Take nothing but pictures
Leave nothing but footprints
Kill nothing but time
Rules And Some Tips
Read this carefully. As a condition of access, you are required to adhere to these rules while on Warren's Preserve property. As an NSS affiliated member you should be a careful practitioner of most of these rules already. A few have to do with Warren's Preserve specifically (like relocking the gate behind you) and you should take time to memorize them. If you have any questions, please feel free to request clarifications of anything on this page. Hiking in general, and Warren's Preserve specifically, can be extremely dangerous if approached improperly. Most of the safety rules here are based on years of hard experience acquired by those who have gone before you.

  1. All visitors must be members of the National Speleological Society (the NSS), be a member of a Grotto (chapter) of the NSS, or be accompanied by such members. A current membership card may be requested. Non members may visit and trips are arranged regularly by the NSS affiliated groups in Florida. Please see Florida contact information or contact the NSS to locate an affiliated group near you.
  2. A sufficient ratio of trained cavers or climbers to less experienced visitors must exist when visiting the cave portion of the preserve to insure safety. A minimum of two experienced cavers in any sized group is expected. An overall ratio of one experienced caver to three inexperienced cavers is highly recommended.
  3. At least three people must be on every trip.
  4. A minimum of two people on every trip must understand, and have experience, belaying. Caver prepared to enter Warren's Cave Acceptable belays include the seated hip belay, the munter hitch belay, and the self belay using prussik knots or mechanical ascenders. The standing hip belay is not allowed. A hand line is not a belay.
  5. All persons must wear a belay while climbing, or working near, drops (cliffs). No exceptions. Belay rope must be rated nylon climbing or caving rope at least 7/16 inches in diameter. Goldline, Blue Sky, and other laid rope is acceptable.
  6. Every person on a caving trip into Warren's must wear a helmet equipped with a light. The light source may be electric or carbide powered. An emergency light, also mounted on the helmet, is highly recommended. In addition to the main light on the helmet, at least two other light sources are required. One should be a light that may be easily and quickly switched on in case of primary light failure. The other should be a long term light source intended for resting or emergency purposes ---- good quality plumbers candles are acceptable. The total "burn time" of all three light sources must equal at least 24 hours for a trip planned to last 8 hours or less. This means extra batteries or carbide lamp fuel must be carried into and out of the cave. Hand held flashlights are not acceptable as a main light source. High powered light sources may be burdensome in the miles of crawlway passage. It's a good idea to ask others who have been there what works well.
  7. A compass is strongly recommended, especially for those new to Warren's. Examine the map. The cave has many passages and false leads which are not shown. The fastest way to get lost is to traverse the cave trusting the map in your hand. Once it doesn't agree with your surroundings, there is no way to tell what direction to go in without a compass.
  8. Food and water are usually left to the visitors discretion, however, there is NO water in Warren's cave. It's very dry. This is a safety issue and longer trips may require extra water provisions. Caving in Warren's is strenuous, so please calculate your water requirements carefully.
  9. First aid equipment is necessary and is the responsibility of the trip leader. None is furnished nor should be expected inside the cave.
  10. Long pants, long sleeve shirts, gloves, and rigid footwear are highly recommended to prevent injury. Tennis shoes are discouraged because they are too flexible to take advantage of small ridges in the rock while climbing.
  11. All personal waste must be carried back out of the cave. Food wrappers, water containers (unless explicitly permitted), spent batteries and carbide, and, well, you know, must be removed. Bring your buritto bags.
  12. All gates must be locked behind you as you enter or leave the premises. If keys have been loaned to you, they are for the purpose of a single visit only. Copying any key without written permission is grounds for permanent banishment from the cave. Using an illegally copied or fabricated key will, without fail, cause charges of criminal trespass to be brought against the individuals involved.
  13. Absolutely no alcohol or recreational drugs are permitted in the cave, on the caver, or in the caver. No one suspected of being under the influence of any drug, legal or not, which may impair their judgment or climbing ability, will be permitted to enter. If you have any questions regarding prescription medications, please contact the preserve manager.
  14. Do not block in the cars belonging to other groups visiting the cave. They may be needed for emergency purposes. If visitation is heavy, provision has been made for safe parking nearby and car pooling a short distance to the cave. Ask for instructions. It's good practice for the person(s) driving to let others know where their keys are kept in case of emergency. Do not leave them on top of the front or rear tires of your vehicle. Please lock your cars.
  15. Do not disturb or "rescue" any wildlife found inside or outside of the cave. Animals which fall into or visit the cave are a natural part of cave ecology. Domestic animals may be rescued. Panicked dogs trapped in the entrance sink outside the cave may bite or be infected with rabies, use great caution. Do not handle bats under any circumstances. Very large, six foot long, rattlesnakes have been photographed outside the entrance. Yellow rat snakes are frequent visitors inside and are extraordinary vertical climbers. Check your next handhold before you use it. They prey on mice near the entrance and are harmless to humans.
  16. You may not remove any flowers or other flora without explicit permission. Endangered species inhabit the land above and around Warren's Cave. It is extremely important to minimize your effect on the environment while visiting the property. In particular, Brickellia cordofolia is only found in five other locations in Florida and our population consists of just 150 specimens. Please help us safeguard this rare flora by viewing the identification information here.
  17. Graffiti (ie. carving, smoke writing, or writing by any other means) on any wall or other surface of the cave is strictly prohibited. An exception may be made for survey markers, request permission and keep them small. Do not try to erase existing graffiti, the cure is often worse than the disease.
  18. Camping is not permitted anywhere on preserve property, especially inside the cave unless associated with base camp support for a deep expedition into the rear of the cave.
  19. No digging is allowed anywhere without permission. Permission very well may be granted for significant discoveries, however, it is necessary to receive approval first.
  20. Warren's Preserve is a non-profit entity owned by a non-profit corporation. If you are an NSS or affiliated member and you are being paid to lead a trip into Warren's, this is subject to approval and you must make application in writing at least two weeks before the date of the trip. Please have your insurance information ready. This does not apply to voluntary donations, or equipment maintenance (helmet upkeep) fees, to non-profit organizations. It also does not apply to small gratuities or automobile fuel reimbursements made to guides. More simply, a grateful party can treat you to dinner and reimburse you for gas expenses afterwards, but if you receive money just for leading the trip we have to know about it and grant approval first.

These safety requirements are based on those of the National Speleological Society
which are updated periodically. Please check this document regularly for changes.
For further information, please call: 352-332-9007

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