Water Sinks Karst Preserve

Highland County, Virginia

The Preserve

The Water Sinks Karst Preserve contains a number of interesting caves, unique geology, and scenic walking trails. The caves include Owl Cave (formerly Siphon 1 and Siphon 2), Water Sinks Cave, The Subway, and Helictite Cave. The BCCS is assisting the landowners by managing the permit, waiver, and access process. The trails, terrain, and caves vary in difficulty, so do not progress beyond your level of skill and comfort.

Please help us maintain access for everyone by respecting the property and cleaning up after yourselves.

Waivers

All visitors, including children, to the Water Sinks Karst Preserve require a signed waiver. Waivers are signed in advance via the internet. Waivers are valid indefinitely once signed. Cell and internet access is extremely limited or non-existent in the area, so complete the waiver process before your visit.

Trip Participants: Please Sign your individual waiver before you visit.

Register Sign In

All visitors need to write their name into the register in the Owl Meadow kiosk on the day of their visit, every time they visit. Group leaders are encouraged to enter their name and the names of each of their trip participants to save time.

Parking and Kiosk

The parking area and kiosk are located at the end of a 0.2 mile dirt road named Owl Lane. The parking area is a low grass meadow. In the event of heavy rains, the meadow may be soft, so use care and choose wisely.

The turn off onto Owl Lane (red pin on the below map) is at 38.220361, -79.610239. The turn off is on Rt. 609 (also called Burnsville Road there) 2.2 miles south of the interesection of Rt. 609 and Rt. 678. It is 3.8 miles north of Burnsville, the cross roads of Rt. 609 and Rt. 614.

Owl Lane turn off Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QyQYqvE5mnSkbivx9

Permits

Permits are required for Helictite Cave and Subway Cave. Permits are not required for surface walking, Owl Cave, or (the upper) Water Sinks Cave.

Every trip into either Helictite Cave and Subway Cave requires a new permit. Trip leaders apply for the permit online in advance. The permit needs to list every person in the group visiting the preserve. Trips into Helictite Cave and Subway Cave are limited to 8 people total. Please submit permit requests at least two weeks before the requested date to allow for processing time.

Trip leaders: Please Apply for a permit two weeks before your trip.

Summary of Preserve Rules

The use of motorized vehicles is prohibited outside Owl Lane and the designated parking area.
Limestone Lane and areas north are prohibited (except Helictite Cave with valid permit).
Camping and overnight use is prohibited. If you want permission to camp, please email watersinkspreserve@butlercave.org
Open flames and fireworks are prohibited.
Firearms are prohibited.
The use of drugs and alcohol is prohibited.
No items may be collected from the preserve.
Do not disturb wildlife.
No digging or landscape modification is allowed without a valid special use authorization. Please inquire by email at watersinkspreserve@butlercave.org
Responsible caving conduct must be followed.
All waste must be removed from the preserve.
Please be respectful of our neighbors. Don’t be excessively loud, be discrete while changing clothing.
Commercial activity is prohibited. Guided groups must obtain permission from the management committee by emailing watersinkspreserve@butlercave.org
BE AWARE OF THE WEATHER! The Water Sinks and especially Subway Cave can flood during wet weather.
Trips charging a fee for profit or personal gain are not allowed. No commercially guided trips, no "cave for pay". Violators will be considered illegal trespassers.
Violations of local, state, and federal law is prohibited.
Visitors without valid permits and valid waivers are illegally trespassing and may be prosecuted.
Trips into Owl Cave and Water Sinks Cave are limited to 15 people total.
Trips into Helictite Cave and Subway Cave are limited to 8 people

Management Plan

Here is the preserve management plan with detailed information about preserve visition policies and a map of the preserve: Water Sinks Management Plan 20240917.pdf

Walk-ins

In the event of walk-in visitors, paper waiver forms are available in the kiosk. Paper waiver forms must be completed, signed, and deposited in the black box. Paper waivers are only valid for the date signed. Online waivers are preferred and are valid indefinitely.

Special Use Authorization

Any cave or surface modification projects (including digging, bolting and drilling) require a Special Use Authorization. Persons proposing a modification project need to submit a plan to the managers detailing how they plan to modify the site and remediate their impacts. The Water Sinks management team must get approval from the property owners before any proposed cave or surface modification project may be approved.

Special Use Authorization is also required for any diving in any of the caves. All dive trips must be approved by the Water Sinks management team in advance. All cave divers must have a cave diver certification issued by a recognized certification agency.