Caverns near Townsend, Tennessee

Tuckaleechee Caverns

• The Tuckaleechee Caverns, at the edge of Townsend, Tennessee, are not as well-known as some caves, but their popularity is growing. The "big room" was discovered in the 1950s and is huge by any cave standard. The room is 400 feet long, 300 feet across and 150 feet deep. The room has stalagmites up to 24-feet high. There is one called the Toothpick, that is 20-feet high and 6 inches thick. There is also the 200-feet high silver water falls, which is a double fall of water. There are many formations of various kinds to see. There is a gift shop at the entrance. The caverns are open seven days a week, and tours are guided.

  Tuckaleechee Caverns
  825 Cavern Road
  Townsend, TN 37882
  (865) 448-2274
  Tuckaleecheecaverns.com

Forbidden Caverns

• Forbidden Caverns are about 20 miles northeast of Townsend at Sevierville, Tennessee. They are not forbidden today, as more and more tourists come to visit.
  There is an entertaining and informative guided tour that takes about an hour. The caverns have many formations, tall natural chimneys and crystal clear streams. There are special lighting effects as well as a sound presentation. The trails are well-lighted and there are handrails at strategic locations.
  The Forbidden Caverns are open Monday through Saturday, April through November. The caverns get their name from an Indian legend about a princess lost in a hollow mountain.

  Forbidden Caverns
  455 Blowing Cave Road
  Sevierville, TN 37876
  (865) 453-5972
  forbiddencaverns.com

The Lost Sea

• It's billed as American's largest underground lake and it may well be. The Lost Sea, in what is also known as Craighead Caverns, near Sweetwater, Tennessee, has a wide variety of tours and experiences available.
  You can ride a glass-bottom boat on the lake as part of the tour. There are also overnight camping expeditions available. The lake, or lost sea, is 140 feet below ground level.
  There are Indian artifacts dating before 1800, and the cave also was widely used by Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, and it was later used by moonshiners.
  The cave is open every day except Christmas.

  The Lost Sea
  140 Lost Sea Road
  Sweetwater, TN 37874423
  (423) 337-6616
  thelostsea.com