Discover America’s largest underground lake in this epic East Tennessee adventure! The Lost Sea Adventure cave/boat tour takes you deep into the Craighead Caverns and across the largest underground lake in North America.
It’s truly one of the most unique things to do in Tennessee!
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about this East Tennessee hidden gem, including what the Lost Sea is, when to go, what to expect, and more!
Lost Sea Adventure: All About This TN Hidden Gem
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What Is the Lost Sea?
Located 140 feet below ground in the Craighead Caverns, the Lost Sea is North America’s largest underground lake.
4 acres of the Lost Sea are visible, but there are at least 13 more discovered acres beneath the surface. Divers have uncovered a large series of rooms beneath the water’s surface and believe there is much more of the lake to be explored.
Where Is the Lost Sea?
The Lost Sea is located in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Get directions here.
Lost Sea’s Approximate Distance From:
- Knoxville, TN: 1 hour
- Chattanooga, TN: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Gatlinburg, TN: 2 hours
- Nashville, TN: 3 hours
- Atlanta, GA: 3 hours
When to Visit the Lost Sea
Since the cave stays a pleasant 58 degrees F year-round, and since cave tours operate daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day), you can visit any time of the year!
What to Bring on the Lost Sea Tour
Light jacket. The cave stays 58 degrees year-round. I was comfortable in a sweatshirt and shorts.
Sturdy shoes. The cave floor is steep and slippery, so make sure your shoes have good traction.
Water bottle. The tour lasts about one hour and 15 minutes, and some paths are steep, so you’ll probably get thirsty.
What to Expect on the Regular Lost Sea Tour
Regular tours are offered daily from 9:30 am – 6:00 pm, every 30 minutes. (This may vary by season). Tickets sell out quickly, so make sure to reserve them online ahead of time!
When you walk in the door, you’ll first check in with the desk clerk. Show them your mobile ticket or tell them your last name. They’ll give you a receipt that you’ll have to present at the time of your tour.
If you’ve got time to kill, you can venture into the gift shop or the village across the street. Make sure you’re back in the lobby a few minutes before your tour start time.
The tour begins with a stroll through the yellow tunnel cave entrance and a guided walk through the caverns. You’ll walk 0.75 miles roundtrip on semi-steep, sometimes slippery, pathways.
As you meander through the rooms, your tour guide will tell you about the history and geology of the cave. My favorite fun fact was about the cave flowers. Cave flowers are rare, spiky clusters of anthodites only found in eight caves in the world – one of them being this cave, the Craighead Caverns!
After walking through the caverns, you’ll come to the main event – and the best part of the tour – the boat ride across the lake! 140 feet under the ground, you’ll discover the continent’s largest underground lake – the Lost Sea. It is truly spectacular!
You’ll board an aluminum boat and slowly putter across the lake for about 15 minutes. Your tour guide will run commentary as you take in the view. You’ll be mesmerized by the turquoise glow of the water, the echoes bouncing off the damp cave walls, and the schools of rainbow trout swimming around the boat.
Once the boat ride is over, you’ll disembark and head back up to the cave entrance. It’s somewhat steep on the journey back up, so the tour guide stops three times to allow the group to catch their breath. If you’re a strong hiker like me, this walk will be a piece of cake.
Once you’re back at the yellow tunnel, you are free to go.
Tip your guide if you were happy with the tour!
Info About the Wild Cave Tour
An adventurous cave tour option is available for groups of 12 or more. This wild tour involves an exciting expedition through undeveloped cave rooms. You’ll crawl and squeeze through cracks and crevices in the rock. And those who want an even crazier experience can camp overnight in the cave!
Read more about the wild cave tours here.
What to Do Before or After Your Tour
Before or after your tour, you can wander the Lost Sea Village! Across from the main tour building, you’ll find a picnic pavilion, general store, blacksmith, gem mining station, and ice cream parlor. Hours vary.
Enjoy a picnic at the pavilion, walk the short Lost Sea Nature Trail, shop for a souvenir at the General Store, go mining for gems, watch the blacksmith blow glass, and/or treat yourself to an ice cream cone at the parlor.
FAQs About the Lost Sea
Do I have to be physically fit to do the cave tour?
You should be in good health and be able to walk up and down steep slopes for 0.75 miles. Let me describe the journey so I can help you decide if this tour is right for you.
You’ll descend about 140 feet below the ground from the cave entrance to the lake. The pathways are wide and equipped with handrails, but many sections are steep and slippery.
There are also many points where you’ll have to duck your head to avoid hitting the rocks, but none of the spaces feel claustrophobic. However, the guide turns the lights out in one of the rooms and lets you experience total darkness for about 30 seconds, so if you’re claustrophobic, just keep that in mind.
If you get down into the cave, and think you will have trouble coming back up, you are allowed to skip the boat section of the tour. Though this is the steepest part of the tour, this is also the best part.
Do I Have to Book the Tour In Advance?
Yes, especially in the summer! Tours are offered up to 18 times daily (every 30 minutes from 9:30 am – 6:00 pm in the summer), but since tickets sell out quickly, you’ll want to book your tour at least a few days in advance. You may need to book your tour a week or more in advance for holidays and weekends.
If you’re going in the winter, you can usually get away with booking tickets for the same day or even walking in. They’re not as busy in the off-season!
If you’re doing a wild caving tour, you must book at least two weeks ahead of time.
Are Pets Allowed on the Lost Sea Tour?
No. Pets are not allowed anywhere in the cave.
What Else Is There to Do Near the Lost Sea?
Explore Fort Loudon State Historic Park. Just 25 minutes from the Lost Sea, you can hike the trails, paddle around Tellico Lake, have a picnic at the large waterfront picnic area, and/or explore the historic fort.
Drive the Foothills Parkway. Starting just 45 minutes from the Lost Sea, the Foothills Parkway travels the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Though this breathtaking scenic drive is in the busiest National Park in the country, the crowds aren’t as heavy in this area, making this a great spot to roll down the windows, relax, and enjoy the mountainous views. Read my full Foothills Parkway Travel Guide here.
Drive the Cherohala Skyway. Starting just 25 minutes from the Lost Sea, the Cherohala Skyway winds through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests on a scenic, mountainous drive. As you twist through the curvy road and wind up and over 5,400-foot mountains through Tennesee and North Carolina, you’ll be treated to epic overlooks and have access to beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails along the way.
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Kayak to Burgess Falls
- Rock Island State Park
- Cummins Falls State Park
- Fall Creek Falls State Park
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Okay wait this looks sooo incredibly unique! I would love to do that someday. Is there no swimming allowed?