WILD CAVE EXPEDITION TOUR
WILD CAVE EXPEDITION TOURS
Experience the thrill of our famous Wild Cave Expeditions and embrace the dirt! Join us as we venture into the unexplored depths of the cave, where adventure awaits. Don’t worry about gear – we’ve got you covered with gloves, pads, lights, and helmets.
With two different expedition types to choose from, make sure to get ready for a physical challenge as you crawl, climb, slide, and squeeze your way through the cave. It’s an all-out exhilarating experience!
Before you embark on this epic journey, make sure to check out our Wild Cave Checklist below to know what to expect and ensure you meet the height, age, and size requirements.
Get ready to get muddy and push your limits – book your Wild Cave Expedition today!
Minimum age 8, Minimum height 56”, Maximum weight 275 lbs
BOOK ONLINE
Green = Available | White = Closed
Canyon Crawl
Waterfall Dome
Get ready for an epic adventure with the Canyon Crawl Expedition Tour! Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned explorer, this 2-hour crawling tour will blow you away. Picture yourself on your hands and knees, navigating through a maze of stunning caverns, climbing over rocks, and discovering unbelievable underground wonders. And here’s the best part: you get to call the shots! Feeling bold? We’ll guide you through tight squeezes with utmost care. Not a fan of small spaces? No worries! You can still enjoy the awe-inspiring larger parts of the cave system while learning about its magical formations, local wildlife, and special features. Join us on this unforgettable journey into the heart of our live cave system!
Tour Info:
The tour leaves at 10 am and 2 pm from Friday – Sunday (please arrive 30 min early to gear up)
The tour is roughly 2hrs in length and winds through multiple rooms and corridors.
Cost: $60 per participant with a max of 10 people in a group
The minimum age is 8, Minimum height 4’6 , and Maximum weight is 275 lbs
Call now to book a reservation & get more info! – (423) 821-9403
Are you ready for the ultimate caving adventure? Join us on our thrilling Waterfall Dome Expedition! This action-packed tour will take you through the most challenging and rewarding parts of our cave system. Get ready to climb ropes, slide through mud, and even body-bridge over a 35-foot deep slot canyon (warning: not for the faint of heart!).
Unlike our other tours, there’s no easy way out on this one. You’ll have to crawl through tight spaces and navigate long corridors filled with jaw-dropping formations of Stalagmites, Stalactites, and sparkling pools. And as we delve deeper into the cave, you’ll have the chance to encounter fascinating wildlife such as cave salamanders, bats, and our very own endangered Crystal Cave Spiders.
Don’t miss out on this caver’s dream come true. Book your spot on the Waterfall Dome Expedition today!
Tour Info:
The tour leaves at 10am and 2pm from Friday – Sunday (please arrive 30 min early to gear up)
The tour is roughly three and a half hours long and winds through much of our live cave system.
Cost: $125 per participant with a max of 8 in a group
The minimum age is 12, and the Minimum height is 5’4, and the maximum weight 275 lbs
Call now to book a reservation & get more info! – (423) 821-9403
Q: What is the temperature in the cave?
A: The cave remains a constant 58° F all year, allowing tours to operate in all weather conditions. Most guests prefer a light sweater or jacket while on their tour.
Q: Is the cave wheelchair or stroller accessible?
A: Due to the layout of the cave, narrowness of some passageways, and number of steps, the cave is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
Q: Will I get dirty on my cave tour?
A: Guests on the Crystal Palace Walking tour may get dripped on, but will not otherwise get dirty. Guests on the Wild Cave Expedition tours will most definitely get dirty.
Q: If I or a member of my group decide not to continue the tour, can we get a refund?
A: All cave tour purchases, both Crystal Palace and Wild Cave, are non-refundable. Please strongly consider the ability level and comfort level of your group members before purchasing a cave tour. If you have questions or concerns regarding the difficulty of tours, we are happy to give advice on which tour is best suited for your group. However, ultimately the decision is yours and refunds will not be given after a tour is purchased.
Q: Are bathroom facilities available in the cave?
A: There are no bathrooms in the cave. Please use the restroom before beginning your tour.
Q: Are animals allowed to be brought in the cave?
A: Due to the sensitive and fragile nature of the cave and its ecosystem, no pets are permitted inside.
Raccoon Mountain Caverns does allow service animals in all outdoor areas, within the camp store, and on the Crystal Palace walking tour. Service animals must be harnessed or leashed.
Service animals are defined as, “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.” Since these animals provide service for persons with disabilities, they are not considered to be pets and, consequently, are not regulated as pets. Accordingly, they have been allowed to go into areas where pets are traditionally prohibited.
Due to the concern for cave preservation and protection, as well as wildlife management issues on the surface, Raccoon Mountain Caverns regulation allows the closing of an area to the use of service animals if it is determined that the service animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of people or wildlife.
In determining whether a service animal poses a direct threat, individualized assessments based on current scientific knowledge or on the best available objective evidence to ascertain the nature, duration and severity of the risks have been taken into account and less restrictive measures will not suffice.
