CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Dunbar Cave State Park, made up of 144 acres of land, features four walking trails that meander through the woods, around the lake and over the mouth of the cave, located in the middle of Clarksville.
The trails include Grassland Trail, Lake Trail, Recovery Trail and the Short Loop Trail. The four trails add up to a distance of 3.45 miles.
“For most people in Clarksville, they probably treat Dunar Cave State Park as greenspace,” said Neblett. “They come here for recreation, but what we focus on is the big picture of what the Dunbar Cave means to more than the locals in Clarksville. Which is all the citizens of Tennessee and all the citizens of southeastern United States.”
According to Tennessee State Parks, Dunbar Cave has been used for thousands of years. The caves feature rare Mississippian Native American cave art dating to the 14th century. Visitors can make reservations to tour the inside of the cave to experience the art and other cave features firsthand. Tours take place from the beginning of May through September.
Swan Lake was originally a small stream that came out of the cave, and in 1926 it was dammed. The lake was then enlarged in 1933.
Neblett said park officials are working on a couple of different projects to maximize the experience for visitors. This includes modernizing their sidewalks outside the visitors center to make the area more durable. In addition, they will be transforming the inside of the visitors center. The state park will be adding a virtual cave tour experience for people who can’t access the caves due to mobility issues or a fear of caves.
The park is aiming to have these upgrades ready by the beginning of their next tour season in May.
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