When the weather closes in, head underground. Linville Caverns runs guided tours deep inside Humpback Mountain, where it’s a steady 52 degrees whatever is happening outside. Fishermen discovered the cave in the 1800s after watching trout swim in and out of what looked like solid rock, and native trout still live in the underground stream today.
Tours leave every 10 minutes, take about 35 minutes and are capped at 15 people, so they never feel crowded. Guides point out the formations, and you may spot bats, salamanders and cave crickets along the way. It’s an active cave, so no touching the formations. It opened to the public in 1937 and is a designated NC Natural Heritage Area.
Good to know: bring a jacket, as the cave drips and stays cool. Strollers and child-carrying backpacks aren’t allowed, but front infant carriers are. From March to November it’s open Thursday to Monday; from December to February, weekends only. Some GPS systems get the address wrong, so check the directions on the website. It’s about 30 minutes from Banner Elk.
