Homestead Campsite in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park
See the Backcountry Camping web page here on National Park Planner for information on permits, how to make a reservation, and other backcountry camping rules.
The Homestead Campsite in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park is accessed via the Dry Prong Trail. The quickest way to get there is by hiking 1.1 mile on the Buffalo Creek Trail from the Maple Springs Trailhead, and then .8 mile north on the Dry Prong Trail to the turnoff for the campsite. The Dry Prong Trail is CERTIFED ROTTEN due to it being severely overgrown, but the .8-mile segment to the campsite is not as bad as the trail west of the turn.
Dry Prong Trail map (click to enlarge)
There is an unmarked intersection .7 mile up the Dry Prong Trail. This is not the turnoff for the Homestead Campsite. The trail to the right is completely overgrown, leaving a left as the only viable option. This is the correct way to go, and just a few minutes farther ahead is the trail to the campsite. There is an identification sign at the turn.
Trail to the Homestead Campsite in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park
The routes of all hiking trails in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park are marked with blue blazes, but the trails to the campsites have orange blazes. Blazes are paint splotches or colored markers on trees that serve as Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs. The trail to the Homestead Campsite is easy to follow, so you won’t have to rely on the blazes to find your way.
Orange blazes mark backcountry campsite trails at Mammoth Cave National Park
The trail to the campground is a quarter mile long, and while not perfect, it is in much better shape than the Dry Prong Trail. Furthermore, this is one of the few backcountry campsites that is not located at the bottom or top of a steep hill, so hiking to it is quite easy.
Typical terrain on the trail to the Homestead Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park
The Homestead Campsite has a fire pit / grill, a lantern post, and even a level tent pad, which not all backcountry campsites have. If your group has more than one tent, pitch it wherever you can find level ground. There are no toilets, so you must head off into the forest for restroom purposes. The best practice is to bring a shovel to dig a hole for all human waste.
Homestead Campsite in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on October 4, 2024
