These 7 Caves In Tennessee Are The Perfect Spots To Cool Down This Season
By Meghan Kraft|Published May 03, 2021
×
Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
Tennessee is famous for its Ol’ Rocky Top, known for the thick layer of limestone bedrock that runs beneath the majority of the state. It can be a real headache for farmers and folks looking to build on the land, but for spelunkers, it’s an absolute dream! Throughout the state, there are multiple parks and private attractions that offer spelunking and cave hiking experiences great for folks of all ages. We’ve compiled some of the best below and would encourage you to visit as many as you can. There’s nothing like Tennessee aboveground, and we have a feeling you’re going to love what’s underground as well!
Cumberland Caverns offers daily walking tours and even overnight caving tours for adventurous visitors, which means you can wander the underground passageways (with a guide!) any time of day. With more than 32 miles of underground trails, you're bound to observe beautiful, underground pools and waterfalls. Find more information here.
The Lost Sea Adventure remains one of the most popular local destinations for Tennesseans. The guided tour of the caverns is easily accessible at only 3/4 of a mile, though the walk can get fairly steep. You'll learn all about the history of the lake, which is the largest underground lake in the United States, and will study the geological development of the underground caverns. Find more information here.
Appalachian Caverns offers a series of walking tours that will take visitors far beneath the surface to learn about the folks that once called the caverns home. You'll learn all about the Early Woodland Native Americans who settled in the area and potentially inhabited the cave. It was even used as a hideout for troops and a hospital during the Civil War! Find more information here.
The Bell Witch Cave is the scene of one of the most popular ghost stories in Tennessee. Many believe that the Bell Witch killed John Bell after he purchased the land, and the haunted farm has become famous for its eerie, creepy tales. You'll find it in Adams, Tennessee, a secluded town not far from Nashville. Find more information here.
Bristol Caverns is perhaps one of the best caves to visit if you're looking for paved and well-lit walkways through the underground. You'll learn about how the caverns were wrought from beneath the earth by an ancient underground river, and you'll even have the chance to tour all three levels of the caverns. You may just find yourself gawking at the unique, dramatic rock displays! Find more information here.
Tuckaleechee Caverns is known as the "Greatest Site Under the Smokies." The Townsend, Tennessee locale presents the earth's oldest mountain chain and what is believed to be up to 30 million years old. The history of the area is radical, and there's even a cavern that can almost fit an entire football stadium inside! Find more information here.
Did we save the best for last? Maybe. Ruby Falls boasts the tallest and deepest underground waterfall in the nation that is open to the public. Nowadays, millions of visitors come by each year from all around the world to view the stunning sight. Find more information here.
These caves remain some of the best to visit in Tennessee, and we have a feeling at least one or two of them will sate your need for adventure.
