Luray Caverns
Luray, VA, 54°F inside, from $36
A cave in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park with about 18 miles explored, of which half a mile on three levels is shown on seasonal ranger-led tours.
The story
Gap Cave was initially described by Dr. Thomas Walker in his 1750 journey through the Gap. Humans carrying reed torches probably began to explore the cave 2,000 to 4,000 years ago. Water flowing from the cavern powered mills and the Cumberland Iron Furnace in the 19th century, and the creek was dammed inside the cave in the 1800s to create a reservoir. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate troops explored the caverns, and it is probable the cave was used to produce saltpeter for gunpowder.
- Found
- 1750
History source: nps.gov.
What you'll see
- Cleopatra's Pool
Tickets and timing
- Hours
- Guided tours are offered seasonally each year.
- Booking
- For information about Gap Cave Tours, go to the Guided Tours Page.
Getting around underground
- The walk
- About half a mile across three levels.
Good to know
- Wildlife
- Visitors may see cave flies, cave crickets and other insects, cave salamanders, crayfish, amphipods and other invertebrates in Gap Creek, and bats including Big Brown Bats, Little Brown Bats, the Northern Long-Eared Bat, the tri-colored bat, and the endangered Indiana Bat. Near entrances there is evidence of the Eastern Wood Rat.
Getting there
Questions people ask
Do you need to book Gap Cave in advance?
For information about Gap Cave Tours, go to the Guided Tours Page.
When was Gap Cave discovered?
1750, according to the cave's own history.
Checked on 2026-10-22 against nps.gov/cuga (Gap Cave page). Prices and hours change, so confirm on the official site before you drive out.