This park has a very unique set of rock formations, sinkholes, and of course, caves and caverns. Unfortunately the cave was closed when we visited due to recent flooding. There is a small loop trail that will take you to the cave as well as the sink hole. Admission is required when the cave is open. Parking is available in front of the visitors center. read more

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Good stop to walk around and enjoy wildlife while in the area. The cave area felt about 10 degrees colder upon approach. There were many birds to observe with their new hatchlings which is always fun. read more

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It is a beautiful spot with amazing views. There are roots from trees on or near paths so be careful walking. Lots of trees in rough shape and need to be cleared. It is nature so yeah rocks and roots are about. Just look where you are stepping and bring water. read more

Just a wonderful place to walk around and explore. Very well kept and great for the kids to let their energy out. Enjoyed our time here while visiting Tennessee. read more

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Nice walking trails can't wait for the cave tour I love love love love love love it. Come out and look around you will love it too read more

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Beautiful spot, great nature trails, water fowl (e.g. goose poop), and of course the cave. Much cooler than the outside temp but sadly the cave was closed to tours this visit. I will come back to tour the cavern. The ladies in the visitor center were excellent and I loved the stories they told. read more

Beautiful place for a hike. Decent amount of parking. I would rate trail as moderate for difficulty.

Great cave to explore. Friendly park rangers and very knowledgeable on the cave. Beautiful landscapes for photography or hikes. We miss this place. Check us out to see more great places. 3Spade7Star or ThreeSpade SevenStar. read more

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Amazing history lesson for young African Americans this location has a lot of untold stories that are left out of the history books read more

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This is a great place to get out and stretch your legs while driving down 24. Just a few miles off the highway. The trails aren't too long. The cave has an interesting history. Parking can get scarce. The parking lot fills up quickly on a warm day. Tours of the cave don't start until about May. read more

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A truly excellent adventure & intriguing history lesson on the Underworld tour today. Armed only with flashlights, we were led into the cave by our loquacious leader. Although the cave doesn't offer grand waterfalls or stellar stalagmites, its a unique experience traveling through the caverns with just the flashlight. Dunbar is easy to get around in, although a few spots are slippery & near the end your ducking down for a few steps. The travel is fairly linear throughout & towards the end you'll experience absolute darkness which is pretty thrilling for the senses. It last only a bit, but it's a cool sensory experience. Since the cave used to be quite the playground for locals, tons of names litter the walls which bear the markings of our ancestors. Their disregard for the sanctuary leaves most of the cave not as well preserved as one would expect, but its actually rather intriguing to see the overlay of modern history & the markings of early man. It's a cool 56 degrees but it's a 100% humidity, so don't expect perfect weather. It's unclear what the other tours offer but probably just a different perspective traveling the same area. The cave is around 8-9 miles but not much is accessible by foot or perhaps not yet explored. It doesn't match the grandeur of KY caves, but it's worth the experience. I'd return as the area is worth further exploration. read more

Dunbar Cave State Park - Deserted concession area near cave entrance - Parks Near Me - Clarksville, Tennessee

I recently came back to Dunbar cave for a walk with my dog. The last time I was here was in the 80's when I was in grade school. It definitely brought back memories! The cave itself was closed when I was there, it is open though from May through September and you must buy tickets for the tours of the cave. They apparently also have a VR tour if you aren't in town or can't get here and still want to see the beauty of this place. The park is more than just the cave though, there is 144 acres of forests and water. There are a few trails short and long to hike and the scenery is beautiful. It's a great place for a quiet walk, bird watching, family outing and more. If you grew up in Clarksville hopefully at some point you took a field trip here and it stayed with you forever. Visit and support your state parks! read more

