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4.5
1,227 votes

Tuckaleechee Caverns

825 Cavern Road, Townsend, Tennessee 37882 USA

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Open Now
Thu 10a-6p
  • Independent
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“greatest sight under the smokies”

If you’re going to be visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park this road trip season and you’re planning some epic hiking and caving, let me point you in the direction of Tuckaleechee Caverns. Hidden 150 feet under the mountains, Tuckaleechee is a perfect hidden gem for anyone looking to do some underground exploration.  Located in Townsend, Tennessee, The Tuckaleechee Cavern is a mile long caving system that stretches out underneath the mountains themselves. According to the legends, the Tuckaleechee caves were used in 1850 by the local Cherokee tribe to hide from the European settlers.  The caves were officially discovered by a group of sawmill workers who noticed water pouring into a very large sinkhole. According to the workers, the water was disappearing into what they realized was a massive cave system hidden behind a thin sheet of rock.  By 1931 the cave was officially open to the public, but the fun only lasted for a year thanks to the Great Depression. Tuckaleechee Cavers re-opened in 1953 after two Townsand locals, W.E. Vananda and Harry Myers, took it upon themselves to carry out the huge renovation job. It was slow going, but once the National Speleological Society got involved, the group discovered a massive open cave they called “the big room”, and the rest was history.  “The Big Room”, is a massive open area that stands 150 feet deep and 300 feet across. Just to give you an idea of how big it really is, Mammoth Cave National Park is only 120 feet high, The Big Room has stalagmites that measure in at 24 feet high alone. For obvious reasons it’s a favorite stop on the Tuckaleechee Caverns guided tour.  A few years after the discovery of "The Big Room", yet another massive chamber was found. Amazingly the new area had a 200-foot high double waterfall, which is now know as Silver Falls, and is an amazing sight to see!  If you’re going to be driving through the Great Smoky Mountains, do yourself a favor and take a detour to Townsend for an afternoon of exploring at the Tuckaleechee Cave. Guided tours run until November so you’ve got plenty of time... whatever you do, don’t forget your camera!  -Roadtrippers The cave is noted for its onyx formations, "Big Room," and high waterfalls. Tours are conducted along lighted walkways. AAA star attraction. Carved over tens of thousands of years in one of the earth's oldest mountain chains, Tuckaleechee Caverns at Townsend, Tenn., are known as the "Greatest Site Under the Smokies". Estimated to be between 20 and 30 million years old, the Caverns are rich in history and lore in recent years as well.

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Reviewed by
jumpingbean

  • 2 Reviews
  • 2 Helpful
June 16, 2020
Rated 5.0

Tuckaleechee Caverns- Townsend, TN (just south of Smokey Mt National Park). A fantastic, little known gem we stumbled upon. Privately owned and relatively recently discovered, this cave still has an uncommercialized feel. Great story behind its discovery. Engaging tour guides. Sweet subterranean 200ft+ waterfall. Bring a cup and enjoy a drink of it’s fresh water. About 1 mile of hiking and steps. Takes about 1.5hr. Tours leave every 15-20minutes. Plenty of parking for our travel trailer. Highly recommend!

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Kerri deVries

  • 18 Reviews
  • 9 Helpful
October 23, 2015
Rated 4.0

Great tour! Very informative. Easy to walk and the tour last about 1.75 hours. Beautiful cavern. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
june83

  • 2 Reviews
  • 2 Helpful
July 17, 2014
Rated

16$ a person now...be prepared for many steps and a steep climb back out of the cave...very pretty inside

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
devin.odell.7

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
March 23, 2013
Rated

$12 Dollars per person. Open 6 am to 9 pm

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Bryce Shuck

  • 39 Reviews
  • 10 Helpful
March 24, 2021
Rated 4.0

Very informative tour, and a great escape from the rain. It's not the easiest cave tour we've done, but it was good for all ages.

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Reviewed by
vnelson88

  • 11 Reviews
  • 7 Helpful
July 26, 2017
Rated 5.0

This little gem was one of the highlights of my summer RV trip this year. What made this cavern such a great stop for me was the shear size of the cavern and the story behind it. Amazing! My family and I loved it. Bring a light jacket, its 58 degrees down there year round. A MUST see if you're in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area.

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  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
July 19, 2017
Rated 5.0

Wow it was way better then I expected!!!!

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Reviewed by
BenHenderson

  • 2 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
July 04, 2017
Rated 5.0

Caverns were amazing. Staff was excellent! Highly recommend.

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Reviewed by
birdnerdherder

  • 3 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
October 09, 2016
Rated 5.0

Awesome tour. Loved every minute. Knowledgeable staff and friendly. $16 and worth the stop for sure.

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Reviewed by
Nancy Sewell

  • 1,228 Reviews
  • 412 Helpful
August 14, 2016
Rated

Hours of Operation:
March 15 - March 31 10am - 5pm
April 1 - October 31 10am - 6 pm
November 1 - November 15 10am - 5pm

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Tuckaleechee Caverns

825 Cavern Road
Townsend, Tennessee
37882 USA
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Hours

Open now until 6:00 pm
  • Sun - Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

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