Currently pets are permitted in the following areas:
On roadways and in parking lots open to public vehicular traffic
In picnic areas & panning areas
Note: Pets and Service Animals present in areas not permitted, open themselves to potential issues with wildlife, as well as posing a significant danger to the handler and other visitors.
Q: Can I walk through the cave on my own?
A: In order to protect and preserve the cave and ensure safety, all visitors entering the cave must be accompanied by a guide at all times.
Q: Is the cave dangerous?
A: Caves, by their very nature, can be dangerous environments. Please follow all staff instructions to ensure a safe and memorable experience. None of the wildlife in the cave pose a threat to humans.
Q: My question isn’t listed here; how can I get more information?
A: Give us a call or send us an email! We’d love to hear from you and will happily answer any additional questions you may have. A more detailed FAQ specific to the Wild Cave Expedition tours can be found at wildcave.com/faq.html
Raccoon Mountain Caverns Wild Cave Expedition Checklist
Clothing Requirements:
Full length pants are required. Sturdy pants (such as jeans or cargo pants) with buttons or zippers are recommended as elastic waistbands (sweatpants, leggings, etc.) tend to rip or be pulled down or off when belly crawling. Shorts are not permitted. Long-sleeved shirts are required. Light weight t-shirts or button-down flannel-style shirts work best. Sweatshirts and jackets are too heavy, even with the cave temperature at 58 degrees. Keep in mind that low-cut shirts may be revealing when crawling. Short-sleeved shirts are not permitted.
Sturdy, lace-up, close-toed shoes such as boots or athletic shoes with good traction are required. Slip-on, open-to-ed, barefoot/five-toe shoes, hiking sandals, or footwear with openings of any kind are not permitted. Participants that arrive in improper attire WILL NOT be permitted on the tour. No exceptions.
No personal caving equipment is permitted on tours. Raccoon Mountain provides helmets, lights, gloves, and knee pads that must be worn at ail times during the tour.
Important Information:
No exceptions can be made to age, height, or weight requirements. Tours run rain or shine. In the event of prolonged or extreme weather, some tours may need to be rescheduled. Alert the staff before your tour about any medical conditions that could affect the tour: asthma, diabetes, bad knees or back, autism, claustrophobia, fear of heights, required medications etc. Guides must be aware of these before entering the cave. Individuals with casts or slings will not be-permitted to participate.
The tour features significant amounts of crawling (hands-and-knees and belly crawling), climbing (with and without ropes), and sliding. The cave is muddy, ·wet, and slippery at many locations. Raccoon Mountain gear must be worn at all times. Avoid eating a large meal before your tour. The crawling and climbing portion will tax you, especially if you are not used to extreme physical exertion. Use the restroom before the tour, as restrooms are not available at any point inside the cave.
Please note that any items brought into. the cave are at risk of damage or loss. Food and beverages are not permitted. Phones/cameras are permitted, but tours are fast paced and allow minimal stopping for photos. Go Pro style cameras must have a helmet strap mount.
Recording of the tour in its entirety is not permitted.
Personal items must be stored in your car or at your camp site. Lockers are not available. Car keys may be left with gift shop staff during the tour, but no other personal items can be left there.
Adult chaperones must actively supervise their group throughout the entirety of the tour. Horseplay, pushing, shoving, jumping,
name carving and mud throwing are not permitted, as they_ can lead to injury or damage to the cave. The cave environment and ecosystem is fragile and potentially dangerous. Do not touch or disturb any cave wildlife. Stay on the trail and do not damage the formations or water drops on the formations, as the cave is still actively growing. The entire group stays together for the duration of the tour.
No solo exploration is permitted.
Please allow plenty of travel time before your tour. Chattanooga traffic can become congested very quickly causing delays. Also keep in mind we are in eastern standard time it’s preferred to be early for your tour rather than late. Wild Cave Expeditions leave at the scheduled time. (Ex. If you bought a ticket to the movies and are running late the show will not be rewound)
Participants are required to listen to and abide by all instructions from the guide at all times during the tour. Failure to do so may result in injury and/or early termination of the expedition.
After the Tour:
A complete change of clothes is recommended. Follow guide instructions on de-gearing and post-caving procedure. Bathhouse showers on the campground are available, but please be courteous of others sharing the space. Group leaders must maintain supervision of their group while at the bathhouse and leave it in a clean and undamaged state.
Financial Liability:
Under Tennessee state law, there is up to a $1,000 fine for damage to the formations or cave in any manner. A fee of$50 will be charged for use of any emergency toilet in the cave. Any damage to the cave surface from bodily fluids (including saliva) will result in a $250 clean-up fee. 99% of the time the accidents can be avoided by proper preparation.
Cancellation Policy:
Payment is due in full when reserving a tour (with the exception of large groups). There are no refunds. If you fail to arrive for your tour, we incur all the same expenses and may have turned others away; therefore, guests who fail to show for a tour, fail to arrive at the scheduled time, or back out of the tour will not be refunded the tour price. With at least 72 hour’s notice, you have the option to reschedule your tour.
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