Awesome walk/"hike"! We just moved here from Hawaii and this was our first hike. No doubt Hawaiian hikes are amazing, but this was a great stroll around the State Park. Very well maintained. Good parking and a restrooms available. Free admission. Not too muddy considering it's been pouring lately. Not too many bugs either. In fact, minus hearing birds and seeing a few ducks. There were no animals. We walked our dog and were on the lookout for snakes, but none seen. Was not crowded but we were there on a Friday at 9:30. Highly recommend, we'll be back for sure! read more

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Stunning park to hike with paths for various levels and views that will have anyone's camera roll looking like they're a professional photographer. read more

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Dunbar is our go to park at home, especially in the morning when it's quiet. You can stay on path and find two trails. One that's the "Short trail" and the second that's the "Long trail". There's plenty of signs to direct you! Off trail you'll still find many old trails that haven't been used for a while. Explore and find some really cool views. Come early for the place virtually to yourself! read more

Dunbar Cave State Park - Hidden trail! - Parks Near Me - Clarksville, Tennessee

The boyfriend and I were on a road trip from Florida to Wisconsin when we spotted a road sign announcing that we were approaching Dunbar Cave State Park. Curious, we pulled over and enjoyed our very first caving experience. The Dunbar cave system does not have artificial lighting like some other cave systems, so bringing a flashlight is a must! It's also wet and slippery in areas so I suggest not wearing Crocs as I had. This cave can only be entered by guided tours and is well worth the price of admission ($15 per adult). Due to the sacred Mississippian art that is located inside the cave, no photographs or videos are permitted. Also, as bats live in the cave part of the year, tours (as to not disturb the bats) are seasonal, starting in May and ending towards the winter. It is important to note that this cave system tested positive for white nose syndrome (a fungus - not harmful to humans - that disrupts the bats' hibernation and many of them die due to pre-maturely waking and then not being able to find adequate food), so please thoroughly wash your clothes and shoes after you leave the cave so as to not spread it to other cave systems. I definitely recommend Dunbar Cave State Park and can't wait to explore it again! read more

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To start, this is one of the prettiest and most unique areas to hike in Clarksville. I say that because of the history, Swan Lake, the cave itself and the surrounding woods. If you want a good workout in nature that isn't too daunting, this is the place to come. When I was a little girl, there were no formal, well-kept trails at this park and the cave, 8 miles in length and #280 on the list of the world's largest cave systems, was closed. So, imagine my delight when I discovered the cave is now open for tours. The guided tours are an hour and change and worth the $18/person. You only go into the cave about 1/4 mile and there are two guides with you along the way. The day I took the tour, we had Marley as our lead guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the cave drawings and very entertaining in her presentation delivery. The 20-person group I was with were all listening intently and laughing along to some of her light-hearted jokes. The tour is great for children over 4 and not dangerous, but you do need good shoes and a strong flashlight. As for the trails in the park, they can be challenging depending on the direction you go, the shape you're in and whether you're hiking or trail running. At one section, the trail leads you out into a beautiful field that is especially green and luscious during the summer. It can get super toasty in the sun, so bring water and sunscreen. I highly recommend you visit this park and if you're into caves and history, do consider the tour. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Gorgeous park and has a lovely trail to walk around. It is extremely clean and safe. The public restrooms were well kept and the tour guide was very informed about the park. We had a great time! read more

Amazing and surreal hiking trails. I walked about two and a half miles in the park. It felt magical walking through falling autumn leaves under a canopy of trees. I found a lucky red feather here. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Dunbar Cave sits in Clarksville, Tennessee, about an hour from my home in Bellevue, so less than an hour's drive from most places in Nashville. The park itself is 144 acres, and the cave is eight miles long. This cave has had several different uses in Tennessee history, including mining saltpeter in the Mexican American War, counterfeiting, concerts and performances, but most importantly, a religious site for the Native Americans. Symbols and art in the cave suggest the sacredness of the cave to the indigenous Tennesseans from 800-1550 AD. There are 53 caves in North America with prehistoric carvings, and all of them are on private property and inaccessible... except for this one, which makes it especially cool. The park hosts a Spring Fling event yearly in May, the annual Cooling at the Cave concert, and an annual dance hall event called Dunbar Cave- 1865! They have cave tours in the summer, three times a day, that you can book online. There are five hiking trails- the Lake Trail (.7 miles), the Short Loop Trail (1.1 miles), the Recovery Trail (1.9 miles), the Dunbars Path Trail (.15 miles), and the Grasslands Tail (.75 mile). We didn't explore a lot of the park ourselves, but did the cave tour by purchasing tickets through the Tennessee State Parks website. It was an hour long, and about a mile and a half. We went into the cave, with flashlights, in the pitch black darkness where we couldn't see our hands in front of our faces. We got to see the prehistoric artwork, and the park ranger was very knowledgeable. We truly enjoyed this! read more

