Ellison's Cave

This cave system runs through limestone formations in the mountains south of Chattanooga and contains numerous underground chambers linked by steep shafts. The deepest descent extends more than 1000 feet beneath the surface, and the walls are shaped by water that has seeped through rock for millions of years.

The cave formed hundreds of millions of years ago when tectonic movement created cracks in the bedrock and water began dissolving the limestone. Cavers first mapped the deepest sections in the 1960s and discovered new chambers that had remained unreachable until then.

The name comes from the landowner on whose property the entrance sits, and most experienced visitors arrive for the technically demanding descent through narrow shafts and vertical drops. Daylight vanishes completely just a few meters past the entry, and darkness turns every move into a calculated step through damp limestone passages.

Visitors must have advanced rope skills and bring their own technical equipment, as there are no guided tours or rentals available on site. The entrance sits on private land, and access requires permission from state authorities and coordination with the owner.

One of the vertical shafts drops more than 580 feet in a single uninterrupted chasm, making it one of the deepest single-drop pits in the entire country. The walls of this shaft are so smooth and steep that climbers can descend only with specialized rigging.

Location: Walker County

GPS coordinates: 34.66493,-85.36372

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29