Danger Cave
- Alex Cabrero
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
(Wendover) This is one of those places I didn't know about until I looked at a map seeing what else might be out there near the Silver Island Mountains Backcountry Loop. When I was looking for things to see near Wendover and saw a place called "Danger Cave," I had no choice but to go and check it out. My good girl Timber agreed, not with a woof, but with an excited look that said "where you go, I go, dad."
Danger Cave is not hard to get to. It's just a few miles outside of Wendover. There are several dirt roads that lead you to the spot and they don't require 4x4 or high clearance. You just have to know where the cave is roughly located and head that way. I'll have GPS coordinates and a link to the location below. Once you see it, you just park by the sign and it's a small little uphill trail that takes you to the save.
As excited as I was to see Danger Cave, though, I was just as disappointed when I got to the entrance. There were bars and gates keeping everyone out. Once I did a little research on why, it kind of made me mad... not because I couldn't get in, but because of someone who did.
It turns out someone vandalized the place back in 2019. That person, or group of people, busted the metal bars to get in, ripped lighting from the walls, and the worst part of all, they stole all the artifacts that were on display inside. Danger Cave has evidence of some of the earliest humans in Utah going back some 11,000+ years ago. Some of the tools and fragments of woven baskets were taken. Utah State Parks calls this cave "one of the most significant archaeological sites in North America."
The gates were there before the break in, but it's sad someone did something they knew they shouldn't. All that history is gone. In a newspaper article about the theft, the cave caretaker said there wasn't anything left. I hope one day all the stuff that taken is found. Some items are at the Utah Natural History Museum, but there's really nothing left for people to see at the cave. Even still, there is a group that offers tours of the cave if you want to go down the ladder and have a look inside.
Even without getting to go inside, Timber and I had fun getting out here and then having a look around. The desert views of the old-looking mountains is always fun for me because it makes me ponder time and existence. If you look at the surrounding mountains, you'll understand why I call them "old-looking." Plus, looking back now, this was just a few months before Timber passed away. So, even though we were sad not to be able to go in, I'll always have fond memories of this place because it was another spot I got to share with my little girl out in the desert exploring. She loved these trips.
LOCATION: Google Maps GPS Coordinates If you're in the Wendover area for some casino fun or to check out the Historic Wendover Airfield, then I would say Danger Cave would be a nice quick detour. You could leave Wendover, see the cave, and be back to Wendover in about 45 minutes. Once you see it, I bet you'll be even more upset at the thieves, too. Punks.
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