West Virginia is home to many cool caves and rock formations, but you’ve probably never seen one quite like this! A natural tunnel was formed by a creek flowing through the rocks, and created a strangely beautiful formation.
The Sinks of Gandy is a mile-long natural tunnel in Randolph County, West Virginia. Gandy Creek flows right into the rocks of Yokum Knob before disappearing into the ground.
WikiMedia Commons/Valerius Tygart
The Sinks were named for Uriah Gandy, who settled in the area around 1781.
WikiMedia Commons/David Hunter Strother The sinks became well known to people in the area by 1833. The cave was featured in an adventure story published by David Hunter Strother in Harper’s Magazine in 1873.
Gandy Creek flows through the tunnel for about 3,000 feet before disappearing into the ground.
Youtube write4wv1/Anne Johnson The creek later reemerges across the county, and eventually flows into the Dry Fork River.
Spelunkers can emerge from a dry opening further into the tunnel.
Youtube write4wv1/Anne Johnson
You can see more images of both the inside and the outside of the Sinks of Gandy in this Youtube video. Photography is by Anne Johnson.
WikiMedia Commons/Valerius Tygart
WikiMedia Commons/David Hunter Strother
The sinks became well known to people in the area by 1833. The cave was featured in an adventure story published by David Hunter Strother in Harper’s Magazine in 1873.
Youtube write4wv1/Anne Johnson
The creek later reemerges across the county, and eventually flows into the Dry Fork River.
The Sinks of Gandy are located on private property, so don’t explore without permission.
For more interesting geology in West Virginia, check out Lost World Caverns near Lewisburg, WV.
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Address: West Virginia, USA
