top of page

 WALKING CAVE TOURS 

Caving has been a HUGE part of this event from the very start! Having it's roots in the Carter Caves Crawl-a-Thon as far back as 1981! Ease into the adventure with a commercial walking tour, or get the total experience with a 6 hour crawl in a WILD cave.  Each trip has a level. Please be sure to know what is required for each level. CLICK HERE to learn!

A Visit to Cascade Cave

for a complete list of trip dates & time

Cascade Cave is one of the largest of over 200 caves in Carter County and is noted for its large chambers and numerous cave formations. Set your sights on the reflecting pool in the Lake Room, and the geologic diversity of the Cathedral Room. Finally entice yourself with our majestic 30-feet high underground waterfall. This is a commercially lit walking tour of the cave. You will meet your guide in the parking lot of Cascade Cave. Follow the signs from the lodge to the Cave.

FEE

0.00

1

DURATION

2

LOCATION

Meets at Cascade Cave Parking Lot

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation required

LIMIT

60

A Visit to X-Cave

for a complete list of trip dates & time

X-Cave has two vertical joint passages that meander through a large layer of limestone, which puts you up-close to many beautiful cave formations. Some of the highlighted features include turkey rock, the pipe organ, and the giant column, which is the largest cave formation found at the park. Be aware of your surroundings and you will discover how this cave became known as "X-Cave." This is a commercially lit walking tour of the cave.

FEE

0.00

1

DURATION

1

LOCATION

Meets at Welcome Center

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation required

LIMIT

30

Ghost and Legends

for a complete list of trip dates & time

Tour Cascade by flashlight as your guide tells tall tales and ghost stories along the way. Flashlights will be the only light source in the cave. Not recommended for those with balance and lowlight vision impairment.

FEE

0.00

1

DURATION

2

LOCATION

Meets at lodge

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation required

LIMIT

40

History of Mine Lighting

for a complete list of trip dates & time

Eastern KY has a rich and proud coal mining heritage. This trip will strive to show the participants what it was actually like to work in the mines with only the light of various flame lamps. From early clamshell lamps to carbide, the last flame lamp, this will be a history and hands on experience of how the miners did their hard work underground with barely enough light to see. We will have working original examples and explain the history of each type of mine light. You will see original photographs from the day of not only the miners, but also the kids as young as 6 years old that worked in the mines day in and day out. Trip will take place on the commercial routes of Cascade Cave. No Flashlights will be used, participants will be provided a carbide miners light (one light per two people) to light the path ahead.

FEE

5.00

1

DURATION

3

LOCATION

Meets at lodge

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation required

LIMIT

10

X-Cave Flashlight Tour

for a complete list of trip dates & time

View X-Cave in a way that most visitors do not - by flashlight only. We will turn out the commercial lights of the cave and cruise the passages with your flashlights. You can use your lights to discover the many cave formations that decorate the cave walls. A dependable light source is required for every participant. Keep your eyes peeled, and you may see some of the resident big brown bats hibernating in X-Cave.

FEE

0.00

1

DURATION

1

LOCATION

Meets at Welcome Center

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation required

LIMIT

25

bottom of page