Cathedral Caverns

Woodville, AL

60°F

inside, all year

90 min

on the main tour

$20

adult ticket

An Alabama state park cave with 90-minute guided tours covering about 1.5 miles round trip at 60°F.

The story

Originally called Bat Cave, it was opened to the public by Jacob Gurley in the 1950s and renamed for its cathedral-like look. The State of Alabama bought the cave in 1987 and opened it as a state park in summer 2000.

Open to visitors since: 1950s

History source: alapark.com.

What you'll see

Goliath
Caveman perched atop a flowstone wall
Frozen waterfall
Stalagmite forest
Stalagmite that is 27 feet tall and 3 inches wide
Massive entrance

Tickets and timing

Adults: $20 (13+), military $18
Kids: $9 (ages 5–12), free for 4 and under
How long it takes: About 90 minutes
Hours: Tours 7 days a week; park 9am–5:30pm. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Booking: Reservations recommended at reserve.alapark.com; check in 15 minutes early. Groups of 20+ get group rates.

Getting around underground

The walk: About 1.5 miles round trip.

Dogs, weather and what to wear

Dogs: Not allowed in park buildings or in the cave.
Temperature: 60°F year-round

Good to know

Best time to go: February through May and September through November are popular times for school field trips, most frequently scheduled in the mornings; planning a visit for noon or later during these months is recommended.
On site: gemstone mining, campsites, tiny cabins, bathhouse, backcountry campsites, two large picnic pavilions near the Welcome Center, Welcome Center