Questions we actually get

A web-based tool that analyzes LiDAR terrain data to detect potential cave entrances. You draw an area on the map, we analyze the terrain, and you get ranked candidate locations to investigate in the field.

Recreational cavers looking for new leads, grotto survey teams planning fieldwork, karst researchers conducting terrain inventories, geotechnical engineers assessing sinkhole risk, and anyone who wants to understand what the terrain is hiding.

You don't need to be a caver to run a scan, but going into caves takes training, equipment and the landowner's permission. Join your local grotto through the National Speleological Society, and see our conservation page for why cave locations should stay within the caving community.

We measure CaveFinder on 2,691 known US caves in states the model never trained on. Each analysis ranks its candidates, and the real cave is in the top 10 35% of the time, the top 25 47% of the time and the top 50 60% of the time (within 50 m). Not every candidate is a cave, and not every cave will be found. Full breakdown on the methodology page.

We use publicly available LiDAR elevation data from the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) at 1 m resolution for most of the US, plus national 1 m LiDAR for Slovenia (ARSO), Canada (HRDEM), France (IGN LiDAR HD) and New Zealand (LINZ) where those surveys have flown. Anywhere without LiDAR coverage falls back to the 30 m Copernicus global DEM (ALOS 30 m and SRTM 90 m are alternatives you can pick).

Yes. Alongside US 3DEP we carry national 1 m LiDAR for Slovenia, Canada, France and New Zealand, which performs like the US data where those surveys have flown. Everywhere else falls back to 30 m global DEMs, which pick up larger sinkholes but miss smaller entrances.

Every scan runs 9 detection methods against public LiDAR elevation data, then ranks what they find. The full plain-English inventory of every component is on the methodology page.

That layer is part of Pro. It shows caves that are already publicly documented. Click any pin and it names where that record came from, with a link to the original where one is published. Every source is credited on the Conservation page. It's separate from CaveFinder's terrain analysis: it's there for reference so you can see what's already known in your area. Pro also adds the sinkholes, mines and Hot Springs layers; everyone can turn on Springs & Seeps.

Only in your own account. Your scans, saved results and field notes are kept so you can come back to them, and they are deleted if you delete your account. Nobody else can see them, and we don't share or sell them.

Never. We don't share, sell, or aggregate user data. See our privacy policy for details.

No. CaveFinder analyzes terrain data only. The “Known Caves (public data)” layer (Pro) shows only caves that are already publicly documented; click any pin to see where that record came from. Every source is credited on the Conservation page.

Yes. 3 analyses per week, all candidates ranked and exportable, no credit card required, no time limit.

Yes. No contracts, no cancellation fees. Your subscription ends at the end of the billing period.

All major credit cards, processed securely through Stripe.

Yes. The web app works in any modern browser. For best results, use a tablet or desktop for the larger screen.

Yes, on Pro: choose Upload your own DEM / scan as the elevation source to analyse your own GeoTIFF or LAS/LAZ. Separately, every tier can upload GeoTIFF map layers (geology, aerials, karst inventories, etc.) as semi-transparent overlays aligned to the map: useful for cross-referencing results against data you already have. Pro caps: up to 8 overlays at a time, 500 MB per file, 1 GB total stored, 15 uploads per day. Overlays auto-expire after 24 hours: they're working data, not long-term storage.

All users (free and Pro) can export the full ranked candidate list to CSV (spreadsheet), KML (Google Earth), GPX (GPS devices), and GeoJSON. Pro adds the field-package ZIP bundle, which packs GPX, CSV, bounds and your field notes into one download. The Ridgewalk Planner and its PDF are on every tier.

Yes. The same scoring runs everywhere. It was built on karst (limestone and dolomite), where most caves form, so that is where it is strongest. In lava fields, talus or other rock it still ranks depressions and openings, but expect fewer strong leads.