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FOUR STEPS TO DISCOVERY

From data to discovery

CaveFinder turns publicly available LiDAR elevation data into ranked cave entrance candidates — ready for field verification

THE PROCESS
How CaveFinder finds your next lead
01
Pick your area

Draw a rectangle on the interactive map to define your search area. CaveFinder automatically downloads high-resolution LiDAR elevation data for your selected region

Coverage includes most of the continental US at 1-meter resolution through the USGS 3D Elevation Program. For areas outside US LiDAR coverage, global satellite DEMs provide 30-meter resolution as a fallback

Free users can scan up to 5 km² per analysis. Pro users get up to 25 km² — enough to cover an entire ridge system in a single run

02
We analyze the terrain

The analysis examines the terrain for features consistent with cave entrances — depressions, convergent slopes, and characteristic morphology. Each potential feature is scored and ranked by confidence

The analysis runs entirely on our servers. There's nothing to install, no GIS software required, and no data to download manually. Just draw a box and wait for results

Processing typically takes 1–3 minutes depending on area size and data resolution

03
Explore candidates

Results appear on an interactive map with confidence scores, depth estimates, and terrain visualizations. Click any candidate to see hillshade and slope overlays centered on that location

Filter by confidence level to focus on the strongest leads, or browse the full list to explore lower-probability targets. Each candidate shows estimated depth, surface area, and a human-readable confidence label from Strong Lead down to Unlikely

Pro users see all candidates with no limit. Free users get the top 10 ranked by confidence

04
Plan your ridgewalk

Pro users can select candidates and generate an optimized walking route between them. The Ridgewalk Planner accounts for terrain difficulty and plots the most efficient path across the landscape

Export your route as a printable PDF with a topo map overlay, a GPX track for your handheld GPS, and a detailed waypoint list with coordinates and approach notes

Everything you need to go from screen to field in one step

PRO FEATURE
BACKGROUND
What is LiDAR?

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that measures the Earth's surface by bouncing laser pulses off the ground from aircraft. The result is a detailed 3D model of the terrain accurate to within centimeters

The USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) has been collecting LiDAR data across the US, creating publicly available elevation datasets at 1-meter resolution. This data reveals terrain features that are invisible on traditional topographic maps — subtle depressions, small sinkholes, and surface expressions of underground voids

CaveFinder accesses this data automatically so you don't need GIS software, specialized knowledge, or terabytes of storage to work with it

FIELD TECHNIQUE
What is a ridgewalk?

A ridgewalk is a systematic survey technique where cavers walk along ridge tops and hillsides looking for sinkholes, depressions, and cave entrances. By staying high, you can spot terrain features that are invisible from below

CaveFinder's Ridgewalk Planner optimizes this process by plotting the most efficient walking route between your selected detection targets. Instead of wandering a ridge hoping to stumble on something, you're navigating directly to the locations with the highest probability of being worth investigating

The planner generates a printable PDF with a topographic map, turn-by-turn waypoints, and a GPX track you can load onto your GPS before you leave the trailhead

DETECTION
What does the analysis look for?

CaveFinder uses proprietary terrain analysis to identify surface features associated with subsurface voids

Not every candidate is a cave — but candidates with high scores are statistically more likely to be worth investigating. The system was extensively validated against known terrain features across multiple states to calibrate its scoring

We're transparent about what the tool can and can't do. High-confidence detections are strong leads, but ground-truthing is always required. CaveFinder narrows your search area from thousands of acres to a handful of specific coordinates — the final confirmation still happens with boots on the ground

Ready to let the data lead the way?

Draw a box, run an analysis, and see what the terrain is hiding

TRY IT FREE

No credit card required · 3 analyses per week