Rockingham County,0.5 mile northeast of Keezletown and six miles southeast of Harrisonburg via U.S. Highway 33 and State Road 620 from Interstate Highway 81, interchange 64. Shenandoah Caverns , Shenandoah County, Interstate Highway 81, interchange 68, one mile northwest on State Road 730, or four miles northwest of New Market on U.S. highway 11 and 1.5 miles northwest on State Road 730. Skyline Caverns , Warren County, one mile south of Front Royal on U.S. Highway 340 south from Interstate Highway 66. The 54 degree fahrenheit average temperature is chilly, especially in smaller passages where a caver's arms, legs, and torso are in constant contact with cave surfaces. Hypothermia, life threatening subnormal body-core temperature, is a constant hazard in Virgina caves, especially when bellycrawling through wet passages and crossing deep streams and pools of water.
Many caves contain pits which require special equipment and training to safely decend and ascend.
The absolute darkness of caves requires reliable lighting. Two back-up sources of light should be carried by each individual, in addition to a helmet mounted primary light. The mounted light frees your hands for crawling and climbing. The helmet protects your head from low ceilings and wall projections while your attention is focused to foot placement. Head protection is also important during slips and falls caused by slick mud and loose rock.