Caving. Caving is a unique experience you'll want to try again and again. If you don't mind getting a little dirty, crawling around, wading through water, and seeing a few bats, you qualify as a true caving adventurer.

Did you know that the greater Chattanooga area (including parts of Alabama and Georgia) is home to more than 7,000 caves, all within an hour's drive from downtown Chattanooga?

Our local Chattanooga cave experts have given caves a difficulty rating based on their own experiences in each one:

Commercial Cave:.5 = Guided commercial cave tours; mostly walking involved, no gear or equipment needed.

Wild Guided Cave:2 = easy to amateur cave; walking, crawling, maneuvering are required. These type caves may be guided or self-guided expeditions.

Wild Caves:2 = beginner to moderate; equipment and gear are required. These type caves require a lot of crawling, stooping, and sometimes wading through water.

Wild Caves:3 = beginner to expert, depending on the routes available in that particular cave. These caves may require rappelling and or climbing. Gear and equipment are definitely a requirement.