Nickajack Bat Cave: Kayak Wildlife Tour Chattanooga

212 Ratings

Marion County

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Join our Kayak Wildlife Tour in Chattanooga and explore the Nickajack Bat Cave. Learn about gray bats, osprey, and more while enjoying the scenic beauty of Nickajack Lake. Witness the awe-inspiring sight of thousands of gray bats leaving the cave at sunset.

Duration: 2 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

200 Mapleview Rd - THIS TRIP RUNS ON EASTERN TIME.
Join Chattanooga Guided Adventures to see endangered gray bats begin their nightly hunt for insects! The Nickajack Bat Cave and Wildlife Refuge in the Tennessee River is the summer roost for up to 100,000 of these animals. These tours run from late April to early October. Enjoy a 3-mile paddle around Nickajack Lake to the cave entrance during which you may be lucky enough to observe such local treats as osprey and bald eagles. Take in the thrill as thousands of bats leave the cave at dusk. Reflect with your new friends about the dangers white-nose syndrome poses to the bat population and its impact on the ecology of other species in the area. Bring your binoculars and enjoy the sights on this bat cave kayak tour. This trip is a fun way to meet new friends or get your old friends off of the couch to try something new.

This trip runs on Eastern Time.

What's Included

Trip runs on EASTERN TIME
All equipment provided

Additional Information

This trip runs on Eastern Time. You will get an amazing 3 mile tour just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee at Nickajack Lake and will learn about gray bats, osprey, cliff swallows, blue heron, and other wildlife. Your guide will discuss how they are all interconnected, what is being done to protect these wild animals, and what impact you can do to help the incredible endangered gray bat. We throw in a little history of the Tennessee River and how it became what it looks like today. With a grand finale of watching 100,00 gray bats leave the cave at sunset. This trip runs on Eastern Time.

Location

Mapleview Road

Please Note THIS TRIP RUNS ON EASTERN TIME. Meet us at the Mapleview Recreation Area in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Our guides will have kayaks laid out in the grassy area next to the boat ramp and swimming beach. Please arrive 10 min before trip departure time to get checked in and sign waivers.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(212 Ratings)

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Jessica_w

Aug 23, 2024

Great experience - Our guide did amazing explaining the history of nickajack! Captured a gorgeous sunset. And of course, witnessing the bats fly out in to the night was phenomenal!

Review provided by Viator

Travel47744154314

Aug 18, 2024

Awesome Life Experience - We had an awesome time and what an amazing experience to kayak out and watch bunches of bats zip around the sky. Luke, Sam, and Zac were amazing. My husband, daughter, and I had a great time. One thing I'll will say is if you stay in Kimball, it's on Central Time, 13 minutes up the road where the kayaking starts is Eastern time.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Carolyn_w

Aug 18, 2024

Absolutely mesmerizing! - We had such a great experience with Luke as our Guide. He went on and on about the different bats in the area, bird of prey, and the architecture of the nearby damns! He lead our group at the perfect pace so we could practice paddling around and enjoy the experience as well as the tour. Seeing the bats fly around us at sunset was truly more mesmerizing than we ever thought it would be. We had perfect weather conditions: the water was warm, the sky was orange and pink, and the moon was bright and absolutely stunning! It couldn’t have been a better experience, truly!

Review provided by Viator

Dave_d

Aug 14, 2024

A Must Do in Chattanooga! - We had such a wonderful time on the water. Our guide Bill was so knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife we saw. And Gina was so sweet and encouraging with our son. They knew the perfect place for us to be when the bats emerged. What an incredible experience! We would do this tour again in a heartbeat.

Review provided by Viator

Scott_c

Aug 11, 2024

Great trip and a... - Great trip and a fantastic guide! He shared local history and had us in the best spot possible for the spectacular show

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A3768exjosephm

Aug 11, 2024

A great kayak tour - The trip was amazing! We had so much fun kayaking, and the view of the bats leaving the cave was awesome! The tour guides were great and very knowledgeable about the local wildlife and their habitats

Review provided by Tripadvisor

M9218ocwaynec

Aug 10, 2024

Excellent and educational tour! - The guides were very accommodating and knowledgeable. We learned not just about bats but also learned about the area such as the many dams how and why they came to be. We would definitely recommend this tour! You won’t be disappointed.

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Christie_p

Aug 10, 2024

Beauty in Nature - It was a magical experience with really lovely and well informed guides. The information, history, scenery and bats are worth the trip.

Review provided by Viator

Jenny_m

Aug 7, 2024

Great kayaking trip. - What a nice way to spend one of the last nights together as a family before both kids go away to college. Watching the sun go down while kayaking and 120, 000 bats🦇 flying out of the nickajack cave. Bill was a great tour guide.

Review provided by Viator

Karen_f