How to use CaveFinder
A step-by-step walkthrough from opening the app to having coordinates in your GPS.
Steps
Create an account
Open cavefinder.app/app in your browser and click Sign in in the top right corner.
New here? Follow the link to create an account. You'll go to CaveFinder's account page (id.cavefinder.app): enter a display name, your email and a password, then complete the quick check that you're not a bot. You come straight back to the app, signed in.
Once you're signed in, you're ready to go. The free tier gives you 3 analyses per week with all candidates ranked and exportable.
Draw your search area
In the left panel, you'll see the Setup tab. This is where you define where to search.
Click Draw Box to select the drawing tool. Then click and drag on the map to draw a box around the area you want to analyze.
As you draw, you'll see the area size displayed in km². The free tier supports up to 5 km² per analysis (about 1,200 acres, 1.4 miles a side); Pro supports up to 15 km² (about 3,700 acres, 2.4 miles a side).
- Start with a small area (1–3 km²) for your first analysis: results come faster and are easier to review
- Focus on ridges, hillsides, and bluff lines in karst terrain (limestone/dolomite geology)
- Avoid floodplains, urban areas, and flat agricultural fields: these produce false positives
Run the analysis
Once you've drawn your area, click the ▶ Find Caves button. CaveFinder will:
- Download high-resolution LiDAR elevation data for your area (this may take a few seconds)
- Run terrain analysis across the entire area
- Rank every candidate, best first
- Display results on the map
You'll see a progress bar moving from 0% to 100%. Small areas (1–2 km²) typically finish in 30–90 seconds. Larger areas can take several minutes.
Read your results
When the analysis completes, candidates appear as colored pins on the map. The left panel switches to the Results tab showing a scrollable list of candidates, best first.
Click any pin on the map to see its details: coordinates, elevation, and terrain type. The popup also has a Navigate button that opens directions in your phone's GPS app.
Click any item in the list to fly the map to that candidate and open its popup.
Export your finds
Once you've filtered to the candidates you want, export them for field use. Look for the export buttons in the Results tab.
GPX: GPS Exchange Format. Load directly onto a Garmin or other GPS device. Each candidate becomes a waypoint named by its rank.
KML: Open in Google Earth to view candidates overlaid on satellite imagery and terrain. Great for pre-trip scouting.
CSV: Spreadsheet format with rank, coordinates, slope and elevation. Import into QGIS, ArcGIS, or any GIS tool.
GeoJSON for QGIS, web mapping libraries, and most modern GIS software. Standard open format carrying the same candidate data as the other exports.
Exports include the candidates the list is showing. Set your filters before exporting.
Plan a ridgewalk
The Ridgewalk Planner generates an optimized walking route between your selected candidates, accounting for terrain difficulty.
Click Create Ridgewalk Plan in the Results tab. Select which candidates you want to visit (or select all), choose a route mode, and generate the plan.
- Printable PDF: Topo map with your route drawn on it, plus a numbered stop list with coordinates
- GPX track: Load the walking route onto your GPS device. Follow the track between candidates
- Route optimization: The planner finds the most efficient order to visit your targets based on terrain, not straight-line distance. It avoids steep descents and unnecessary elevation changes where possible
Track your field results
After visiting candidates in the field, come back to CaveFinder and update their status.
Open a candidate's Notes and use the status buttons to mark it:
- ✓ Cave found: You confirmed a cave entrance at this location
- ✗ Not a cave: You investigated and it's not a cave (tree fall, drainage ditch, etc)
- ? Needs another visit: Couldn't confirm either way (blocked, couldn't access, needs a return trip)
- Not visited: Not checked yet (the starting status; use it to undo)
You can also add text notes to any candidate describing what you found. Your status and notes are saved to your account and will be there next time you open that analysis.
Tips & best practices
- Stick to karst terrain: CaveFinder works best on limestone, dolomite, and other soluble rock. Elsewhere, results will have more false positives
- Start small: Run your first analysis on 1–2 km². Once you understand the results, work up to larger areas
- Use overlays together: Combine hillshade with satellite imagery to relate candidates to real terrain
- Compare with topo maps: Switch to the USGS or Contour basemap and look for closed contour depressions near your candidates. If topo contours and CaveFinder agree, it's a strong lead
- Check the Known Caves (public data) layer (Pro): If a candidate is near an already-documented cave, there may be additional entrances nearby
- Export your candidates as GPX and load onto your GPS device
- Print the Ridgewalk Plan PDF as backup (GPS batteries die)
- Check land ownership: get permission before visiting private land
- Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back
- New to caving? Join your local grotto (caving club) before entering anything you find. Members can show you how to cave safely, protect the cave, and get permission from the landowner.
- Follow conservation guidelines: report significant finds to your local grotto, not social media