Tuckaleechee Caverns In The Mountains Of East Tennessee Is The Perfect Place To Explore This Summer

Below the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, you'll find myriad underground caves and caverns, a system that is not only incredibly intricate but perfect for the explorer at heart. Tuckaleechee Caverns is located in Townsend, Tennessee, and has made a name for itself since its initial grand opening to its most contemporary visitors. It's the kind of place that offers adventures for adults and children alike, the kind of place that will give you lifelong memories and something sweet to look back on once the years have passed. Learn more about it below!

Tuckaleechee Caverns has made a name for itself as the "Greatest Sight Under The Smokies," and is also the highest-rated cave in the Eastern United States. The popular natural wonder has become something of a legend amongst Tennessee folks and can be found in Townsend, Tennessee.

The Tuckaleechee Caverns were discovered in the mid-19th century. They were opened safely to the public almost 100 years later in 1953, after a brief opening in the 1930s. The caverns are perhaps most notable for Silver Falls, a 21-foot waterfall beneath the earth's surface.

If you choose to explore the caves with the help of a guide (of course!), you'll have the chance to see incredible sights like the Big Room, a large cavern that boasts stalagmites up to 24 feet tall.

The Big Room is actually so large it can fit a football stadium inside!

It's fairly shocking once you're in the midst of the Great Smoky Mountains to think that Tuckaleechee Caverns sits just below this rolling topography. Fun fact: the Smokies are the world's oldest mountain chain, which means you'll have the chance to explore them at their subterranean base.

You can tour the caverns on a 1.25-mile round trip. The fees are $16 per adult and $7 per child between the ages of 5 and 11. Children 4 and under can visit for free but must be accompanied by an adult.

Have you been to the Tuckaleechee Caverns? Will you be visiting? Make sure you check out its seasonal hours on its official website, which we've linked below, before planning your visit.

What an incredible place to visit! You can learn more about Tuckaleechee Caverns right here in East Tennessee on its official website and Facebook page.

You can continue to experience the fun of a Tennessee summer with a visit to these fun spots throughout the state.