🌤 Weather at Danger Cave State Monument by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33–72 °F | 59–92 °F | 28–78 °F | 20–42 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Wendover Airport Awos, 2 mi away, elevation 4,237 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Danger Cave State Monument is an archaeological site near Wendover in Tooele County, Utah, managed by Utah State Parks. It protects two caves, Danger Cave and Jukebox Cave, which according to Utah State Parks hold over 11,000 years of human history in the Great Basin. Danger Cave became a state monument in 2019 and is also a National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You cannot simply walk into the caves. Day-to-day access to both caves is restricted, and you can see them only on a guided tour with park staff. This page explains how tours work and why the site matters, as of October 2026.
Quick Facts
| State | Utah |
| Nearest City | Wendover |
| County | Tooele County |
| Managed by | Utah State Parks |
| Status | State monument since 2019; National Historic Landmark |
| Access | Guided tours only |
| GPS (Utah State Parks) | 40.75157, -114.01665 |
How to visit: guided tours only
Utah State Parks says visitors who want to see Danger Cave and Jukebox Cave are welcome to join park staff on guided tours, and that tours are booked through the Danger Cave State Monument page. The page also has an events section for the monument; in early October 2026 it showed no upcoming events, so check it again before you plan a trip. For questions, the Utah State Parks office in Salt Lake City answers at 801-538-7220, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The tours focus on the archaeology of the Great Basin and on how pre-contact Indigenous people used these sites and the land around them for thousands of years before Euroamerican settlement. You can expect to talk about archaeology and to examine real and replica artifacts.
In May 2025, the Utah State Historic Preservation Office announced Danger Cave archaeological tours that a professional archaeologist led. They visited Danger Cave and nearby Juke Box Cave, as that announcement spells it. Participants had to provide their own transportation to the meeting place. The walk to Danger Cave was short and easy, the walk on to Juke Box Cave short but steep. Space was limited, and you had to register and pay in advance. Check the current details before you plan around a tour.
The monument page lists no campground and no day-use fee.
Why Danger Cave matters
Danger Cave lies about one mile east of Wendover, on the southeast flank of the Leppy Hills (locally called the Desert Hills), and opens onto the Bonneville Salt Flats. The National Register nomination describes it as a long arched grotto, about 60 feet wide and 120 feet long. According to that document, geologists believe lake water filled the cave until about 15,000 years ago and that the falling lake had exposed the opening by about 12,000 years ago.
Excavations by Jesse Jennings of the University of Utah in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953 found stratified cultural deposits from 10,000 or 10,500 years ago up to the historic period. The culturally significant fill was 11 feet deep. Danger Cave data, together with finds from other Great Basin sites, led to the concept of a Desert Culture, which Jennings defined as a way of life built on seed-collecting and small-game hunting in the arid West. Utah State Parks adds that the caves hold clues to past changes in weather, water and habitat.
The cave had other names first. Debris had almost blocked the entrance, so locals called it “Hands and Knees Cave”, because you had to crawl inside; for a while it was also known as “Lamus Cave”. In 1941 a rock fall from the lip of the cave just missed a member of the excavation crew, and the name Danger Cave replaced the earlier ones.
Explore More Parks in Utah
Danger Cave State Monument is an archaeological site rather than a recreation park, so plan your visit around a tour date. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Utah guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this page called the site Danger Cave State Park and gave general Utah state park fees, pass prices, camping tips and Moab travel advice that do not apply here. It also listed deposit depths, wildlife and distances that we could not confirm. In October 2026 we rewrote the page using information from Utah State Parks, the Utah State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service.
Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Great Salt Lake State Park (elsewhere in the state) and Antelope Island State Park (elsewhere in the state).
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Danger Cave State Monument
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are permitted at most Utah state parks and campgrounds, on a leash and never left unattended.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 6 ft maximum leash required at all times
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- No statewide beach ban; rules vary by park - dogs are prohibited on the beach at Antelope Island, while Jordanelle has a designated area where dogs may swim off-leash
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in cabins and yurts at most parks (confirm with the park before reserving); additional lodging pet fees may apply
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No pet fee at standard campsites; additional fees apply for pets in cabins, yurts and cottages
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Park-specific restrictions such as Antelope Island's Frary Peak Trail and Deer Creek water areas
Are dogs allowed at Danger Cave State Monument?
Pets are permitted at most Utah state parks and campgrounds, on a leash and never left unattended. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via stateparks.utah.gov. More: Utah state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
Plan your gear for Danger Cave State Monument
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
