cave Archives - Huntsville Adventurer

Buggytop Cave

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 4 miles roundtrip
Entry Fee: Free

Buggytop Cave is a cave waterfall located south of Sewanee, TN. The hike will take you through woods, along a cliffside, and down the side of the cliff to a large cave.

Find nearby hikes:
Sewanee Natural Bridge
Russell Cave National Monument
Foster Falls

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Buggytop Cave is located 1.5 hours northeast from Huntsville.

You can Google Buggytop Cave or click here for directions!

Trailhead/Parking Lot

There is a fairly large parking lot that that could fit a dozen or 2 cars. The trailhead is well-marked.

Trails

There is very limited trails in this area. 1 trail that takes you to the cliff edge. From the cliff edge (pictured) the trail splits to go to Peter Cave and Buggytop Cave. The initial trail starts off uphill and transitions to a downhill hike. The trail to Buggytop follows a cliff edge and is downhill and difficult. The trail to Peter Cave also follows a cliff edge, is moderate, and offers views of the surrounding area.

The trails are fairly well marked with white trail markings on the trees.

Trail to Buggytop Cave

As mentioned above, the trail to Buggytop follows a cliff edge and winds down the side of the cliff. This can get slippery and steep in places. Be careful and wear proper boots.

Buggytop Cave

Buggytop Cave is a giant wild cave. The inside of the cave is only open from May 1 to August 31 each year. You will need to sign a waiver before entering. A helmet, headlamp, extra batteries, and appropriate shoes/clothing should be used while caving. Never cave alone. Caving is a dangerous activity. To learn how to cave safely without damaging the cave’s ecosystem, join your local grotto.

Trail to Peter Cave

The hike to Peter Cave is moderate and will take you past a beautiful view of the valley (pictured). You’ll pass another cave on your right, a creek bed, and you’ll run right into Peter Cave.

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Peter Cave

Peter Cave is an elongated cave that looks like it drops down right out of sight of the opening.

The inside of the cave is only open from May 1 to August 31 each year. You will need to sign a waiver before entering. A helmet, headlamp, extra batteries, and appropriate shoes/clothing should be used while caving. Never cave alone. Caving is a dangerous activity. To learn how to cave safely without damaging the cave’s ecosystem, join your local grotto.

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Grotto Falls

What you need to know

Parking

Map It

Difficulty

Difficult, Difficult to find

Point of Interest

Map to POI

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 3 miles total
Entry Fee: Free (Donation Box Available)

Grotto Falls is located in Green Mountain Nature Preserve and is located on Green Mountain in Huntsville, AL. The Land Trust of North Alabama owns the land. The trailhead parking lot is right past the Madison County Nature Trail (assuming you are coming from Huntsville and not Owens Cross Roads).

GPS Coordinates: 34.5897720, -86.5172780

Buy Land Trust Maps here

Find nearby hikes:
Alum Hallow
Green Mountain Nature Trail

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Grotto Falls 1.5 mile each way (3 mile return) scenic hike to a small waterfall that disappears into a cave. Part of this trail is well-marked but most of this trail is difficult to follow.

Google Maps Alum Hollow Trail or look at our map above!

Trail

This is not an easy trail to follow. On the interactive map above, I’ve marked the path to the waterfall in Yellow. The hike starts on Alum Hallow Trail. Early on the trail, there is an option to take a left onto Talus Trail. There are signs warning that the trail is very difficult. You will follow Talus Trail all the way to the end. At the end of Talus Trail, Talus Trail Connector is off to the right and is well marked. THIS IS NOT the trail you are taking. You will look into the woods to the LEFT and there are ribbons on a trial with no signs. I’ve heard this called Talus Trail Extended and it is NOT on the Land Trust Hiking Map. Follow these ribbons through the woods and down the mountain. You’ll continue to follow the trail and will eventually follow a valley back uphill (pictured are the cliff face you’ll be passing).

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Grotto Falls

The valley will fork into a valley on the left and right. You’ll follow it up to the right to the waterfall.

This waterfall is NOT easy to find. I suggest plugging in the coordinates of the waterfall into your GPS to help assist in finding it.

GPS Coordinates: 34.5897720, -86.5172780

Leave the same way you hiked in.

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Cathedral Caverns

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1.5 mile

Cost:
$20 Ages 13 and over
$18 Military (With ID)
$9 Ages 5-12
Free Ages 4 and under

Tour Times
Mon, Tues, Wed: 12PM, 2PM, and 4PM
Thurs, Fri: 12PM, 1PM, 2PM, and 4PM
Sat, Sun: 10AM, 11AM, 12PM, 1PM, 2PM, 3PM, and 4PM

Reservations are not required but may be made up to 2 days in advance. These are recommended but are nonrefundable. To make a reservation call 256-728-8193

Cathedral Caverns is a beautiful cavern located just east of Huntsville. It is a tour guided cave in a beautiful state park that offers hiking trails and campsites.

Website for Cathedral Caverns.

Find nearby hikes:
Roy B Whitaker Preserve
Sauta Cave
Walls of Jericho

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Cathedral Caverns is located about 35 minutes east of Huntsville with a short drive off of Hwy 72.

Google Maps Cathedral Caverns or look at our map above!

Cave Entrance and Ticket Office

The building for the ticket office for the cave tour is located directly in front of the mouth of the cave. The office offers food, snacks, drinks, and souvenirs.

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Cave Tour

The cave stays 58º F year around. The tour is 1.5 miles round trip. The path is paved the entire way, but there are several spots that have a steep incline. The tour lasts about 90 minutes.

Other Activities

There is plenty to do at Cathedral Caverns State Park! A list of a few

Hike
Camp
Cabins
Gem Mining
Park Events
Races

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Balcony Sink

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1.5 miles
Cost: Free

Balcony Sink is a beautiful open-air cave with a stunning waterfall. A permit is required to enter. You cannot go to this cave alone. 3 adults are required to go to this cave. In order to enter the cave, you must have vertical caving gear and knowledge. The sinkhole and waterfall are a sight to see even if you do not go into the cave. In order to get the expertise needed for vertical caving, you can join the Huntsville Grotto.

In this guide, I will go over how to get a permit. Directions to the cave are given when you receive a permit.

Nearby Vertical Caves:
Stephen’s Gap
Neversink Pit

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To start, go to the SCCi Permit website. Click the button “Click here to register” and register an account. SCCi will send you a confirmation email. After you have successfully set up an account, move on to the next step.

https://permits.scci.org/

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After you create an account, go back to SCCi Permit website and log-in. After you log-in, move onto the next step.

https://permits.scci.org/

After you log-in, if it does not automatically land you on the New Permit page, click the “New Permit” button. From here you can Fill out a New Permit.

After you fill out a new permit, SCCi will send you a release form. All members of your party must sign the release form. After the release form is filled out, SCCi will need to approve your permit and you will receive a permit you will need to print out and put on your dashboard as well as directions to get to the cave.

After you sign the release form, SCCi will send you an email with your permit which you will need to print and put into your dashboard. Directions and other instructions will be sent in this email as well.

Happy Caving!

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Cave Mountain

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 1 mile
Entrance Fee: Free

Cave Mountain is a TVA owned wild area with a short 1 mile loop hike near Guntersville Dam.. It is a fantastic short walk with a unique swamp and a cave. It is a moderate hike with rocky paths and uneven footing.

Find nearby hikes:
Red Mill
Honeycomb Natural Bridge

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