While most people visit the Smokies because of the natural beauty of the mountains, there are also plenty of amazing sights underneath the mountains. Tennessee has the most registered caves in the entire US - over 8,300. Of course, most of these aren't open to the public but there are two caves in the Smokies that are. Both Forbidden Caverns in Sevierville and Tuckaleechee Caverns in Townsend offer visitors some amazing sights you won't see anywhere else in the Smokies.
Forbidden Caverns , located outside the city of Sevierville, is convenient to visitors staying in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Guided tours of the cave last about an hour and include information on the formations in Forbidden Cavern as well as interesting local history tied to the cave. The temperature in Forbidden Caverns is a constant 58 degrees, so bring a light jacket for the tour.
A visit to Tuckaleechee Caverns is another great way to explore underneath the Smokies. It is also more convenient to visitors staying in or visiting Townsend. Tuckaleechee Caverns has been opened to the public since 1953 and the first tours were conducted by the light of kerosene lanterns. Today, of course, the cave is wired with electric lights. One of the most remarkable sights in Tuckaleechee is an area of the cave called the Big Room - a room 400 feet long, 300 feet wide and over 150 feet deep at its deepest point. Another awe-inspiring sight in the cave is the 200 foot high double waterfall.
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