Peppersauce Cave Recon

Welcome to Peppersauce Cave. This last weekend I took a solo trip around the backside of Mt Lemon, through the town of Oracle and up the Fire Control Road to the hair pin curve where you park and begin the short approach hike to the cave. This sign marks the spot where Hope Cave is and a bit further up you can see the entrance to Peppersauce.

I entered Peppersauce. A bit of graffiti marks the entrance. It gets tight quick, but never very desperate. These are called the "Fins" and they allow access to the larger rooms.

The Peppersauce Cave has been vandalized and many formations have been stolen or ruined but there are some neat features still if you can find them. These are cool Draperies, or Curtains, sometimes called Flows. The cave is living, so these are growing.

You must crawl through a small hole to get to the Fins. I took my rucksack off and slid it through in front of me to get through. Bring old jeans and a t-shirt...you will get sweaty and dirty.


This is a cool Stalagmite that reached the ceiling. I think it is called the Grand Tower or something to that effect. I turned back here but I know it goes much deeper to an underground lake, some ladders and a register book to sign if you make it that far. I only had one light and a lighter so I only went about a quarter mile in. It goes about a half mile deeper from what I've heard. Next time I'm going back with three lights, more water and a partner. Who's in?