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Hiking in Mammoth Cave National Park can be a fun and rewarding experience as in other national parks. It is a great way to both see and experience the park.
Mammoth Cave, as its name suggests, is the world's most extensive cave system, with 300 miles of passages that are known and more that have not been explored. Located in central Kentucky, this subterranean phenomenon was created more than several million years ago as water worked its way through limestone deposits, dissolving the rock and carving underground passageways to connect with the nearby river. Over the ages, the water table slowly dropped leaving narrow horizontal tunnels, broad caverns and giant vertical shafts linked in a many-leveled labyrinth. The lower passage ways are still being enlarged by streams and rivers. Water seeping into the cave creates stalactites, stalagmites and white gypsum crystal formations that decorate some of the passages and rooms. Rare and unusual animals, such as blind fish and colorless spiders, demonstrate adaptation to the absolute blackness and isolation. Having evolved over millennia, 50 species of cave creatures are now threatened by pollutants that are entering the cave system from today's water supply. Mammoth Cave is an incredible natural phenomenon that continues to challenge humankind. (Inscribed in 1981)
Read Before Entering the Cave
Consider your physical limitations realistically when choosing a cave tour. Some tours are not recommended for visitors who fear heights or close places and/or cannot climb steps. Do not let friends or family members talk you into joining a cave tour if you feel uncomfortable about it.
Walking sticks and canes are permitted on cave tours only when sufficient need is demonstrated.
Tripods (and monopods) can be hazardous to other visitors and may damage cave formations. Therefore, they are not permitted in the cave. Photography and video recording may be restricted under certain conditions.
Strollers are impractical on bumpy, narrow cave walkways and stairways and are therefore not permitted on cave tours. Carry children in backpacks with caution because of low ceilings; rangers will advise you when they may be used.
To protect air quality, smoking is not permitted in the cave.
Year-round, the cave temperature in interior passageways fluctuates from the mid 50's F to the low 60's F. However, winter temperatures can be below freezing at entrances! In most areas of the cave, you'll be comfortable if you wear long pants and take a sweater or jacket with you.
Hard-packed dirt trails can be somewhat rough and uneven and may be wet and slippery. You'll encounter numerous stairs and some steep inclines on many cave tours. Therefore, durable, flat-soled footwear suitable for walking is essential.
PLEASE NOTE: RESERVATIONS ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN APRIL AND OCTOBER. CAVE TOURS CAN AND DO SELL OUT. CLICK THE LINK ABOVE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RESERVATIONS.
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 2.0 hrs 0.75 mi Strenuous |
118 | $10.00 Adult $5.00 Youth $5.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis on: Deep pits; high domes; dry cave passages; dripstone area at exit; dynamic cave being carved by water; animal life. Landmarks: New Entrance, Roosevelt's Dome, Silo Pit, Grand Central Station, Big Break, Fairy Ceiling, Flat Ceiling, Frozen Niagara flowstone formation, Travertine Tour Route. Elevation Change: 250 feet. Number of Stairs: 500, nearly 200 descended inside New Entrance. Steep Hill Climbs: Yes. Restrooms: not available. Restrictions: General restrictions apply; backpack infant carriers not allowed inside New Entrance. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 8,000 ft long | 4 to 9 | Hike or canoe out to the entrance of Ganter Cave for some on-your-own spelunking. Open to experienced cavers only, Ganter Cave is consists of at least two levels of passageway. Parties of four to nine people with appropriate caving gear can obtain a reservation to visit Ganter Cave. Inquire at the Visitor Center for a handout providing detailed information on requirements for a trip to Ganter. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 4.50 hrs 4.0 mi Very Strenuous |
