Explorations of a cave that really lives up to its name.Ā
Cathedral Caverns State Park, a former commercial cave turned state park, is up in Alabama’s northeast corner. Tours of the cave started in the 1950s until it was purchased by the state of Alabama in 1987. It took until 2000 for the tours to begin again.
The interior of the cave is immense. It really is like a cathedral inside. You can almost say it’s cavernous. *I will show myself out.*
Jana Irving Even the entrance to the cave is huge. It’s 25 ft (7.6 m) tall and 128 ft (39 m) wide. It’s one of the largest openings of a commercial cave.
Jana Irving A very large entrance. The little room in the pile of rubble is supposed to be an exhibit area apparently.
Jana Irving The entrance into the caverns is behind the bars on the left.
Jana Irving The first of many large rooms. The humidity in the area is from the Mystery River down below.
Jana Irving Looking back.
Jana Irving Layers of rock.
Jana Irving The Goliath, a stalagmite column that is 240 ft (74 m) around at the base and is 46 ft (14 m) tall. It’s one of the largest stalagmites in the world.
Jana Irving From the other side.
Jana Irving Reflections.
Jana Irving The giant rooms continue.
Jana Irving That was the original tour route. I’m so glad for today’s nice paved walkway.
Jana Irving Yeah, no thank you.
Jana Irving A curtain of flowstone.
Jana Irving The cave is starting to look a bit fancy.
Jana Irving The Frozen Waterfall.
Jana Irving Small pools of water sit at the top.
Jana Irving It doesn’t look like it in the low light but this is the tallest section of the cave at 123 ft (37.5 m).
Jana Irving The Flowstone Wall.
Jana Irving I see a guy sitting down with a scepter.
Jana Irving The Stalagmite Forest.
Jana Irving Honestly, I was not expecting this section.
Jana Irving A lot going on here.
Jana Irving Lots and lots.
Jana Irving It’s a lot.
Jana Irving Very cool.
Jana Irving It really does seem like a forest.
Jana Irving A large bit of flowstone.
Jana Irving Little pool.
Jana Irving Some of those stalagmites are extremely thin.
Jana Irving Like, how did that not break.
Jana Irving All still in a huge room.
Jana Irving Kind of looks like a cage up there.
Jana Irving Such a cool cave.
Cathedral Caverns was not the type of cave I would expect in Alabama, but if there is limestone, cave will form. The park is only about 40 minutes from Huntsville and very easy to get to from Chattanooga. I highly recommend.
Check out my next update where I explore the city of Charleston!
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