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About an hour drive away from Nashville, this beautiful pristine park and cave awaits. We came on a snowy winter day and the experience was magical. The cave itself is only the outside part of the cave, the inside having been blocked off with an iron gate. It is still nice to be able to visit Native American sites, despite the limitations imposed by the government. There are a few trails, all very healthy and invigorating. The vibe here is serene and clean. This park is a nice getaway from any big city. read more

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I come here but something bad has happened every time. It's heavily trafficked so it's just bound to happen. Once my dog ate someone's weed brownies or something that was ditched on the trail. My dog ate an unknown thing off the ground. I came home hours later to a drugged dog. I spent $100's on tests figuring out what happened. I've lost keys here twice. I'm not sure how this is possible. It must be bad luck. Again it's heavily trafficked, so lots of annoying kids. read more

We recently moved here from out of state and wandered across this place. We LOVE it! We have been here several times and even brought our puppy with us -- who also LOVES it. Beautiful park and trails! This place will continue to see us for years to come! read more

Dunbar Cave State Park - Geese - Parks Near Me - Clarksville, Tennessee

Been around for years I definitely recommend going during the summer or spring time , but the best time for me would be fall . Get some of the best views and family photos here . read more

I love that the state parks are free. We enjoyed our time here. There are various paths to walk. Parking is free as well. Picnic tables to enjoy a late lunch. Clean restrooms. Overall a great experience. read more

So while this is a nice state park on thing about this yelp page is that the caves are closed for half the year. It does not stop me from exploring the park but it does make it a wasted trip. Not mad. The place is still a nice park. Just with I knew before I made the drive. read more

Dunbar Cave State Park - Cave entrance tour sign. - Parks Near Me - Clarksville, Tennessee

It's a nice park walking trail with a cool cave and history. The visiting center store employees are very nice and super helpful. I accidentally left my ray bands sunglasses in the bathroom and they found them and held them for me to pickup. Thank you so much! read more

Dunbar Cave State Park - Got my sunglasses back! - Parks Near Me - Clarksville, Tennessee

Marley is the best tour guide I've ever had! She's so sweet, funny, & intelligent! The cave tour was a lot cooler than expected. I originally thought the tour was going to be dry and plain, but I was blown away by the history and the beauty of the cave. It was a great time & Marley deserves a raise!! :) read more

Beautiful walking trail leading to an abandoned concession stand and dance floor, yes dance floor, from a former resort, circa late 1800s and early 1900s. Strangely enough, there were two dance floors constructed; the first was wooden and the second, a few years later: concrete. Yes, you read that correctly: a concrete dance floor. An appropriate way to celebrate chiropractic treatment which was just dawning in the USA. There are some great photos of the dance floor from the early 1900s. The resort didn't make it, but how long can music and dancing, on concrete and in a cave, last? The only inhabitants I saw at the cave entrance during my visit were some beautiful but somewhat distracting Herald Moths which repeatedly and enthusiastically dive-bombed me. The unseen nocturnal inhabitants were napping and I understand that there are plenty living in the cave. Overall, it is a gorgeous park with a bit of a creep factor from the abandoned resort and it is home to plenty of wild creatures that love the pond, trees, and cool, dark, cave. Batman's dream destination and a great place to explore and unwind. There's also plenty of room on the dance floor. read more

