wildernet

Caving: Colorado

Quick Facts

Hubbard's Cave

Elevation:

7,600 Feet (2369.1 Meters)

General Description

PHYSICAL FEATURES
Hubbard's Cave has approximately 3,000 feet of passage with a vertical relief of only 50 feet. This cave, at an elevation of 7,600 feet, is located high on the southern escarpment of Glenwood Canyon. Like most caves in the area, Hubbard's was probably formed through solution of the limestone by mineralized groundwater. Hot Spring activity in the White River Plateau greatly enhanced solution of the limestone.

CAVE FORMATIONS
Hubbard's Cave is a rectangular network of three parallel passages, each with its own entrance. There are large quantities of cave coral, but it is mostly restricted to the upper level. The Grape Room, deep in the cave, has unusual small, rounded botryoid formations. The Gypsum room has a large concentration of gypsum flowers, gypsum blisters, selenite needles and angel's hair.

HISTORY
Hubbard's Cave appears to have been discovered by Griffith B. Jones and Henry Hubbard in 1893, according to an article in the Glenwood Post, July 26, 1913. The two men discovered one of the entrances while prospecting for minerals.

Directions from Eagle: Take I-70 30 miles west, to Glenwood Springs; take 3 rights so you cross the Colorado River heading south on Grand Ave., the main street of Glenwood Springs. Follow this road (Hwy 82) about 3 miles, taking a left onto Red Canyon Road (County Road 115). Go 2 1/2 miles taking a left in an open area and past a gravel pit. Travel 2 miles and take a right onto a rough 4-wheel drive road that winds up the hill. Please note that this road becomes impassable when wet. After going 2 1/2 miles, there is a grass parking area with a trail register near the entrance of the cave. There are no facilities at this site.

Directions from Vail: Take I-70 60 miles west, to Glenwood Springs; take 3 rights so you cross the Colorado River heading south on Grand Ave., the main street of Glenwood Springs. Follow this road (Hwy 82) about 3 miles, taking a left onto Red Canyon Road (County Road 115). Go 2 1/2 miles taking a left in an open area and past a gravel pit. Travel 2 miles and take a right onto a rough 4-wheel drive road that winds up the hill. Please note that this road becomes impassable when wet. After going 2 1/2 miles, there is a grass parking area with a trail register near the entrance of the cave. There are no facilities at this site.

Directions from Beaver Creek: Take I-70 51 miles west, to Glenwood Springs; take 3 rights so you cross the Colorado River heading south on Grand Ave., the main street of Glenwood Springs. Follow this road (Hwy 82) about 3 miles, taking a left onto Red Canyon Road (County Road 115). Go 2 1/2 miles taking a left in an open area and past a gravel pit. Travel 2 miles and take a right onto a rough 4-wheel drive road that winds up the hill. Please note that this road becomes impassable when wet. After going 2 1/2 miles, there is a grass parking area with a trail register near the entrance of the cave. There are no facilities at this site.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: June through October (NOTE: Seasonal access dependent upon snow.) .

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Road to the cave is snowpacked. Updated: 2002-01-16 09:52:00.0

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Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Not Recommended
Report: 8/22/99 Followed these directions and had a hard time finding the cave. It's not as simple as you would think. The 4x4 road was absolutely horrible- high clearance. Some parts were downright dangerous. Had to walk the second half of the road, which was a rollercoaster hike. The trailhead and cave are very far apart. Downhill, but quite a ways beyond the register. The caves were very cold and had nothing that made the trouble worth it. Mosty vandalized and trodden. Dusty. Not very large either. You couldn't pay me to return. Reccomend it only if you have nothing in the world else to do and don't mind destroying your car. If it rains, or if there's the slightest chance that it can, you will get stuck on the road like we did on our way home. good luck.