Equality Cave in Southern Illinois

Exploring Equality Cave in Southern Illinois in the Shawnee National Forest. #EqualityCave #SouthernIllinois
For more information and directions:
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WARNING: The area filmed in this video contains dangerous conditions and features. Always put safety before all else. Watch your step, don't handle wildlife and be mindful when conditions are wet and slick. People have died around this area because they didn't put safety first. This video was filmed for entertainment purposes only and does not recommend that you perform the activities shown in this film.
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[@thegratefulbrad3072]

I spent three days and two nights trying to find the end of this cave. I got lost and found in there. Our explorer scout leader Bob Trott felled that tree over the sinkhole, and if you clear the leaves you can see into the cave. We saw Bob Troutt's hand coming out the ceiling of a large room 20' over our heads. There are amazing sights down there and an underground river.

[@HikingWithShawn]

If I ever got the chance to, I think I’d love to get into it!

[@ajledbetter2197]

@@HikingWithShawn Just make sure your light will keep working. I went in in the 70's and mine went out. I'll never go into it again.☝😯

[@btullis99]

i spent hours in that cave once. i would love to hear about your adventure in there.

[@timhall4154]

once your in about 8 feet ...you will never have to crawl again ....huge finger cave ..!!

[@HikingWithShawn]

Sounds crazy!

[@btullis99]

i went in that cave around the year 2000. Me and four friends spent hours in there exploring. its amazing how much it opens up after the small opening.

[@HikingWithShawn]

I never got the chance to go in it!

[@dewaynegraves2374]

The table room is amazing, carvings in the ceiling from 1846. The deeper you get it opens up like huge Roman coliseum! Sad it's closed. It comes out in farmers field in KY when the water is drought dry!

[@HikingWithShawn]

In KY???

[@wildland-Fire-Dan]

I worked for the forest service and helped haul the metal out for the enclosure. We used a crawler hauler to take the metal out there and a skid Steer to haul the welder .There is a lock thats protected by metal on the left side of the enclosure that unlocks and beam that slides so entree can be made.

[@HikingWithShawn]

Awesome! I see they just signed a new order to keep the caves closed too!

[@stevefulcher8031]

Hello Shawn. We went to the Little Grand Canyon yesterday and it did not disappoint !! We loved the hike ! Thank you again for all the videos !

[@HikingWithShawn]

Glad you had a good time :)

[@Chaos8282]

Been in it several times. Still remember sitting around the kitchen table.

[@JimHayesHiking]

I do remember the old pop cans,lol. Man those sink holes were deeper than the supposed cave entrance.

[@HikingWithShawn]

They were pretty deep!!

[@rod1148]

I went there with a friend in Sept 1968. Not knowing what we were in for we took several spools of kite string. Many others before us had done the same thing and left their strings there. It's such a maze inside one could get hopelessly lost in 5 min. Too bad it's closed to the public now but I can understand the environmental concerns. Nice memories.

[@timhall4154]

spent a lot of time in there ........it’s huge on the inside ....still got plenty of 35m pictures from the inside ....

[@HikingWithShawn]

I never got the chance.

[@youwontgetmynewphonetomorr7551]

Southern Illinois is part of The New Madrid Fault line.. It's also super close to Hardin County where at one time there was 5 working Flourispst Mines and a few Rock Dust Plants so alot of blasting come from there.. That part of the Shawnee National Forest has so many cave. I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN IN ABOUT 10 FROM HARIN,POPE AND SALINE COUNTY. SINK WHOLES ARE EVERYWHERE. I HAD ONE IN MY BACK YARD WHERE I GREW UP. BE AWARE IN THEM WOODS

[@HikingWithShawn]

Nice! What's been your favorite cave?

[@heatherallen3101]

I grew up in that area and was in that cave several times exploring.

[@HikingWithShawn]

❤️

[@whiskeyandkittens6999]

Most of those caves in Southern Il have mudbanks... 😅😭

[@bergman078]

My Grandfather (RIP) Howard Bergman spent 30 plus years at he base of the Cave hill where his property is. He never went in. I was in there several times, just to enjoy the climbing and coolness in the summer.

[@btullis99]

when we went an old man by the church was telling us not to go in that damn cave, and that one day people would get trapped in there. maybe that was your grandpa. this was around 00-01.

[@WithinHikingDistance]

Wow, there were serious about banning the cave. Probably best if the soil is collapsing and creates sinkholes. That can is an antique! Cool place Shane

[@taylorbuchanan9529]

I am having a hard time finding this on your map. What church did you park at?

[@HikingWithShawn]

Parked at Glen O Jones actually

[@fJ40raZ2]

Taylor, the church was Sulfur Springs Baptist Church. From the parking lot the cave is just a short hike up the hill. Myself and a friend visited this large cave several times in the mid1960s. (We used several balls of kite string and chalk!)

[@brianwilson404]

Sorry, you were not able to explore. It was actually easy to get into and opened up quickly. It was beautiful inside. I always came out very muddy. The areas i had been in were easy to navigate. Luckily when i was in there it hadnt been trashed yet. Only thing left by others was string they had used to navigate with.

[@HikingWithShawn]

I heard there was a lot of string in there.

[@brianwilson404]

@HikingWithShawn 30 yrs ago there was a lot then.

[@wildland-Fire-Dan]

The enclosure was made to protect the rare indiana bat from white nose syndrome

[@HikingWithShawn]

You’re correct!

[@seantravelstead8582]

I grew up in Equality😎

[@HikingWithShawn]

Did you ever go in the cave? I never got the chance 😢

[@seantravelstead8582]

​@@HikingWithShawn no sadly not

[@jimmclain463]

Lived two miles from the cave all my life. I heard the guard was to protect the bats.

[@HikingWithShawn]

Yes that is why the guard is there.

[@atomspatch7632]

Im curious Shawn was there a lock on that enclosure?

[@HikingWithShawn]

Not sure

[@bergman078]

Yes. Padlocked by (IDNR) Illinois Dept. Of Natural Resources. Also protected by Federal forest laws, Beaurau of Land management.- Shawnee National Forest

[@kevinhall8881]

I heard you mention the caves at Dutchman lake are they easily accessible?

[@HikingWithShawn]

They’re blocked off by Forest Service

[@albionMurv]

Why is it sealed from the public?

[@HikingWithShawn]

Bat protection

[@AttorneyBCollins]

Protecting bats.

[@bergman078]

Also to preserve it as a bat sanctuary cause people sadly destroyed some stilagtites and stlagmights. They partied in the cave. But the bottles and cans never came back out of the cave. They desecrated the stones with paint and pictures .It's a sad story. But the bats 🦇 Have their home back and they show themselves near nightfall at Glen O' Jones Lake.

[@suejames735]

@@bergman078 Yuck.....bats!!

[@PattiWalkerEternalShawnee]

I used to go there with my Pastor and his wife who led our youth group. Not all people went there to party. 😘

[@HikingWithShawn]

Very true 😎

[@bergman078]

Yes. It was to experience nature and wonder. Ashame it got too bad. Part of my childhood.