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I have past this exit a million times it feels like and noticed the brown sign every time wondering....hummmmm wonder what that is about? So, this particular Saturday, I whipped my car off the exit, Tony said, hey where are we going now...I said Straight to Hell if we don't change our ways but for now...Dunbar State Park...and we both laughed.. We arrived at the park. It was about 4pm, a lovely day with plenty of sunshine still left in the day. We parked in the adjacent parking lot, grabbed a water and logged the doors..heading out on the marked path to the left of the parking lot into the trees. The path is well marked, so it was easy to follow. We went to a section about 1000 feet to the right pointing the way to the Dunbar Cave. Well the Cave itself is closed off due to Bats and health issues, but there is still quite a lot to see. The rock formation opening was once used as an outdoor big band and dancing club many years ago in the 1930's..I could just imagine hearing the sounds of the big bands with trumpets, flutes, guitars, drums and other musical instruments. I would have loved to have been there in the eras gone by and danced under the stars with my sweet beau.. There is also a large lake, so I can imagine them boating under the stars on dreamy nights during magical dates listening to the beautiful music...oh a scene out of an old Doris Day movie..."by the light of the silvery moon"...I want to SWOON for my darling..I do LOVE YOU...HONEYMOON...." lol !!! I guess I grew up watching too many old black and white oldies with my grandma... We strolled around the area. Read the signs and enjoyed the quiet evening sitting around listening to crickets and far away frog noises..it would have been so romantic to have been here when all this was a major hay day area.. We left the cave area that is all stone covered and really beautiful if you can use your imagination and find yourself back in time...like I DID....ha ha...Tony says I am weird at times.. We spent about 2 hrs enjoying the cave area and strolling around the lake. It was starting to get sort of dusky so we called it an evening, we still had about 45 minute drive south back to Nashville..the starting point of all my adventures. If you are in the Clarksville, TN area, you should check out this lovely FREE park. There are benches to sit at and enjoy the scenery and there are picnic tables, playgrounds and nice fields for the kids to play in. I can't wait to go back here again. Please enjoy some of the beauty that the Lord has made for us..I love to play in his backyard and share my adventures..I hope you enjoy them through me... read more

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Review for everything outside of the cave. I came in a day when they were not giving tours, so I can't say anything on the inside of the actual cave. We finally made it to Dunbar Cave for a little exploration with my family. When we got there, the visitors center was closed, despite the hours saying it would be open. Not a big deal, but it would have been nice to get more info on the park or pick up some fun goodies for my family before they flew back to Alaska the next day. Upon coming to the park, the directions to the cave are unclear. There is one sign that says "to cave" with an arrow pointing in the general direction. The loop from the visitors center, to the cave and back is roughly a mile. It is stroller accessible and total able to get to the cave via one entrance near a picnic table. However, there are only stairs on the other entrance to the path. The cave was covered in wet mud when we went, so possibly wait until warmer summer months when it's not raining all the time. The entrance to the cave was cool (temp wise). I've read that it stays at 58 year round. It was a great break from the heat when you walk inside. The tours run Wed-Sun for ages 5+. Next time we come, I hope to get in a tour group, explore more, and be able to add to the review! read more

This is a great place to learn a bit about wildlife and some pretty cool Clarksville history. Don't worry I won't spoil it for you. There's a restroom inside the building to the right of the parking lot. There's also a small gift shop and museum? It's worth a look, my kids loved seeing the animals that live in this area. The cave is blocked off but you can buy tickets to tour it during certain parts of the year.. the sign is behind the gate inside the extremely dark cave though.. so I mean.. not great advertising, but they do offer it. During the summer months this place is a great place to cool off, and is only a short distance from the parking lot. The part up to the cave is paved but past that is a short hike through the woods. It's very pretty and kid friendly. Many people walk their dogs here so make sure if you bring your dog you bring bags, as I didn't see any dog stations. The path is clearly marked so you won't get lost. read more