118 | $18.00 Adult $9.00 Youth $9.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis On: Dramatic cave passage changes; dry cave vs. damp cave; bedrock breakdown; gypsum and dripstone formation; early exploration. Landmarks: Carmichael Entrance; Cleaveland Avenue; Snowball Room; Boone Avenue; Thorpe's Pit; Mt. McKinley; Grand Canyon; Aerobridge Canyon; Hippodrome; Grand Central Station; Frozen Niagara; Travertine Tour Route. Elevation Change: 300 feet. Number of Stairs: 670. Steep Hill Climbs: Yes, both up and down! Grade changes abruptly more than 60 feet at several places between 2.5 mile point and exit. Restrooms: Yes, at 1.1 miles and 2.5 miles. Restrictions: No children under age 6; food allowed only at Snowball Room lunch stop; general restrictions apply. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 2.25 hrs 1.0 mi Moderately Strenuous |
38 | $11.00 Adult $6.00 Youth $6.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis On: Mammoth Cave community life from 1841 to 1941; geologic beauty of another cave in the national park; dripstone formations by lantern light; cave animals; park surface features. Landmarks: Flint Ridge Road (surface drive); Great Onyx Cave entrance; several rooms of formations, including "The Nativity," large dry passage; gypsum. Elevation Change: approximately 30 feet. Number of Stairs: 40. Steep Hill Climbs: No. Restrooms: No Restrictions: General restrictions apply. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 2.0 hrs 2.0 mi Strenuous |
120 | $10.00 Adult $5.00 Youth $5.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis on: Large trunk passages; oldest tour routes; cultural history. Landmarks: Natural Entrance, Rotunda, Broadway Avenue, Methodist Church, Salt Petre artifacts, Giant's Coffin, Sidesaddle Pit, Bottomless Pit, Fat Man's Misery, River Hall, Mammoth Dome, Audubon Avenue Elevation Change: 300 feet. Number of Stairs: 440, including up 138 at Mammoth Dome, Steep Hill Climbs: Yes, trail to and from cave entrance. Restrooms: Yes, at 1.5 miles. Restrictions: General restrictions apply. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 1.25 mi 3.50 hrs Strenuous |
20 | $22.00 Adult $17.00 Youth $15.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis on: Safe caving techniques for beginners; natural cave environment; cave exploration; suitable for family groups (age restriction). Landmarks: New Entrance (280 stairs), Grand Central Station, Fox Avenue, various areas off developed tour trails, Travertine Tour route. Elevation Change: 250 feet. Physical Challenges: Similar to Wild Cave Tour, but less of it; climbing and descending cave walls; tight belly crawls; walking in a crouched position; hand and knee crawls over rough rocks and dirt; crawling over damp trail; twisting into and out of passageway openings. Restrooms: No. Restrictions: � Visitors must have had their 10th birthday; � An adult must accompany visitors under age 18; � High-top, over-the-ankle lace-up boots, with lug or deeply treaded soles, are required. No low-cut hiking or athletic shoes allowed. � Chest or hip measurement should not be more than 42 inches to avoid situations that impact tour for all participants; � Work or climbing gloves and long pants are recommended - do not overdress; Helmets, lights and kneepads provided; � Visitors must pick up reserved tickets 30 minutes prior to tour departure, or tickets may be sold to others. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description | 2.50 hrs 2.50 mi Strenuous |
60 | $10.00 Adult $5.00 Youth $5.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis on: Geologic development; water continuing to impact the cave; large trunk passages; animal life; environmental concerns. Landmarks: Natural Entrance, Narrows, Rotunda, Broadway Avenue, Methodist Church, Salt Petre artifacts, Giant's Coffin, Sidesaddle Pit, Bottomless Pit, Fat Man's Misery, River Hall, Dead Sea, Lake Lethe, Mammoth Dome, Audubon Avenue. Elevation Change: 360 feet. Number of Stairs: 560. Steep Hill Climbs: Yes, trail to and from entrance. Restrooms: Yes, at 1.5 miles. Restrictions: General restrictions apply. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 1.25 hrs 0.75 mi Moderate |
40 | $5.00 Adult $3.50 Youth $3.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis on: Large trunk passages; cultural history and environmental issues; current research. Landmarks: Natural Entrance, Narrows, Rotunda, Salt Petre artifacts, Audubon Avenue (fall/winter), Broadway Avenue (spring/summer). Elevation Change: 140 feet. Number of Stairs: 120 - 180. Steep Hill Climbs: One, to and from cave entrance. Restrooms: No. Restrictions: General restrictions apply. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 0.50 hrs 0.75 mi Moderate |
None | $4.00 Adult $2.50 Youth $2.50 Golden Age |
Emphasis on: Large trunk passages; cultural history and environmental issues; current research. Landmarks: Natural Entrance, Narrows, Rotunda, Salt Petre artifacts, Audubon Avenue (fall/winter), Broadway Avenue (spring/summer). Elevation Change: 140 feet. Number of Stairs: 120 - 180. Steep Hill Climbs: One, to and from cave entrance. Restrooms: No. Restrictions: General restrictions apply. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 1.25 hrs 0.25 mi Easy |
