Explorations of a cave that really lives up to its name.
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.*
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana A very large entrance. The little room in the pile of rubble is supposed to be an exhibit area apparently.
Wandering Jana The entrance into the caverns is behind the bars on the left.
Wandering Jana The first of many large rooms. The humidity in the area is from the Mystery River down below.
Wandering Jana Looking back.
Wandering Jana Layers of rock.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana From the other side.
Wandering Jana Reflections.
Wandering Jana The giant rooms continue.
Wandering Jana That was the original tour route. I’m so glad for today’s nice paved walkway.
Wandering Jana Yeah, no thank you.
Wandering Jana A curtain of flowstone.
Wandering Jana The cave is starting to look a bit fancy.
Wandering Jana The Frozen Waterfall.
Wandering Jana Small pools of water sit at the top.
Wandering Jana 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).
Wandering Jana The Flowstone Wall.
Wandering Jana I see a guy sitting down with a scepter.
Wandering Jana The Stalagmite Forest.
Wandering Jana Honestly, I was not expecting this section.
Wandering Jana A lot going on here.
Wandering Jana Lots and lots.
Wandering Jana It’s a lot.
Wandering Jana Very cool.
Wandering Jana It really does seem like a forest.
Wandering Jana A large bit of flowstone.
Wandering Jana Little pool.
Wandering Jana Some of those stalagmites are extremely thin.
Wandering Jana Like, how did that not break.
Wandering Jana All still in a huge room.
Wandering Jana Kind of looks like a cage up there.
Wandering Jana 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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