Dunbar Cave State Park - Parks Near Me - Clarksville, Tennessee

Looking for some free, natural fun outdoors? Dunbar Cave State Park is just the place to see nature, go for a hike, or explore a cave. They're open from 8am to sunset and have hiking trails for every level of hiker. Since we have little ones with short legs, we opted for the "Short Loop Trail" that's .7 miles and has a mostly paved surface with limited inclines. While on our hike, we saw ducks, a frog, butterflies, and a doe with her fawn. The kids loved it! If you're looking to get a cave tour (the only way to actually get in the cave), you'll need to make a reservation. read more

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great place for hiking and amazing views. saw a deer out there it's a great place to feel like home!

Dunbar State Park and Cave Tour was interesting and our tour guide was able to make it fun for our grandson as well. You will need a flashlight and good walking shoes. Flashlights may be purchased at the gift shop before your tour. After the tour, you may also enjoy a short hike along the trails around this beautiful park. read more

I'm always interested in checking out hiking trails to navigate around. Dunbar Cave State Park was near where I was staying while visiting Nashville, and I was excited to check it out. They have a couple of hiking trails, and I opted for a the shorter version. It has some pretty good inclines that got my heart pumping. Beautiful surroundings and lots of good photo opportunities. The cave is closed to the public, but you can walk near it and peak inside. read more

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My husband and I visited the Dunbar Cave State Park a few weeks ago (we live in the area). We scheduled a cave tour and it was awesome. I've been to Mammoth Caves a few times and loved it, so I have pretty high expectations. The park is way smaller, but I thought the cave tour was more authentic and impactful. The history here is amazing, these cave drawings go back SO FAR. My mind is still blown. If you are large AND have issues with claustrophobia I would probably prepare yourself for this tour. It's do-able, but it may make you anxious. If you're small and are concerned you'll be fine. My husband is 6'2" weighs 300lbs. He had to crawl on his hands and knees at some point in the tour. I'm 5'1" and pregnant, I barely had to duck. We were on the tour with a family who had a bunch of young children probably ranging from 5-14 years old. One of the younger kids was a little afraid of the dark, but the other kids were fine and thought it was super cool. I would absolutely recommend this tour to families with children, they really seemed to enjoy it. I would highly recommend the cave tour here, it's SUPER neat. read more

For people that post lower grade reviews, sorry that nature did not live up to your expectations. The park is great city escape, not that Clarksville is very urban city though. Just 7 minutes away from the highway. You can do the longest trail in 40 minutes walking briskly. No mountain bikes allowed. Make sure you come back before parking gate closes.check closing time, as it changes.No flip flops. I survived with crocs (yeah,I know, who wear crocs??), and just one blister. The cave is closed, just external observation. I don't see it very safe for females walking solo. Never the less, that's what the crowd was only. I mean you are moderately inside the woods. No emergency box, cameras, etc. Or, I guess Tennessee women are more outdoor trained than the city warrior passing by Clarksville. No restrooms, but you have the entire park, right? One vending machine at the parking lot. The lake is little pond with mild odor. Be prepared to sweat as the trails are up hill and down hill. Not a bright idea, if your final destination is not the shower. read more

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We just did one of the paths at Dunbar and saw the cave, marsh area. It was double stroller friendly but jogger wheels would be wayyy easier there is some gravel and rough parts. There is a little shop and educational center inside the visitors center. It took us maybe an hour to go through the small loop and that's including stopping to let the kids run around. It was a good little thing to do on a Saturday. Information photos included. read more

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This place was nice since it had a few different trails. My partner was supposed to meet me out here but the rains cut it short sadly. However before they rolled in I was able to go through 90%of the trails and it was nice to jog through and it is very well traveled but not crowded in the least which is nice. I would recommend for those who just want an afternoon or morning jog with the pup or partner. read more

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