39 | $9.00 Adult $4.50 Youth $4.50 Golden Age |
Emphasis On: Formation of cave; development of dripstone; animal life. Landmarks: Frozen Niagara Entrance, Rainbow Dome, Crystal Lake, Frozen Niagara flowstone formation; Drapery Room. Elevation Change: Approximately 50 feet at Drapery Room. Number of Stairs: 13, an additional 98 are optional. Steep Hill Climbs: No, short ramp at entrance/exit. Restrooms: No. Restrictions: General restrictions apply; best suited for very slow walkers, visitors who use canes for walking support, and visitors with small children and infants. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description |
| 3.0 hrs 3.0 mi Strenuous |
58 | $12.00 Adult $6.00 Youth $6.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis On: Lantern-light experience; prehistoric cave users; 19th-century tours; early cave exploration and commercial uses. Landmarks: Natural Entrance; Narrows; Rotunda; Broadway Avenue; Giant's Coffin; Tuberculosis Huts; Star Chamber; Wright's Rotunda; Cataracts; Chief City; Mummy Ledge; Elizabeth's Dome; Violet City Entrance. Elevation Change: 170 feet. Number of Stairs: 160. Steep Hill Climbs: Yes, numerous hills, both up and down! Restrooms: No. Restrictions: No children under age 6; only adults may carry lanterns (provided); no flashlights used, please; general restrictions apply. |
| Length Difficulty |
Limit | Fee | Description / Restrictions |
| 6.5 hr 5.5 mi |
14 | $45.00 Adult $23.00 Golden Age |
Emphasis on: Safe caving techniques; environmental concerns; cave exploration (past and present); team building. Landmarks: Carmichael Entrance, Cleaveland Avenue, Split Rock, Snowball Room (food available), Boone Avenue, various areas off developed tour trails, Travertine Tour route. Elevation change: 300 feet. Physical Challenges: Free-climbing cave walls; lengthy crawls through areas as tight as 9 inches high; walking in a crouched position; hand and knee crawls over jagged rocks and dirt; crawling through wet areas; twisting into and out of tight crawlway openings. Restrooms: Yes, at Snowball Room. Restrictions: � Visitors must have had their 16th birthday; � An adult must accompany visitors under age 18; � High-top, over-the-ankle lace-up boots, with lug or deeply treaded soles, are required. No low-cut hiking or athletic shoes allowed. � Chest or hip measurement should not be more than 42 inches to avoid situations that impact tour for all participants; � Work or climbing gloves and long pants are recommended - do not overdress; � Helmets, lights and kneepads provided; � Visitors must pick up reserved tickets 30 minutes prior to tour departure, or tickets may be sold to others. |
Children Trog Tours
Trog Tour for children 8 to 12 years old,(be prepared to show proof of age), get to go into parts of the cave no one else - no parents, anyway - gets to see. Put on a hard hat and headlamp and learn how the cave was formed, what lives in it, who has been there before you, and how you can help protect it. Parents must accompany their children for the first 15 minutes of the program and then promptly pick children up at the end of the program. Be prepared for crawling. Helmets and lights provided. Long pants and sturdy shoes or hiking boots required. Gloves, kneepads (roller-blade-type or hard plastic kneepads not allowed). Restrooms not available.
| Cave Tour | Length / Difficulty | Limit | Fee | Description |
| Trog Tour | 2.5 hrs 1.0 mi Moderately Strenuous |
12 | $12.00 | Emphasis on: Kids, only! Connections between the sunlit world and the cave world; underground environment; animal life; exploring the world around us. Landmarks: Natural Entrance, Rotunda, Broadway Avenue, Methodist Church, Giant's Coffin, Wooden Bowl Room, Ganter Avenue. Elevation Changes: 170 feet. Physical Challenges: Hiking up and down the trail to cave entrance; some crawling through dust and over rocks. Restrooms: No. � Children must be at least 8 years old and no older than 12 years old; � Long pants and sturdy athletic shoes or hiking boots required; children's work or gardening gloves recommended; � Helmets and lights provided; Child may bring soft athletic kneepads - no plastic; � Parents must stay with child for first fifteen minutes of program outside; parents should be at return location ten minutes prior to end of tour; � Trog Tour is not recommended for children with asthma or severe allergies to dust and molds. � Trog Tour is best enjoyed with a friend or sibling. |
Tickets will be held at "Will Call" and must be picked up at least 30 minutes prior to trip departure or the tickets will be refunded.
