Main passageway of Mammoth Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park

PARK OVERVIEW

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is home to the largest cave system in the world. To date, 426 miles of passageways have been mapped, all of which roughly fall within a 7-square-mile area. The lowest of the passageways are 412 feet below ground, which is still a foot above the Green River. This is possible because Mammoth Cave is actually contained within a small mountain, so even visitors walking around in the cave are at a much higher elevation than those outside paddling on the river.

For most people, the majority of Mammoth Cave is not their idea of a cave, which is small passageways full of speleothems, the collective name for stalactite, stalagmite, and other formations that people associate with a cave. Instead, most of Mammoth Cave is mammoth, more like a mine shaft or a vehicle tunnel than a cave, and because it is dry there are very few speleothems, for these need slow, dripping water to form. Most of the cave is covered by a thick layer of sandstone that keeps water out. There are a few areas of narrow passageways, and even some sections with impressive formations. There are also other caves in the park that can be visited, and these are full of speleothems.

Great Onyx Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park

Cave tours, which cover roughly 12 miles of the passageways, are the main draw to the park. Some focus on the history of Mammoth Cave while others focus on the geology. Most are held within Mammoth Cave itself, but there are two tours held in other caves within the park boundary. Visitors also have the option to attend lantern tours so they can experience the cave just as early visitors did—by lantern light.

Violet City Lantern Tour at Mammoth Cave National Park

What many visitors to Mammoth Cave National Park do not realize is that there is much more to do than tour caves. There are plenty of hiking trails just outside the Visitor Center that lead to interesting features such as springs and small cave entrances (you can’t go inside). Across the Green River is the backcountry of Mammoth Cave, and here there are 60 miles of trails open to both hikers and horseback riders. There is even one trail of substantial length that is open to mountain bikers.

Twenty-five miles of the Green River and seven and a half miles of the Nolin River flow through the park, providing visitors with plenty of paddling opportunities. Backcountry camping on the islands and banks of the rivers allows for overnight paddling trips.

There are three established campgrounds within the park, with the largest and most popular being the Mammoth Cave Campground near the Visitor Center. Hikers can also camp at thirteen different campsites in the backcountry.

For those who want to stay in the park but who do not camp, there are motel-style rooms as well as cabins for overnight stays. There are also plenty of dining options at the Mammoth Cave Lodge: a full-service restaurant, a café, and a coffee shop.

OPERATING HOURS

The grounds of Mammoth Cave National Park are open 24 hours a day year-round.

Operating hours for the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center vary per season, but in the summer it is typically open from 8 AM to 6:30 PM. The only day it is closed is Christmas Day. For the current schedule, see the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the park.

The Houchin Ferry Campground is open year-round, but the Mammoth Cave Campground and Maple Springs Group Campground are only open seasonally, typically from March through November. Backcountry camping is allowed year-round.

Hours for the Green River Ferry, which carries passenger vehicles across the Green River for quick access to the backcountry, changes seasonally. Typical hours are 6 AM to 6 PM during the week and 8 AM to 6 PM on the weekends. While the ferry does operate year-round, it is often closed when water levels are low—this happens all the time. When the ferry is closed, it is a 45 minute to an hour drive from the Visitor Center to the backcountry.

Green River Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park

ENTRANCE FEES

There is no fee to enter Mammoth Cave National Park, but there are fees for cave tours, camping, and lodging. Hiking and paddling within the park are free.

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