Try Our Extreme Spelunking Adventure

Cumberland Caverns offers a variety of opportunities to explore caves via guided tours. We offer options for children and adults, including an opportunity to go camping in a cave. If you are really into caving, we also offer four extreme spelunking adventures. Each of these extreme cave exploration tours offers a unique experience visitors are sure to remember for years to come.

Extreme Spelunking Options at Cumberland Caverns

Incredible views and exciting adventures await explorers on our extreme cave tours. We offer four unforgettable experiences for those who are looking for a little extra excitement:

• The Crucible – This 4-hour trek through underground passages, over the famous Devil’s Quarry, and onto Monument Pillar will test cavers’ physical abilities. Ladder climbs, underground canyons, and high winding paths feature spectacular views you won’t find anywhere else.
• Guts and Glory – Travel back in time and experience what it felt like to be one of the world’s first explorers as you descend 333 feet below earth to sites such as The Great Extension, the Monument Pillar, and the Blue Mud Mountain, to the Rock of Ages and passages that are just waiting to be discovered.
• Into the Dark – If you are interested in camping in a cave, this is one of two options that Cumberland Caverns offers. This is an adventure for brave explorers who want to hike and camp in groups of 10 or more at the famous Monument Pillar deep in the caverns.
• Lights Out – Hike through deep, dark passages and caves lit only by your group’s helmet lamps. This hike also ends at Monument Pillar, reached after a good deal of climbing, scrambling, crouching, and walking. You also get to sleep in the cave.

These tours aren’t called “extreme” for nothing. Each one features precarious trails that will push your skills to the limit. But great effort yields great reward, as these caverns offer once-in-a-lifetime adventures and some of the most breathtaking views you’ll ever see.

Requirements & Recommendations

Four hours is the minimum amount of time you’ll need to complete one of these adventures, with overnight tours being as long as 16+ hours. Due to the extreme nature of these tours, explorers need to be at least 16 years of age. Durable hiking shoes and layers of clothing are advised, as temperatures are typically cooler underground and the terrain can often be uneven.

Each of these adventures occurs at different times. The Crucible and Guts and Glory begin late in the morning. Into the Dark begins at 5:30, and times for Lights Out vary depending on whether you book a weekend or weekday tour. 10-day advanced booking is required for all four of our extreme tours.

Ready to do some extreme spelunking or go camping in a cave? If so, make a plan to visit Cumberland Caverns in McMinnville. In addition to our extreme caving adventures, we offer moderate tours and easy, family-friendly ones. Contact us at 931-668-4396 for tickets and details on how to prepare for cave exploration.