Wild Cave Tour - Waterfall Dome

A Caver’s Dream Come True!

Duration

3 Hours and 30 Minutes

About

Are you ready for the ultimate caving adventure? Join us on our thrilling Waterfall Dome Expedition! This action-packed tour will take you through the most challenging and rewarding parts of our cave system. Get ready to climb ropes, slide through mud, and even body-bridge over a 35-foot deep slot canyon (warning: not for the faint of heart!).

Unlike our other tours, there’s no easy way out on this one. You’ll have to crawl through tight spaces and navigate long corridors filled with jaw-dropping formations of Stalagmites, Stalactites, and sparkling pools. And as we delve deeper into the cave, you’ll have the chance to encounter fascinating wildlife such as cave salamanders, bats, and our very own endangered Crystal Cave Spiders.

Don’t miss out on this caver’s dream come true. Book your spot on the Waterfall Dome Expedition today!

More Info

• Please arrive 30 minutes early to gear up!
• The tour is roughly three and a half hours long and winds through much of our live cave system.
• The minimum age is 12, and the Minimum height is 5’4, and the maximum weight 275 lbs
• Wear a long sleeve shirt (t-shirt style), long pants, comfortable tennis shoes or hikers. NO hoodies or things with large front zippers.

Important Information
No exceptions can be made to age, height, or weight requirements. Tours run rain or shine. In the event of prolonged or extreme weather, some tours may need to be rescheduled. Alert the staff before your tour about any medical conditions that could affect the tour: asthma, diabetes, bad knees or back, autism, claustrophobia, fear of heights, required medications etc. Guides must be aware of these before entering the cave. Individuals with casts or slings will not be-permitted to participate.

The tour features significant amounts of crawling (hands-and-knees and belly crawling), climbing (with and without ropes), and sliding. The cave is muddy, ·wet, and slippery at many locations. Raccoon Mountain gear must be worn at all times. Avoid eating a large meal before your tour. The crawling and climbing portion will tax you, especially if you are not used to extreme physical exertion. Use the restroom before the tour, as restrooms are not available at any point inside the cave.

Please note that any items brought into. the cave are at risk of damage or loss. Food and beverages are not permitted. Phones/cameras are permitted, but tours are fast paced and allow minimal stopping for photos. Go Pro style cameras must have a helmet strap mount.

Recording of the tour in its entirety is not permitted.

Personal items must be stored in your car or at your camp site. Lockers are not available. Car keys may be left with gift shop staff during the tour, but no other personal items can be left there.

Adult chaperones must actively supervise their group throughout the entirety of the tour. Horseplay, pushing, shoving, jumping, name carving and mud throwing are not permitted, as they can lead to injury or damage to the cave. The cave environment and ecosystem is fragile and potentially dangerous. Do not touch or disturb any cave wildlife. Stay on the trail and do not damage the formations or water drops on the formations, as the cave is still actively growing. The entire group stays together for the duration of the tour.

No solo exploration is permitted.

Please allow plenty of travel time before your tour. Chattanooga traffic can become congested very quickly causing delays. Also keep in mind we are in eastern standard time it’s preferred to be early for your tour rather than late. Wild Cave Expeditions leave at the scheduled time. (Ex. If you bought a ticket to the movies and are running late the show will not be rewound)

Participants are required to listen to and abide by all instructions from the guide at all times during the tour. Failure to do so may result in injury and/or early termination of the expedition.

What to Bring

Clothing Requirements:

Full length pants are required. Sturdy pants (such as jeans or cargo pants) with buttons or zippers are recommended as elastic waistbands (sweatpants, leggings, etc.) tend to rip or be pulled down or off when belly crawling. Shorts are not permitted. Long-sleeved shirts are required. Light weight t-shirts or button-down flannel-style shirts work best. Sweatshirts and jackets are too heavy, even with the cave temperature at 58 degrees. Keep in mind that low-cut shirts may be revealing when crawling. Short-sleeved shirts are not permitted.

Sturdy, lace-up, close-toed shoes such as boots or athletic shoes with good traction are required. Slip-on, open-to-ed, barefoot/five-toe shoes, hiking sandals, or footwear with openings of any kind are not permitted. Participants that arrive in improper attire WILL NOT be permitted on the tour. No exceptions.

No personal caving equipment is permitted on tours. Raccoon Mountain provides helmets, lights, gloves, and knee pads that must be worn at ail times during the tour.