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 dates & times, follow this link.
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
LEVEL
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 dates & times, follow this link.
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
LEVEL
1
DURATION
1
LOCATION
Meets at Welcome Center
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation required
LIMIT
30
Ghost and Legends
For a complete list of dates & times, follow this link.
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
5
LEVEL
1
DURATION
2
LOCATION
Meets at lodge
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation required
LIMIT
40
History of Mine Lighting
For a complete list of dates & times, follow this link.
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
LEVEL
1
DURATION
3
LOCATION
Meets at lodge
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation required
LIMIT
10
Speleology - The Science of Caves
For a complete list of dates & times, follow this link.
Join us for a walking tour of Carter County?s largest commercial cave, Cascade Cave! Cascade, like many other caves, provides an environment found only below Earth?s surface which supports a myriad of organisms that never see the light of day. This tour explores the science of how caves are formed, what organisms exploit these unique environments and how they survive there. While we journey through this fragile ecosystem, we will discuss ways in which we can protect caves to conserve this special environment. While caves seem isolated from the surface, everything we do trickles into and affects not only the caves, but the organisms that live there. Come with three scientists on a journey through Cascade Cave along the commercially lit walking path. Your guides in science will meet you in the parking lot of Cascade Cave.
FEE
5
LEVEL
1
DURATION
1.5
LOCATION
Meets at Cascade Cave Parking Lot
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation required
LIMIT
25
The Story of the Cave
For a complete list of dates & times, follow this link.
Much has been discussed about the significant geology of Carter Caves. Join our residential old broke down caver as he reviews the most recent theories on what makes the Carter Caves area so special and unique. This trip will include a walk through X-Cave and a jaunt into the valley along Cave Branch. One highlight of the trip will include a walk through, Carter Caves Natural Bridge, the only natural bridge in Kentucky that supports a paved road.
FEE
5
LEVEL
1
DURATION
2
LOCATION
Meets at Welcome Center
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation required
LIMIT
15
X-Cave Flashlight Tour
For a complete list of dates & times, follow this link.
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
LEVEL
1
DURATION
1
LOCATION
Meets at Welcome Center
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation required
LIMIT
25