For more information on ranger-led cave trips, call the park at 270-758-2328 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am through 4:30 pm Central Time.
| Reservations | You may reserve tickets in advance for cave tours by calling the National Park Reservation Service at: 800-967-2283, or by ordering online at: reservations.nps.gov | ||
| For reservations, call: | |||
| Phone: | 800-967-2283 | ||
| Fax: | 301-722-1174 | ||
| TDD (hearing impaired): | 888-530-9796 | ||
| International: | 301-722-1257 | ||
| Call Center Hours: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm - | |||
| Payment: | Visa, MasterCard, and Discover Card are accepted. Checks and money orders are accepted through deferred payment only � visitors who reserve using deferred payment must do so no fewer than 20 days in advance of their arrival at the park. | ||
| Cancellation: | All changes of tour reservation will be considered a cancellation and charged $1.65 per ticket. Cancellations made fewer than 24 hours in advance of the tour will not receive a refund. | ||
Trails Above Ground - North Side
There are 70+ miles of trail on the North Side. Hike here and you may not see another living soul. Seek solitude in the rugged hills and deep valleys, camp by river, lake or waterfall, explore bluffs and ridgetops. Ride horses along these backcountry trails or guide yourself on a spelunking trip into Ganter Cave. Drive the scenic routes of Houchins Ferry Road and Little Jordan Road. Seek out the Big Woods, one of the few remaining stands of old-growth timber in Kentucky.
| North Side Trails | Begins At | Length - Miles |
| Blair Spring Hollow | Collie Ridge Trail at Raymer Hollow | 1.2 |
| Buffalo | Maple Springs Trailhead | 4.0 |
| Collie Ridge | Lincoln Trailhead | 4.3 |
| First Creek Hollow | Temple Hill Trailhead | 6.7 |
| Ganter Cave | Maple Springs Trailhead | 1.8 |
| Good Spring Loop | Maple Springs Trailhead | 7.9 |
| McCoy Hollow | Temple Hill Trailhead | 6.3 |
| Raymer Hollow | Maple Springs Trailhead | 4.7 |
| Sal Hollow | Maple Springs Trailhead | 8.7 |
| Turnhole Bend | Maple Springs Trailhead | 3.2 |
| Wet Prong-McCoy Hollow Spur |
Wet Prong Trail | 0.4 Wet Prong First Creek Trailhead 4.9 |
| White Oak | Little Jordan Road | 2.7 |
Trails Above Ground - South Side
There are six miles of trail near the Visitor Center, four short trails and a motor trail on the south side of the Green River and over 60 miles of trail on the north side of the Green River.
A quick drive and an easy walk will show you some of the park's most beautiful scenery. Take a picnic, stroll the circle of Sloan's Crossing Pond Nature Trail and listen for bullfrogs, green frogs and red-winged blackbirds among the cattails. Descend into Cedar Sink to look through a window into the way water travels beneath the ground, then go to Turnhole Bend Nature Trail and find out where and how that same water joins the Green River. In season, drive the Joppa Ridge Motor Nature Trail and peer into the deep valleys.
The Joppa Ridge Motor Nature Trail is open seasonally. Inquire at the Visitor Center before visiting Joppa Ridge.
| South Side Trails | Begins At | Length - Miles |
| Cedar Sink | Cedar Sink Trailhead, Hwy 422 | 0.8 |
| Sand Cave | Sand Cave Trailhead, Hwy 255 | 0.1 |
| Sloan's Crossing Pond | Sloan's Crossing Pond Trailhead, Hwy 70 | |
| Turnhole Bend Nature | Turnhole Bend Nature Trail Trailhead, Hwy 70 | 1.0 |
| Turnhole Bend Nature | Turnhole Bend Nature Trail Trailhead, Hwy 70 | 1.0 |
| Area Trails | Begins At | Length - Miles |
| Campground | Campsite 11, Loop A | 0.5 |
| Dixon Cave | Historic Entrance | 1.2 |
| Echo River Spring | Green River Ferry | 0.4 |
| Echo River | Sunset Point | 2.2 |
| Green River Bluffs* | Visitor Center Picnic Area | 1.1 |
| Heritage | Mammoth Cave Hotel | 0.3 |
| Mammoth Dome Sink | Heritage Trail | 2.0 |
| River Styx Spring* | Historic Entrance | 0.6 |
* Self-guiding trail brochures are available for trails.
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This site is in no way associated with the United States Government, the Department of the Interior or the National Park Service
