Hiking To This Aboveground Cave In Tennessee Will Give You A Surreal Experience
Tennessee isn’t known as Ol’ Rocky Top for nothing. Our solid bedrock creates a meandering mine of rock under the soil, twisting into caves and caverns. In the case of Alum Cave, however, it’s found in a craggy outcropping in the Great Smoky Mountains.
The Alum Cave Trail clocks in at 4.4 miles, resulting in an elevation gain of 1,125 feet. That's quite the trek!
The hike is wildly popular during the spring and summertime. So popular, in fact, that there are two parking lots for hikers to utilize, both of which can fill up pretty quickly.
Not technically a cave, the concave bluff that is known as Alum Cave is found 2.2 miles into the hike, or a grand halfway estimate.
The views on the way, however, are wildly, perfectly beautiful. It's a hike that receives a moderate trail rating at 6.65 difficult.
Interesting fact: in the winter, icicles will form on the face of the cave, creating both a majestic natural masterpiece and a danger for hikers.
Taking the Alum Cave Trail is a solid option that takes on two faces - you have to drive outside of the stunning Gatlinburg along Newfound Gap road to get there - two beautiful Tennessee gems in one.
With the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as the most visited national park in the continental US, you'll have to watch the weather and get a move on pretty early. You don't want to be competing for a spot on the trail!
Alum Cave Trail. A stunning hike to a cave that's not really a cave, but it's all in the name and the giggly memories you pack up and take home with you.
Have you ever been? Do you think you’ll head over to the Great Smoky Mountains this summer to give it a whirl?
