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Take the Cathedral Caverns Cave Tour
Join a guided tour through the cavern and experience its enormous chambers, dramatic formations and cathedral-like spaces. The guided tour is the park's signature experience.
Must DoDiscover one of Alabama's most dramatic underground attractions, with a massive cave entrance, spectacular formations, hiking trails, gemstone mining, camping and family-friendly outdoor adventures.
Cathedral Caverns State Park combines a spectacular underground attraction with a compact outdoor recreation area that's easy to explore in a day or enjoy as an overnight getaway.
Located near Woodville in northeastern Alabama, Cathedral Caverns State Park is centered around its enormous limestone cave. Originally known as Bat Cave, the cavern was opened to the public in the 1950s and later became an Alabama State Park.
The cavern's entrance is one of its most impressive features, measuring approximately 126 feet wide and 25 feet high. Inside, visitors encounter enormous formations, stalagmites, flowstone and large underground chambers.
The park is much more than a cave tour. Visitors can hike approximately 5.5 miles of marked trails, try gemstone mining, picnic, camp, stay in tiny cabins and enjoy a variety of family-oriented activities.
The cave is the star attraction, but there's enough above ground to turn a cave visit into a full North Alabama day trip.
Join a guided tour through the cavern and experience its enormous chambers, dramatic formations and cathedral-like spaces. The guided tour is the park's signature experience.
Must DoThe cavern entrance is one of the first sights visitors encounter and one of the most memorable photo opportunities at the park. Its enormous opening gives the cave its dramatic scale before the tour even begins.
PhotographyOne of the cavern's famous formations is "Goliath," an enormous stalagmite that rises dramatically from the cave floor. It is among the formations highlighted during the cave experience.
Cave FormationThe cavern contains a striking formation commonly described as a frozen waterfall. It is one of the unusual geological features that makes the underground tour memorable.
Cave ExplorationCathedral Caverns State Park has approximately 5.5 miles of marked trails. Several color-blazed trails connect with one another, making it easy to add a hike before or after the cave tour.
HikingPurchase a mining bag or bucket and sift through the material in the park's water flumes. It is especially popular with children and makes a fun addition to the cave experience.
Family FavoriteTurn the visit into an overnight adventure with one of the park's tiny cabins. Staying overnight also gives you more time to explore the trails and enjoy the park at a slower pace.
OvernightChoose from full-service campsites, basic sites, primitive campsites or backcountry camping. The park offers options for both RV campers and visitors looking for a more rustic experience.
CampingTwo large picnic pavilions are located near the Welcome Center, making it convenient to combine lunch with a cave tour and outdoor exploration.
Day TripThe park works well as part of a larger North Alabama trip. Nearby destinations include Lake Guntersville, Monte Sano, DeSoto and Buck's Pocket State Parks, as well as Huntsville and Scottsboro.
Road TripThe guided cavern tour is the reason most visitors come to the park, and it is worth planning your day around the tour schedule.
Cave tours are guided and last approximately 90 minutes. Visitors walk roughly 1.5 miles round trip through the cavern.
The cave maintains a cool temperature of approximately 60 degrees year-round, making it a comfortable escape during Alabama's warmer months.
Tour reservations are recommended. Guests with reservations should check in at least 15 minutes before their scheduled tour.
Cathedral Caverns is filled with dramatic geological formations and large underground spaces.
The park has approximately 5.5 miles of marked hiking trails. Four interconnected trails use colored markings, while a separate red interpretive trail begins near the Welcome Center.
| Trail | Trail System | Best For | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Trail | Interconnected | Forest hiking | Accessed from the main trail area |
| Green Trail | Interconnected | Nature exploration | Connects with other colored trails |
| Gray Trail | Interconnected | Longer park exploration | Combine with other trails |
| Yellow Trail | Interconnected | Forest scenery | Part of the connected trail network |
| Red Interpretive Trail | Near Welcome Center | Short interpretive walk | Open during park operating hours |
The four interconnected trails are available from sunup to sundown. The red interpretive trail is accessed behind the Welcome Center and follows the park's posted operating hours.
