Forbidden Caverns

Why go: Guided tours take you through one of America’s most spectacular cave systems, where a constant 58-degree environment, rare cave onyx formations, and an underground stream create a natural experience unlike anything else near the Smokies.

About Forbidden Caverns

Eastern Woodland Indians used these caverns as winter shelter centuries before European settlers arrived in East Tennessee. The cave’s flint deposits provided raw material for arrowheads, knives, and scrapers, and a constant underground water supply made it a reliable base camp. The cave river is fed by an underground lake beneath English Mountain, and that same water still flows through the system today.

During Prohibition, the cave’s isolation attracted a different crowd. Moonshiners operated inside the cavern from the 1920s through 1943, taking advantage of the hidden location and steady water source to produce whiskey far from the eyes of revenue agents. After decades of disuse, a group of local business and professional leaders began excavating the cave in 1964. After three years of development, Forbidden Caverns opened to the public in June 1967.

The guided tour now takes visitors past sparkling calcite formations, towering natural chimneys, and multiple grottos along a crystal clear underground stream. The cavern also contains one of the largest known walls of rare cave onyx (dripstones), many of which are still actively growing. Special lighting effects highlight the formations throughout the route, and the trails are well lit with handrails at all necessary points. The temperature inside holds steady at 58 degrees year-round, making the cave a comfortable escape from summer heat and a consistent experience from opening day in April through the final tours in late November.

Getting to Forbidden Caverns

Forbidden Caverns is about 20 minutes east of the Sevierville Parkway, tucked into a valley beneath English Mountain. The approach road winds through a scenic stretch of countryside with views of the LeConte range. From Gatlinburg, plan on about 35 minutes of drive time. From Knoxville, the drive is roughly 45 minutes. Free parking is available on-site for cars and small RVs. The attraction is not currently accepting buses or organized groups due to staffing and parking limitations.

Why Choose Forbidden Caverns

Forbidden Caverns offers something fundamentally different from the theme parks and commercial attractions along the Parkway. This is a walk through a natural underground system with centuries of human history layered on top of geological formations that have been growing for millennia.

• Rare cave onyx wall. The cavern houses one of the largest known walls of cave onyx (dripstones) in the country, a formation you will not find at most cave systems in the Southeast.
• Knowledgeable, engaging guides. Tour guides are consistently praised for blending geological education with the cave’s moonshine and Native American history in a way that keeps both adults and children interested.
• Natural climate control. At a constant 58 degrees, the cave offers a genuine break from summer heat and a consistent environment that makes the experience comfortable regardless of the weather outside.
• Centuries of layered history. Few attractions in the Smokies span Eastern Woodland Indian habitation, Prohibition-era moonshining, and mid-century tourism development in a single location.

Must Do

The guided tour covers the full cave system in about 55 minutes, but certain moments along the route stand out as the highlights that visitors remember most.

• The Cave Onyx Wall. The largest known wall of rare cave onyx is the centerpiece of the tour. These dripstone formations are still actively growing, and special lighting effects bring out detail that natural light cannot.
• The Underground Stream. A crystal clear stream runs through the cave system, fed by an underground lake beneath English Mountain. The clarity of the water and the way it catches the cave lighting make this one of the most photographed spots on the tour.
• The Natural Chimneys. Towering vertical formations created over thousands of years give a sense of scale that is difficult to appreciate until you are standing beneath them.
• The Moonshine Still Site. The section of the cave where moonshiners operated from the 1920s through the 1940s adds a layer of Appalachian history to the geological experience.

What to Expect

Forbidden Caverns is a straightforward experience, but the underground environment comes with practical considerations worth knowing before you arrive.

• Mobility requirements. The tour includes a section with 50 stairs descending through a narrow passageway, plus a shorter set of stairs going up. Surfaces can be slippery and wet. The tour is not recommended for guests with mobility or respiratory issues.
• Dress for 58 degrees and damp conditions. A light jacket is a good idea, and closed-toe shoes are required. Expect some puddles and generally damp, slightly dirty conditions underground.
• No advance tickets. Tours depart approximately every 15 to 25 minutes, and the team works to keep wait times short. The last tour leaves at 4:00 PM.
• Photography policy. Photos are allowed when the tour comes to a complete stop, but video is not permitted inside the cave. Tripods and monopods are also not allowed.
• Plan about 90 minutes total. The guided tour runs roughly 55 minutes, but allow extra time for arrival, any wait between departures, and browsing the gift shop where the tour begins and ends.
• Picnic area and restrooms. An outdoor picnic pavilion and restrooms are available near the main building, so packing lunch to enjoy in the valley is a solid option.

Nearby in Sevierville

• Smoky Mountain Deer Farm Exotic Petting Zoo and Deer Farm Riding Stables. A family-run petting zoo and riding stable where you can hand-feed deer, llamas, and zebras on a quiet farm just minutes from the caverns.
• Foxfire Adventure Park. Ziplines, a swinging bridge, and gem mining spread across a forested mountain property east of the Parkway.
• Wahoo Ziplines. A zipline course in the foothills near Sevierville with canopy-level runs through hardwood forest.

Explore More

My Smoky Mountain Guide Sevierville is a great resource for finding things to do and places to eat.

• Sevierville Food & Beverage Guide. Local restaurants, breweries, and eateries across the Sevierville area.
• Sevierville Outdoor Adventure. Ziplines, riding stables, caverns, helicopter tours, and more outdoor experiences in and around Sevierville.
• Sevierville Attractions. Theme parks, museums, water parks, and family-friendly attractions along the Sevierville Parkway.
• Sevierville Things to Do. The complete guide to activities, entertainment, and experiences in and around Sevierville.