Because his body could not be safely removed, the cave was permanently sealed with concrete on December 3, 2009. The map now serves as a historical record of his final resting place.
: Always use the most current map and acknowledge that "off-map" exploring is extremely high-risk. specific diagrams
The Nutty Putty Cave is a massive limestone cave system that spans over 1,500 acres. The cave features a complex network of tunnels, shafts, and passageways, with over 6 miles of mapped routes. The cave's unique geology is characterized by its volcanic-ash-filled passages, stunning formations, and narrow crevices.
Located near Utah Lake, Nutty Putty was known as a small, hydrothermal cave consisting of numerous rooms connected by tight, narrow tunnels. The cave was frequently characterized as a "good cave for beginners" due to its relative lack of extreme depth, yet it required a high level of physical dexterity to navigate its tightest, most "nutty" (sticky/malleable) spots. Key Features of the Cave Map nutty putty cave map
Hydrothermal caves behave differently than solution caves; their vertical, tight configurations require advanced vertical caving gear and techniques.
Unlike many caves formed by surface water drainage, Nutty Putty was a hydrothermal cave. Created by ancient upwelling thermal waters, the cave lacked the large, sweeping rooms or standard stalactites found in traditional limestone caverns. Instead, it was a dense, three-dimensional maze of narrow, twisting tubes, steep drops, and dead-end crawlways dissolved out of the subterranean rock.
The tragedy of 2009 revolves around a specific spot on the map: (also called "The Chute"). On the map, The Big Slide is a yellowish-tan line branching off the main route, leading to a room called "Bob's Way." Because his body could not be safely removed,
The story of Nutty Putty Cave begins in 1960, when it was first explored by a man named Dale Green and his friends. The cave earned its unusual name from the unique, soft, brown clay found lining many of its passages, which had a putty-like consistency reminiscent of Silly Putty. Green originally considered naming it "Silly Putty Cave" but ultimately decided "Nutty Putty" had a better ring to it.
The standard map is a plan view , showing the cave as if seen from above. Because the cave is "hypogenic"—featuring complex, three-dimensional passages that loop and overlap—the map uses specific markings to guide the viewer:
: The cave was formed primarily below the water table, creating smooth, rounded, and non-traditional mazes rather than straight fault lines. specific diagrams The Nutty Putty Cave is a
A confusing cluster of intersecting crawlways that required careful navigation to avoid getting disoriented.
Explosives were used to collapse the roof of the entrance chamber, and the hole was filled with concrete. Today, the physical cave serves as a subterranean tomb and a monument to the dangers of extreme spelunking. The Utah Geological Survey and local caving clubs preserve the historical maps and data of the site for educational and historical research.
The remains one of the most studied and hauntingly fascinating subterranean schematics in modern spelunking history. Once a premier destination for local explorers, Boy Scout troops, and college students, this hydrothermal cave system located west of Utah Lake in Utah County, Utah, was permanently sealed in 2009. Today, cartographic records, two-dimensional topographies, and advanced 3D geological models serve as the only ways to visualize the labyrinth that became the final resting place of explorer John Edward Jones.