Cave Hill Natural Area Preserve

Cave Hill Natural Area Preserve
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Location of Cave Hill Show map of Virginia Cave Hill Natural Area Preserve (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Augusta County, Virginia
Coordinates	38°15′20″N78°50′08″W / 38.2556853°N 78.8355808°W / 38.2556853; -78.8355808
Area	89 acres (36 ha)
Established	2020
Governing body	Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Cave Hill Natural Area Preserve is a state natural area preserve in Augusta County, Virginia. It is currently not open to the public. The preserve was established in 2020 by a partnership of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Cave Conservancy of the Virginias, and trustees of the DuPont Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Fund. Cave Hill includes Stegers Fissure, part of Grand Caverns, and Madisons Saltpetre Cave, ^[1] where the Madison Cave isopod was discovered. As well, the preserve is home to six globally rare invertebrae, making it the highest ranking for biodiversity significance in Virginia. ^[2]

History

Madisons Saltpetre Cave was explored by multiple founding fathers. ^[1] European settlers mined the caves of the reserve for saltpetre nitrogen deposits, used to manufacture gunpowder, converting the site into a strong economic engine. The Madison Cave Isopod was first discovered in the cave by Tom Barr and John Holsinger in 1958. In 2020, after several attempts by the DCR to formally conserve Cave Hill, the Cave Conservancy of the Virginias bought the land. ^[2]

See also

• List of Virginia state natural area preserves

References

1. "Cave Hill Natural Area Preserve". www.dcr.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
2. Pipkin, Whitney (2020-06-15). "Virginia cave, home to unique isopod, gains permanent protection". Bay Journal. Retrieved 2025-12-23.