Cave Tours
Open 7 Days A Week
Book Guided Tour Book Big Room Adventure Tour Book Tombstone Pass Adventure Tour
555 Charlie Roberts Road, Pelham, TN 37366
Explore The Caverns!
The Caverns offers daily Guided Cave Tours that include one of the largest underground rooms in the world at over three football fields long and a behind-the-scenes tour of the music venue. Walking tours of these otherworldly caves entwine the cave geology, the mythology of cave lore, and the unique history of Grundy County.
For thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies, choose from the Big Room Adventure Tour for an exciting exploration of tight squeezes inside of Big Room Cave, or push your limits on the most challenging Tombstone Pass Adventure Tour. Both tours are guided by our seasoned cave experts, offering an unforgettable adventure.
Want to bring large group for a cave tour or would you like to learn more about our overnight adventures? Please reach out to cj@thecaverns.com.
We are closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve through New Year's Day (reopening January 2nd).
Guided Cave Tour
45 min - 1 hour • Moderate difficulty • All ages
From 9a to 5p CT daily, guided cave tours at The Caverns lead you through two captivating caves. Explore the vast Big Room Cave, stretching three football fields in length, and marvel at its otherworldly subterranean beauty. Our knowledgeable guides will regale you with the intricate wonders of cave geology, engaging myths of cave lore, and the intriguing history Grundy County. Additionally, venture into our legendary underground music hall for a behind-the-scenes tour (access may be limited on show days). Optional playful passages provide crawl-through experiences enjoyable for both children and adults. Ready to embark on this unforgettable journey? Book your tour now!
Tour difficulty is moderate due to a couple steep hills
Age 2 and under are free
$22.95 adults / $12.95 ages 3 to 12 — plus tax & fees
Big Room Adventure Cave Tour
2 hours • Strenuous difficulty • Ages 16 & up
On the Big Room Adventure Tour, you’ll venture underground to search for salamanders and discover fascinating geologic formations like cave bacon, drapery, soda straws, crystals, and rimstone, all while learning about the history of The Caverns. Perfect for anyone curious about caving or eager to gain experience walking, crawling, and climbing in caves—without the tight squeezes—this tour offers an accessible adventure. We provide all the caving equipment; you bring the heart and nerve to explore passages most visitors never see and embrace getting a little muddy along the way.
We provide caving helmets, head lamps, and knee pads (our gear must be used)
You will get muddy, so please dress appropriately with sturdy shoes, long sleeves, and pants.
Reservations required 5 days in advance
$75 — plus tax & fees
Please note, if you are the first person to book a tour spot, there is a minimum of two people per booking. All participants must sign a waiver on site prior to the tour and all participants must present a valid ID when signing the waiver.
Tombstone Pass Adventure Cave Tour
3 - 4 hours • Extreme difficulty • Ages 16 & up
Embark on a deep caving expedition! Guided by seasoned cavers you'll navigate the challenging "Tombstone Pass" to discover an underground river, unique geological formations like “soda straws,” and thriving cave creatures. Upon resurfacing, you'll be rewarded an exclusive T-shirt to commemorate your journey.
- We provide caving helmets, head lamps, and knee pads (our gear must be used)
- You will get muddy, so please dress appropriately
- Reservations required 7 days in advance
- $130 — plus tax & fees (T-shirt included)
Please note, if you are the first person to book a tour spot, there is a minimum of two people per booking. All participants must sign a waiver onsite prior to the tour and all participants must present a valid ID when signing the waiver.
Curious but not ready to commit? Send an email to info@thecaverns.com with your phone number and one of our adventure caving experts will give you a call to tell you more and answer your questions.
Things To Do in The Area
Our Favorite Local Restaurants Near The Caverns
One of the best things about traveling is eating out! And for many, the most appealing restaurants are those local spots that serve up inspired, delicious meals with an ambiance you can’t find anywhere else. At The Caverns, we’re fortunate to have many excellent and eclectic restaurants in nearby Pelham, Tracy City, Monteagle and Sewanee. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorites. Whatever food mood you’re in, we hope these recommendations lead you to the right table.
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9 Waterfalls Within 30 Miles of The Caverns
Planning a weekend to beautiful Southeast Tennessee and The Caverns? We've rounded up 9 waterfalls you can chase when visiting the area. All of them are within 30 miles of The Caverns! Combine a waterfall with The Caverns cave tours and you've got a sure-fire way to keep your cool on a hot day.
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6 Things To Do Before or After You Visit The Caverns
There's much to explore in the Monteagle and Sewanee area. Our smartphones tell us to the quickest routes to take to get there, but wouldn't it be nice if there was an option to take us on the prettiest route? Ignore your urge to use your smartphone's GPS and take the time to travel from Pelham up the winding U.S. Route 41 from The Caverns up to Monteagle.
Long before Interstate 24 this section of road was a part of the "Dixie Highway" and was the main thoroughfare stretching all the way to Miami, but no need to go that far. Take in the pleasant and peaceful Pelham Valley farmland, then head up the mountain and check out some of these great things to do.
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Rock Climbing Near The Caverns
By Carissa Riccardi
In recent years, rock climbing has gained a lot of mainstream attention with the likes of award-winning films and a spot in the upcoming Olympics. Rock climbing can be an intimidating sport to jump into, but if you’re looking for adventure and a connection to the outdoors, a great way to do it is to climb!
If rock climbing sparks your interest, but you aren’t sure where to start, visit a local climbing gym staffed with knowledgeable instructors to acquaint you with the gear and teach you the ropes. Highpoint Climbing Gym, located in Chattanooga, is an hour drive from The Caverns. This gym is unique in that it features a climbing wall on the outside of the building. Highpoint has a kid zone for the little ones to climb around on, too.
Climbing gyms are also reliable resources if you are interested in hiring a guide to take you on an outdoor rock climbing trip. Climbing outside on real rocks feeds any appetite for adventure. Local to The Caverns are two popular outdoor climbing areas that have been developed for sport, trad, and top rope climbing—Foster Falls and Denny Cove.
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