Cody Caves Provincial Park


Useful Information

Location: Above Ainsworth Hot Springs, on Highways 3A and 31 north of Nelson in the Kootenay Country Region. Access via Highway 31 is 12 km of rough gravel road unsuitable for large motor homes and low ground clearance vehicles.
Open: After appointment.
[2014]
Fee: Family Tour: Adults CAD 38, Children (5-16) CAD 10, Children (0-4) not allowed.
Explorer Tour: Person CAD 115, Children (0-9) not allowed.
Adventure Tour: Person CAD 145, Children (0-14) not allowed.
[2014]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: none, bring torch
Dimension: T=7 °C.
Guided tours: Family Tour: D=60 min.
Explorer Tour: D=3.5 h.
Adventure Tour: D=5.5 h.
Add 90 min for preparation and drive to the cave.
L=800 m, V=1,000/a[2014].
Photography: Allowed
Accessibility: No, wild cave requires physically fitness
Bibliography: Eric Wilson (): The Kootenay Kidnapper, children's novel describing the cave.
Address: Cody Cave Tours, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Tel: +1-250-359-2283. E-mail: contact
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

189? discovered by a silver prospector called Henry Cody.
1899 caves the subject of a short story written by Roger Pocock.
1908 visited by Earl Grey, the Governor General of Canada.
JUL-1966 Cody Caves Provincial Park created to protect caves.
JUN-2010 cave closed because of White Nose Syndrome.
JUN-2013 cave reopened.

Description

Discovered in the early 1890's by a silver prospector named Henry Cody. In 1899 the caves were the subject of a short story written by Roger Pocock for „Argosy” magazine entitled „The Noble Fire”. The story describes a cave whose inner chambers were walled with gold ore.

Cody's Cave is a resurgence cave developed on a granite / limestone contact. There are several short pitches equipped with iron ladders. A torch is also useful as there are also several smaller caves in the park which warrant a visit.

The cave tour is not recommended for persons with disabilities or those in poor physical condition, or children under five and the very elderly. Basic equipment, helmet and light is included with the fee. Visitors should wear sturdy outdoor footwear and suitable clothing should be worn.


Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.


Cody Caves is one of the best-known cave systems in British Columbia which means it is one of the most touristic cave, although it is not a show cave. The cave is nevertheless protected and visits are possible only during cave trekking tours offered by the park. The reason is the numerous and extraordinary fragile speleothems, which include not only stalactites and stalagmites, but also boxwork and fine soda straws.

This is a cave trekking tour, this cave is not developed at all. Caving gear including rubber boots, overall, helmet and lamps are required. Bring clothes to change and read and follow the security rules for White Nose Syndrome. The tour requires walking, climbing, crawling, and stooping, but vertical gear is not required, except for the Adventure Tour.

The tours are intended for the summer, which is both the time with most visitors and best accessibility of the cave. But we read that winter tours are also possible, we guess skiing or snow shoes are required to reach the cave. However, the new operator of the cave tours does not give any information about open hours, which is actually okay as the tours are offered only by appointment. So you must call or send an email before you go.