yourself and one other person AND a limit of two reservations will be accepted per phone call (exception--family members living in same household). We do not accept group registrations or e-mailed registrations.
Required information for each participant:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- phone number(s)
- e-mail address (if applicable)
Repeat Registrations
Participants are limited to one WCT per season. Exception: After you have completed one trip, you may sign up for another trip in the same season if space is available after regular registration closes. You must register between Sunday and Wednesday for Saturday trips and between Monday and Thursday for Sunday trips.
NO SUBSTITUTIONS. If you register for a trip but are unable to participate, you MAY NOT send another person in your place.
Fees/Preparation Packet
All fees must be received within seven days after registration, or at the time of registration if that occurs less than two weeks in advance. If payment is not received, you will be bumped from the trip roster. After we receive payment, we will send you a pre-trip preparation packet with details on equipment and other requirements. Important: Participants who show up inadequately prepared will NOT be permitted on the WCT. No refunds will be issued in such cases.
We accept cash, check, money order, credit card (Visa/MasterCard/Discover) or debit card backed by a major credit card. Checks should be payable to State of Missouri -- DNR and sent to:
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
Wild Cave Tour Reservation
5901 S. Hwy 163
Columbia, MO 65203
| Tour Fees (based on difficulty level) | |
| A-level: $25 B-level: $25 |
C-level: $30 D-level: $40 |
If you cancel seven or more days in advance of the trip date, your fee will be refunded minus a $5 cancellation fee.
If you cancel less than seven days in advance, no refund will be issued and no substitutions are allowed.
If we cancel a trip for any of the following reasons, your fee will be refunded in full. No make-up trips will be offered.
1. Weather: Threat of flooding or freezing temperatures2. Too few participants (fewer than three)
3. Leader unavailability (illness, etc.)
NO SUBSTITUTIONS. If you register for a trip but are unable to participate, you may not send another person in your place.
All fees and policies are subject to change without notice.
Difficulty Level Codes
These codes explain the difficulty level, duration of trip, previous experience requirements and other information. All "B" level and above trips include a minimum of four to six hours underground. Travel distance includes the hike to and from the cave. Refer to Challenges of a Wild Cave Tour for further details.
| A | Three to fours hours underground in a spacious passage to give an introduction to caving. No crawling. Should be in good physical condition. Boat carrying reduced. No previous experience required. Infrequently offered. About two miles round-trip. |
| B | Challenges include some wading, stooping, climbing and crawling. Must be in good physical condition. No previous experience required. About 3.5 miles round-trip. |
| C | Crawling and climbing in more confined areas, often in water. Faster pace covers more distance. Strenuous. Requires one previous "B" level WCT or prior wild caving experience and excellent physical condition. About four miles round-trip. |
| D | Requires one previous "C" level WCT or be a National Speleological Society (NSS) member with comparable caving experience and be in excellent physical condition. About five miles round-trip. |
Wild Cave Tour Schedule (Tour Descriptions and Cave Map)
Schedules for Wild Cave Tours are published twice a year and released about 4-6 weeks prior to the start of each cave tour season. Cave tour seasons are April 15 to May 16 and Aug. 1 to Oct. 8. You may wish to be added to the contact list for this information.
| Day of Week | Date | Level | Time | Destination/Theme |
| APRIL | ||||
| Sunday | April 19 | B | 8:30 a.m. | Chocolate-Vanilla, Rollercoaster |
| Sunday | April 19 | B | 9:30 a.m. | Belfry, Wormhole |
| Saturday | April 25 | B | 8:30 a.m. | Chocolate-Vanilla, Rollercoaster |
| Saturday | April 25 | B | 9:30 a.m. | Waterfall |
| Sunday | April 26 | B | 9:30 a.m. | Chocolate-Vanilla, Polly's Pot Siphon |
| MAY | ||||
| Saturday | May 2 | B | 8:30 a.m. | Belfry, Wormhole |
| Saturday | May 2 | B | 9:30 a.m. | Chocolate-Vanilla, Snowbank |
| Sunday | May 3 | B+ | 9:30 a.m. | Brachiopod Room |
| Saturday | May 9 | B | 8:30 a.m. | Waterfall |
| Sunday | May 10 | C | 8:30 a.m. | Chert Bridges |
| Sunday | May 10 | B | 9:30 a.m. | Chocolate-Vanilla, Snowbank |
| Saturday | May 16 | B | 9:30 a.m. | Chocolate-Vanilla, Wormhole |
Contact List
Each WCT season, park staff e-mail brochures to those on our contact lists. We maintain contact lists for three WCT seasons. After three seasons, you must contact us to renew your status. To request the next season's WCT schedule, send
an e-mail to Rock Bridge Memorial State Park or call 573-449-7422.
