Caves in Alabama

1. Cathedral Caverns State Park

• What is Cathedral Caverns State Park?
  • Cathedral Caverns State Park in Alabama is a relatively new state park that features a massive entrance and contains beautiful formations.
• What are some significant features of the cave?
  • Some of the significant features include “Goliath” – one of the biggest stalagmites on the planet – a frozen waterfall, a stalagmite forest, and more.
• What is the temperature inside the cave?
  • The cave is a delightful 60°F all year long, which makes it pleasant to visit in any season.
• Are tours available at Cathedral Caverns?
  • There are a number of cave tours scheduled each day, and parts of the cave are accessible for those with restricted mobility.
• What other activities are available at the park?
  • Other activities in the park include hiking the trail network, gemstone mining, and camping in primitive tent camping areas and the backcountry.

Cathedral Caverns State Park, 637 Cave Road, Woodville, AL 35769, Phone: 256-728-8193

2. DeSoto Caverns

• What is DeSoto Caverns?
  • DeSoto Caverns is a beautiful and historic show cave near Birmingham, Alabama.
• What historical significance does DeSoto Caverns have?
  • Throughout the years, the cave has seen many uses. Prehistoric Indians lived and died here, Confederate soldiers mined the cave for gunpowder, and it was used to house a moonshine still during Prohibition.
• Is DeSoto Caverns open to visitors year-round?
  • Yes, the cave is open to the public all year round and has visitor services such as a gift shop, cafe, picnic area, and more.
• What other attractions are available at DeSoto Caverns?
  • In addition to the cave, there are a number of family-friendly attractions on the grounds, such as water golf, gem panning, a maze, archery, and much more, making DeSoto Caverns an attractive place to spend a day with the kids.

DeSoto Caverns, 5181 DeSoto Caverns Parkway, Childersburg, AL 35044, Phone: 256-378-7252

3. Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge

• What is the Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge?
  • The Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge is a 199-acre wildlife preserve in Decatur, Northeastern Alabama.
• Why was the wildlife refuge created?
  • The wildlife refuge was created to preserve and protect the habitat of endangered species of bats that call Fern Cave home.
• How many bats live in Fern Cave?
  • There are more than a million bats that live in the cave, including the largest colony of gray bats in the country.
• What is the surrounding landscape like?
  • The area surrounding the cave consists of forested hillsides, adding to its natural beauty.
• Is Fern Cave accessible to visitors?
  • The cave itself has five hidden entrances, and access to the cave is quite difficult and should only be attempted by the most expert cavers.
• Why is Fern Cave considered special?
  • Those who are afforded access will certainly be impressed, as the cave is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the country.

Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge, 2700 Refuge Headquarters Road, Decatur, AL 35603, Phone: 256-353-7243

Attractions in the area include the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, Point Mallard Park and the Cook Natural Science Museum.

Decatur, Alabama is a 1 hr 16 min (86.7 miles via I-65 N) day trip from Birmingham.

4. Manitou Cave

• What is Manitou Cave?
  • Manitou Cave is a cave in Alabama near Lookout Mountain. The cave was once a popular tourist attraction but is now closed to the general public.
• Can visitors still explore Manitou Cave?
  • It is possible to visit the cave by participating in the adventure tours offered by private tour companies.
• How long does a tour of Manitou Cave take?
  • A tour of the cave takes at least 1.5 hours.
• What is the terrain like inside the cave?
  • The first part of the cave has concrete steps and wooden and steel bridges, making it partially accessible.
• What rare species can be found in Manitou Cave?
  • Some of the rare and endangered species that live in the cave include the eastern milk snake, the green salamander, and the Manitou cave snail, which is only found in this cave.

Manitou Cave, 3179 Green Valley Road, Cahaba Heights, AL 352443

5. Rickwood Caverns State Park

• What is Rickwood Caverns State Park?
  • Rickwood Caverns State Park is a state park near Warrior, Alabama. The park’s main draw is the large network of caverns that give it its name.
• What features can be found inside the caves?
  • The caves have many interesting features, including underground pools, unique rock formations, and rare blind cave fish.
• How can visitors tour the caves?
  • Visitors can tour the caves on docent-guided tours, and access is only permitted with a guide. The tours are scheduled several times a day and depart from the park’s gift shop.
• What other activities are available at the park?
  • In addition to touring the caves, the park offers campsites, hiking trails, wildlife watching opportunities, and an Olympic-size swimming pool that is fed with water from inside the cave.

