Field Notes Ohio

Ohio's parks, forests and wildlife areas with camping, the ancient mounds beside them, and the Buckeye Trail that links them. Stories, trails, wildlife, and where to eat and fuel up nearby. Book campsites on ReserveOhio.
Try:
The Buckeye TrailA 1,444-mile blue-blazed loop around Ohio, with all 26 sections.
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Mounds & Earthworks43 ancient sites, including the Great Serpent Mound and the Newark Earthworks.
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Historic Sites39 places, from Fort Steuben and Zoar to Camp Chase and the Rankin House, from the frontier to the Civil War.
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Road Trips33 drives, from the Lincoln Highway to the Morgan Heritage Trail.
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Lake Erie Beaches20 public beaches from Conneaut to Toledo and the islands, with a map.
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Oddities & Roadside Attractions19 giants, ghosts and folk-art stops, plus a Mothman just over the line.
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Caves & Caverns12 show caverns, recess caves and rock shelters, with a map.
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Waterfalls34 falls from the Cuyahoga Valley to the Hocking Hills, with trail notes and a map.
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Explore Ohio

One map for every park, mound, historic site, beach, cave, waterfall and oddity in the app.

Lake ErieWest Virginia27 places277 places77 places73 places35 places519 places1913 places1319 places1916 places168 places810 places1010 places109 places98 places820 places204 places43 places3Barkcamp State Park4 places47 places77 places76 places69 places917 places173 places3Harrison Lake State Park2 places2Forked Run State Park3 places32 places26 places610 places103 places32 places2

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117 parks in 7 regions

Perry's Cave

Put-in-Bay · Ottawa County
Show cave (limestone)

Visiting information you can trust

Check before driving — this site is seasonal, approximate, privately run, or otherwise uncertain. Confirm hours and access with the official source above.
Content last reviewed
September 2026 — this is when Field Notes Ohio's content was last checked, not a live status.
Primary official source
Official page
Location confidence
Approximate — boundary or exact point not confirmed
Approximate location, use the address
Seasonal access
The public season begins May 1; check the operator for current hours. Weather permitting.
Check current conditions
Official conditions or closures
Reservations or tickets
Tickets or admission info

Prices, hours, closures, campsite availability and trail conditions shown elsewhere on this page are not live — always confirm with the official source before you go.

A limestone cave 52 feet under South Bass Island, traditionally tied to Commodore Perry.

Type
A limestone show cave and Ohio Natural Landmark
Tour style
Guided; about 15 to 20 minutes, with frequent tours, reached by descending from the shop
Size
208 feet long by 165 feet wide, 52 feet below the surface
Temperature
About 50°F all year
Season
The public season begins May 1, open daily, weather permitting
Formations
Stalactites, stalagmites and cave pearls formed by calcium carbonate dripping from the ceiling
What to wear
A light wrap and comfortable shoes with rubber soles

The story

Perry's Cave lies 52 feet below the surface of South Bass Island in Lake Erie, and its discovery is credited to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie, in 1813. The cave is 208 feet long and 165 feet wide, with stalactites, stalagmites and cave pearls made by centuries of dripping water.

Today it is part of a family fun center on Catawba Avenue, with a butterfly house, mini-golf, gem mining and an antique car museum. Perry's victory in 1813 is remembered at the Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial in the village.

The discovery credit is the operator's statement of tradition. The map pin is approximate.

Stay on the marked trails and official tours. Caves are fragile and can be dangerous, and entering any cave or crevice that is closed, unmarked or not open to the public is unsafe and unauthorized.

Visiting

Status
Open seasonally
Season and hours
The public season begins May 1; check the operator for current hours. Weather permitting.
Cost
See the operator.
Phone
419-285-2283
Please note
Confirm any step or mobility details with the operator.
Address
979 Catawba Ave, Put-in-Bay, OH 43456
More information →DirectionsShow on the map

The pin on the map is approximate; use the address or the operator's directions.

Seasons, tours and access can change. Confirm with the operator or park before a long drive; where a closure alert applies, check current conditions.

Parks nearby

South Bass Island State Park
About 1 miles · South Bass Island State Park.
Open
Middle Bass Island State Park
About 4 miles · A quiet island park.
Open
Kelleys Island State Park
About 8 miles · Glacial grooves and Inscription Rock.
Open

Road trips

Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail
A road trip that passes near this stop
Open

Related

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
A 352-foot column for the Battle of Lake Erie
Open

Details last checked 2026-09-22. Confirm hours and prices before you go.