Pepper Sauce Cave Entrance (Natural), Oracle, AZ
Posted by: 
Poehunters
N 32° 31.467 W 110° 42.433
12S E 527496 N 3598607
This natural cave entrance is for Pepper Sauce Cave located on Mt Lemmon Road in the Coronado National Forest in Oracle, AZ.
Waymark Code: WMHPKY
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 07/31/2013
Views: 8
Consisting of approximately 1 mile of mapped limestone passages at an elevation of 4450 ft, Peppersauce Cave is a popular caving destination in South-Eastern Arizona. It is located to the NE of Tucson & Just SE of the nearest town, Oracle, AZ. It is a popular trip for both college students, as well as Boy Scout & Cub Scout Troops.
According to an in informal census in 1995, more than 23,000 people visit the cave each year. Due to the high traffic volumes of mainly uneducated climbers, the cave system has suffered from large amounts of graffiti & litter as well as contamination from foreign chemicals brought in on clothing & gear.
Why is it called "Peppersauce": Peppersauce Canyon was so named in the 1880s by Alex McKay, a Prospector who was searching the area for Gold. As a lover of hot sauce, he was quite aggravated when, according to his account, he stopped to eat lunch &, upon breaking camp, his Pepper Sauce was nowhere to be seen, no matter how hard he looked. After spending a few more days in the wash, with nothing to add flavor to his provisions, he returned angry. His friends, unwilling to let the joke drop, perpetuated the name as a reminder.
To get to the cave, cross the street and head down into the creek. After about one minute of walking you will come to a sign for the cave. The entrance is to your left and up the hill. You will see the trail heading up. The opening is small and doesn't look like much, and you can walk through it.
Type of Land: National Park
Managed By: Coronado National Forest
Contact Info: 1 (800) 832-1355
Type of Cave: Other
Contains Stalactites: yes
Contains Stalagmites: yes
Contains Bats: yes
Price of Admission: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please include a digital photograph of the cave which documents your visit and any information that may be helpful for future visitors.