East Tennessee is known for its breathtaking blue ridges, wandering streams and green valleys, but hidden away lies a secret world sculpted by water and time. Tennessee is home to 10,000 unexplored caves, most of which are in the eastern two-thirds of the state. The karst landscape is a terrain where soluble rocks slowly dissolve due to water, which happens over hundreds to thousands to millions of years. East Tennessee’s surplus of limestone, a soluble rock, created the vast and mysterious cave systems worth journeying.
The Lost Sea Adventure, about an hour and a half southwest of Johnson City in Sweetwater, is home to America’s largest underground lake. The guided tour of the Craighead Caverns culminates with a boat ride on the underground lake. “The tour is a three-quarter mile round-trip that lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.” The cavern features remnants from a “colossal prehistoric Jaguar from over 20,000 years ago.” Rare anthodites and cave flowers can also be seen along the way to the lake. Much of the cave has yet to be discovered.
The Appalachian Caverns, once known as Linville Cave, are much closer to campus, only a half-hour drive in Blountville. The caverns have been used for over 1,300 years by Native Americans and early settlers. “Linville Cave was named for two brothers who were among the first to take up residence during the early historic settling of Sullivan County.” Later, it became commercialized, and the name was changed to Appalachian Caverns. It has been shaped over millennia by the persistent flow of water through limestone, creating vast chambers embellished with stalactites and stalagmites. There is a tour for every adventurer, including a walking tour and more challenging tours such as crawls through the “Echo Chambers” and passages such as the “Rib-Crusher.”
Next, the Bristol Caverns feature paved, well-lit walkways through vaulted chambers and along an ancient underground river. It was historically used by Native Americans as attack and escape routes during frontier times. Bristol Caverns is open year-round with guided tours available.
Finally, another cave worth exploring and just a short drive from campus is Worley’s Cave. Situated in Bluff City, this cave offers a more rugged, adventure-style experience. It is not for the faint of heart, as it is known for its extensive passages and is popular among spelunkers and adventure seekers. Be warned that this is a physically demanding expedition.
There are plenty more caves in East Tennessee to be discovered and explored, but these offer a blend of mystery, history and beauty. Whether you are interested in guided tours or more adventurous spelunking, there is something for every explorer.
