Clarksville, TN – Dunbar Cave State Natural Area has been a State Park since 1973. The cave and its surrounding 110 acres have considerable scenic, natural and historical significance. The entrance offered shelter to prehistoric Native Americans as far back as 10,000 years.
Dunbar Cave State Natural Area will present many nature programs this summer. There are programs for children and adults.
Some of the upcoming events include: Nature Boot Camp, Nature Readings: Bats, Port Royal Plant Walk, History Hike, Cave Entrance Habitat Study, Float The Red River and Woodland Wildlife.
Sunday, August 17th
Nature Boot Camp
Time: 5:30am–6:30am
Ages: 12 and up
Want to learn different ways to use nature as a gym? Let us show you how to use things found on the park as gym equipment and train to use the human body how nature intended. Please sign up as only 16 people will be admitted per class.
Reservations By: 4:30pm August 15th.
Program Leader: Shawn Settle, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Monday, August 18th
Nature Readings: Bats
Time: 3:30pm–4:00pm
Ages: 5-7
Meet at the cool cave entrance and listen to stories about bats.
Reservations By: 4:30pm August 16th.
Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Tuesday, August 19th
Port Royal Plant Walk
Time: 9:00am–10:00am
Ages: 10 – adult
Walk the River Bottom Trail (1/2 mile) and learn the trees and other plants of the area. Meet at the River Bottom Trail parking lot.
Reservations By: 4:30pm August 17th.
Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
History Hike
Time: 6:30pm–7:30pm
Ages: 7-adult
Learn about what Dunbar Cave used to be like – parties, dances, bowling alleys and more.
Reservations By: 4:30pm August 17th.
Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Thursday, August 21st
Trees Are Terrific
Time: 6:30pm–7:30pm
Ages: 6-adult
Walk the lake trail with a ranger and learn about some of the common trees you can find in the park.
Reservations By: 4:30pm August 19th.
Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Friday, August 22nd
Cave Entrance Habitat Study
Time: 7:30pm–8:30pm
Ages: 6-adult
We can’t enter the cave, but we can see what we find at the cave entrance –maybe salamanders, crickets, centipedes, spiders and more.
Reservations By: 4:30pm August 20th.
Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Saturday, August 23rd
Float The Red River
Time: 8:00am–2:00pm
Join us for a float down the Red River from the 41 bridge in Adams to Port Royal State Park. Cost is $30.00 per boat. Call Dunbar Cave State Park 931.648.5526 for boat availability.
Float will include instruction of safe floating and talks about the wildlife seen along the river. 8 canoes, 7 tandem kayaks, 24 kayaks, and 6 paddle boards available. Ages 12 and up for kayaks, canoes available for families, children less than 30 lbs. will need a life jacket provided by parents.
Reservations Required.
Presented by: Shawn Settle, Seasonal Interpretive Ranger
Woodland Wildlife
Time: 3:00pm–3:30pm
Ages: All ages
Learn about the wildlife you might see when you hike our trails through this indoor video showing. Then if you’d like, come back later for our evening trail hike to look for some of those animals.
Reservations By: 4:30pm August 21st.
Program Leader: Amy Wallace, Interpretive Specialist
Evening Trail Hike
Time: 7:00pm-8:15pm
Ages: All ages
This time of day is great for seeing wildlife. Come out and help us look for owls, bats, beaver, muskrats and more.
Reservations By: 4:30pm August 21st.
Program Leader: Adam Neblett, Park Ranger
Dunbar Cave State Park Programs Information
Programs are free unless noted otherwise. All programs require reservations by the Deadline Listed. Programs with no reservations by the deadline will be canceled.
All programs begin at the Visitor Center unless another site is listed.
Children must be accompanied by an adult (one adult for each three children).
Age limits are definite – please do not sign up a child who is younger or older than the age limits given.
Dunbar Cave State Park is located at 401 Old Dunbar Cave Road, Clarksville Tennessee.
Call 931.648.5526 for reservations.
