Nashville Grotto

Secret Cave - Photo by Ashley Adkins Irons

Tennessee's Oldest and Boldest Caving Club

Est. 1953

Caralynn Strand in the Birth Canal - Depriest Branch Cave - Photo by Ashley Adkins Irons

We Are Explorers

We explore the spaces underneath your feet.

Blue Spring Cave blue Crystals

Conservation

Our mission is the protect and conserve the natural spaces we enjoy.

About Nashville Grotto

The Nashville Grotto was established in 1953 as a chapter of the National Speleological Society. As part of the NSS, the grotto's mission is to promote safe and responsible caving practices, effective cave and karst management, speleology, and conservation. Our members are bound together by their love of caves and caving and their desire to learn about the underground wilderness and protect it for future generations.

Learn More About Us

The crew at Welch Cave - 8/7/2021
The crew at Welch Cave - 8/7/2021
Ash @ Blue Spring Cave - 1/9/2021
Ash at Blue Spring Cave - 1/9/2021
Corey admiring formations in Whip Whistle Cave - 8/8/2021
Corey admiring formations in Whip Whistle Cave - 8/8/2021
Darian ear-dipping in Whip Whistle Cave - 8/8/2021
Darian ear-dipping in Whip Whistle Cave - 8/8/2021
The Cavern Tavern at TAG 2019.
Nashville Grotto's Cavern Tavern at 2019 TAG Convention.
Jason Lovvorn at Balcony Sink - 12/12/2020
Jason at Balcony Sink - 12/12/2020
Indian Gravepoint Cave
Indian Gravepoint cave trip - December 22, 2019.
DePriest Branch Cave Crew
Group photo from DePriest Branch Cave - January 4, 2020
The descent into Balcony Sink - 12/12/2020
The descent into Balcony Sink - 12/12/2020
Shannon admiring a wall.
Shannon @ Indian Gravepoint Cave - 12/22/2019
Formations inside DePriest Branch Cave.
Beautiful array of formations inside DePriest Branch Cave - 1/4/2020

Recent News

10th Annual Nashville Outdoor Rec Festival & Expo Image

10th Annual Nashville Outdoor Rec Festival & Expo

by Nashville Grotto
4/9/2022 - 9:00am-3:30pm -Spend the day at Bells Bend Outdoor Center at the 10th Annual Nashville Outdoor Recreation Festival & Expo. Come out and see the latest and greatest equipment and visit our booth and ask us all your cave questions!
Keeping Reading
Event Announcement
The NSS Headquarters Tour Image

The NSS Headquarters Tour

by Nashville Grotto
Last week, grotto members Jody Bailey, Gerald Monie, and Larry Matthews took a trip to the NSS headquarters to pick up some books. A few days later, their footage was found...
Keeping Reading
Other News
October 2021 Meeting Image

October 2021 Meeting

by Nashville Grotto
October 7th @ 6:30pm - Member Ashley Adkins Irons will present on her experience exploring Montana Caves this summer with AmericCorps.
Keeping Reading
Event Announcement
September 2021 Meeting Image

September 2021 Meeting

by Nashville Grotto
September 2 @ 6:00pm - This is the Nashville Grotto's monthly meeting for September, to be held at Shelter #10 at Edwin Warner Park. Open to the public and in person only.
Keeping Reading
Event Announcement
August 2021 Meeting Image

August 2021 Meeting

by Nashville Grotto
8/5/2021 - This meeting will be both in-person and online. Join us for our monthly members meeting where we discuss all things caving!
Keeping Reading
Event Announcement

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