The SCCi receives up to 5% for purchases made through this link!

Fox Mountain Preserve

Management Plan | Surface Plot Map | Make a Donation | Where to Park

The Southeastern Cave Conservancy purchased 332 acres on Fox Mountain in Dade County, Georgia in 1997. The property contains some of Georgia's longest and deepest caves, including Cemetery Pit, Rustys Cave, and Hurricane Cave, as well as many smaller caves.

The Fox Mountain property is the SCCI's largest and richest cave and karst preserve. The area has a long history with cavers, and contains several of the finest caves in TAG. Cemetery Pit has long been a favorite of vertical cavers, due to its 153' entrance pit, large rooms, and almost 3 miles of passages. Hurricane Cave is a local favorite as well, with over a mile of passage. Rustys Cave is one of Georgia's finest, and is also one of the deepest caves in the state, in spite of the fact that its 20' entrance pit is the only rope-work required in the cave. Several smaller caves are also known on the property, and new caves will undoubtedly be discovered in the more remote northern section of the preserve.

The SCCi has a new parking area and access for the Preserve. To get there, go 200 feet past Rising Fawn Market (formerly Sue's Market) on Highway 11 South. Turn right into a clearing and go straight to a new gravel road. Please don't go towards the trailer. Follow the gravel road to the parking area. The new trail is up the cleared hill and access es the old trail from the Market about 20' from the fence ladder.
GPS co-ordinates: turn-off from Hwy 11 is N 34 44' 56.2/W 085 32' 11.2" The actual parking area is N 34 44' 58.9"/W 085 32' 14.5".

This acquisition is one that the SCCI started working on way back in 1991. The SCCi has paid off this property, in large part because of income from our Sustaining Contributors. Please consider joining us as a sustaining contributor to help us continue paying for such great acquisitions.

NOTICE: To help prevent the spread of the deadly White Nose Syndrome (WNS) affecting bat populations, please read the SCCi Cave Visitation Policy and follow these guidelines before visiting the Fox Mountain preserve:

• Before and after visiting the Preserve, thoroughly clean and decontaminate all clothing, footwear or gear that has been previously used in a cave in Rhode Island, Maine, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky (or in a WNS-Affected State prior to 2006), following the procedures outlined in the latest USFWS guidelines (see Attachment 2).
  
• Do not use any clothing, footwear or gear that you cannot adequately decontaminate.
  
• Do not use any clothing, footwear or gear that has been used since January 1, 2006 in any cave in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and/or West Virginia, regardless of decontamination protocols followed.

Acreage: 332.0 acres in Dade County, Georgia
Property Managers: Marty Abercrombie (chair), Jerry Wallace, and Brian Killingbeck (fox@scci.org)
Access: Open, 12 person limit on group size, do not park on the Interstate. Contact the property managers for instructions.The entrance to Hurricane Cave the state of Georgia owns (through the pipe) is closed due to structural problems with the entrance. The natural Sunbeam entrance is open.

Commercial Use Statement
The Board of the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi) reaffirms its standing policy that bans the commercial use of our properties, and specifically, prohibits any activity where a charge of any type is made. Should you have any questions, contact the SCCi Chair at chair@scci.org .