Cathedral Caverns offers several ways to spend the night, from full-hookup camping to primitive and backcountry sites.
Full-service sites offer 50/30-amp electrical service, water and sewer connections, plus a picnic table, fire ring and grill. Tents are not permitted on these sites.
Basic campsites provide 30-amp power and water along with a picnic table and fire ring. A dump station is also available.
The park offers primitive campsites without power or water, including group options. Primitive reservations can be made directly through the park.
Backcountry sites provide a more rustic experience. Gear must be carried approximately three-quarters of a mile to the sites, which include a lean-to, picnic table and fire ring.
Tiny cabins provide an alternative to traditional camping and make the park especially convenient for visitors who want an overnight cave-and-hiking getaway without bringing an RV.
Overnight campers receive a discount on cave tours, making a one- or two-night stay a good way to experience more of the park.
Yes. The combination of a guided cave tour, gemstone mining, easy access to trails and camping makes this one of the more family-friendly cave destinations in Alabama.
Gemstone mining gives children something interactive to do after the cave tour. The material is sifted through water flumes so visitors can discover and identify their finds.
The cavern remains around 60 degrees, making the underground portion of the visit especially appealing on hot Alabama days.
Families can schedule a cave tour and then spend additional time outside exploring the marked trail system and picnic areas.
A little planning can make the visit much easier, especially if the cave tour is the main reason for your trip.
Cave-tour admission is separate from other park activities. Prices and schedules can change, so verify the current information before traveling.
Group rates are also available for qualifying groups with reservations. Overnight registered campers may receive discounted cave-tour admission.
Here's a simple itinerary for first-time visitors who want to experience the cave and still have time for the outdoors.
Arrive early, check your cave-tour schedule and get oriented before heading underground.
Spend approximately 90 minutes exploring Cathedral Caverns with a trained guide.
Enjoy lunch near the Welcome Center before continuing your outdoor adventure.
Try gemstone mining and then explore one or more of the park's marked trails.
Stay overnight for a slower-paced experience or continue your North Alabama road trip.
Cathedral Caverns is well suited to a North Alabama road trip, particularly if you want to combine caves, mountains, lakes and outdoor attractions.
Combine your cave adventure with the scenery and outdoor recreation around one of North Alabama's best-known lakes.
Add mountain scenery, hiking and the attractions around Huntsville to create a longer North Alabama getaway.
Another strong choice for visitors who enjoy hiking, waterfalls and scenic mountain landscapes.
Add another Alabama State Park to your itinerary for additional mountain scenery and outdoor exploration.
Cathedral Caverns State Park is located at 637 Cave Road near Woodville in northeastern Alabama.
The guided cave tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and involves about 1.5 miles of walking round trip.
The cavern stays around 60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, providing a cool environment even during Alabama's hottest months.
Yes. Visitors must be accompanied by a tour guide to enter the cave.
No. Pets are not permitted inside the cave or park buildings. Pets are allowed in campground areas when properly leashed.
Yes. The cave tour and gemstone mining are particularly popular family activities, and the park also has hiking, picnic areas and camping.
Yes. The park offers full-service campsites, basic campsites, primitive camping, backcountry sites and tiny cabins.
The currently posted cave-tour price is $20 for adults age 13 and older, $9 for children ages 5–12, and free for children age 4 and under with a paying parent or guardian. Military admission is listed at $18 with valid ID.
Yes. The park also offers hiking, gemstone mining, picnicking, camping and other outdoor activities. However, the guided cavern tour is the park's signature attraction.
A half-day works well for visitors focused on the cave tour. Plan a full day if you want to combine the cave, gemstone mining, hiking and a picnic. An overnight stay is ideal if you want to explore at a slower pace.
From a gigantic cave entrance to underground formations, gemstone mining, forest trails and camping, Cathedral Caverns makes an easy and memorable North Alabama adventure.
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