Rickwood Caverns State Park, 370 Rickwood Park Road, Warrior, AL 35180, Phone: 205-647-9692

6. Russell Cave National Monument

• What is Russell Cave National Monument?
  • Russell Cave National Monument is a National Monument located in the northeastern corner of Alabama near Bridgeport.
• How large is Russell Cave?
  • A total of 7.2 miles inside of Russell Cave have been mapped, making it the state’s third longest cave and one of the longest caves in the country.
• What is the historical significance of Russell Cave?
  • The cave has a massive main entrance, which was used as shelter for Native Americans, and the site has many clues as to how these original residents once lived.
• Can visitors explore the cave?
  • The cave itself is not open for visitors to explore, but they can access the cave entrance, where many historical artifacts have been found.
• What facilities are available for visitors?
  • There is a visitor center with a museum where visitors can learn even more about the people who once lived here.

Russell Cave National Monument, 3729 County Road 98, Bridgeport, AL 35740, Phone: 256-495-2672

7. Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge

• What is Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge?
  • Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge is a 264-acre wildlife refuge and nature preserve that was created to protect endangered bat species, namely the gray and Indiana bats.
• What species live in Sauta Cave?
  • A number of other rare species of plants and animals also call the cave home.
• Can visitors enter Sauta Cave?
  • The park has two entrances to its namesake cave, but visitors are not permitted inside as the cave is a protected habitat.
• What outdoor activities are available at the refuge?
  • The area around the cave offers plenty of chances to see wildlife and hike trails.
• When is the best time to see bats at Sauta Cave?
  • Many come to view the bats emerging from the cave at sundown in the summertime. There is a viewing platform, from which visitors can see around 400,000 bats as they leave the cave to hunt.

Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge, 2700 Refuge Headquarters Road, Decatur, AL 35603, Phone: 256-353-7243

8. Stephens Gap Callahan Cave Preserve

• What is Stephens Gap Callahan Cave Preserve?
  • Nestled in the center of Jackson County, visitors can hike to the beloved Stephens Gap Callahan Cave Preserve, a highly-photographed geological marvel.
• How difficult is the hike to Stephens Gap?
  • The trail leading to the cave may be steep and slippery with primitive conditions, but it is well worth the effort for the stunning views.
• How deep is the cave’s pit?
  • The cave’s pit reaches 143 feet deep, and the bottom can only be reached by those with proper caving skills, knowledge, and equipment.
• Can inexperienced visitors explore the cave?
  • Inexperienced visitors can still admire views from the top of the pit through a short, walk-in passage.
• Do visitors need a permit to visit the cave?
  • The cave limits its daily visitors, so be sure to plan and book your permit ahead of time. Depending on the season, weekend permits may be taken up to 3 weeks in advance.

Stephens Gap Callahan Cave Preserve, 8408 County Road 30, Woodville, Alabama 35776; Phone: 423-771-9671

9. Neversink Pit

• What is Neversink Pit?
  • Photographed and featured in numerous publications, Jackson County’s Neversink Pit is often considered to be “the” classic pit among caving enthusiasts.
• How large is Neversink Pit?
  • At its top opening, the pit spans 40 feet in diameter and balloons to an even wider 100 feet at its bottom.
• How deep is the pit, and how can it be accessed?
  • Proper caving skills and equipment are required to rappel down 162 feet to its bottom, with different wondrous sights to be seen on the way down.
• What seasonal changes can be observed in Neversink Pit?
  • In the winter, rappelers will see sheets of ice throughout the pit, while peaceful waterfalls appear after spring rains, and beautiful ferns run over the cave’s ledges during summer.
• Why is Neversink Pit popular among cave explorers?
  • It’s no wonder why Neversink Pit has long been adored and frequented by cave explorers for its breathtaking views and seasonal transformations.

Neversink Pit, Fackler, Alabama 35746

10. Tumbling Rock Cave

• Who can explore Tumbling Rock Cave?
  • Both experienced and beginner cave explorers are welcome at Tumbling Rock Cave.
• How large is Tumbling Rock Cave?
  • The cave features more than 6 miles of unique passageways ranging in difficulty and containing some of the most unique formations in the state.
• What formations can be found in the cave?
  • Explorers will find stalactites and stalagmites of different shapes and sizes, some even resembling an elephant’s foot and a Christmas tree.
• Are there any historical artifacts in Tumbling Rock Cave?
  • Historical artifacts may also be spotted within the cave, such as mining equipment and soldiers’ signatures on the walls, which date back to the Civil War.
• What is the most notable feature of the cave?
  • The star of the cave is the Topless Dome—a 400-foot-tall shaft featuring an underground waterfall.
• What is the temperature inside the cave?
  • The cave naturally maintains a 58-degree temperature, allowing visitors to comfortably explore even during hot southern summers.

Tumbling Rock Cave, 3407 County Road 111, Fackler, Alabama 35746