McCoy Hollow Campsite in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

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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.

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The McCoy Hollow Backcountry Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park is most easily accessed via the McCoy Hollow Trail, departing from the Temple Hill Trailhead on Houchin Ferry Road. The trail to the campsite is located 4.5 miles from the start. Many campers report that they could not find this campsite, mainly because the directions given on the campsite reservation website, Recreation.gov, states that the campsite trail is 4.2 miles from the trailhead. This is not correct, but there is a completely discernible trail at this point that is not on the map, and everyone mistakenly gets on it. Maybe it used to be the campsite trail, but today it eventually peters out and leaves unsuspecting hikers in the middle of the forest. So here is what you need to do in order to stay on the correct path to the campsite.

When hiking from the Temple Hill Trailhead, at the 4.25 mileage marker (posted on a tree) the McCoy Hollow Trail reaches the top of a hill and now runs alongside a rock ledge. There is a grassy area, and I got five ticks on me within 100 feet of walking, so be careful.

Grassy area with plenty of ticks at the 4.25 mile marker on the McCoy Hollow Trail in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

Approximately 225 feet past the mileage marker, the McCoy Hollow Trail makes a sharp turn to the left towards the ledge, and there isn’t really much of a trail. At the exact spot where the official trail turns, the unmapped trail, which is actually a much more obvious trail, continues straight ahead. There are no blazes (paint splotches on trees that mark the route like Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs) or signs indicating the turn, so everyone just naturally gets on the wrong trail. If you find yourself walking parallel to the ledge and getting farther and farther away, you missed the turn.

Unmapped trail near the McCoy Hollow Campsite runs parallel to a rock ledge while the real McCoy Hollow Trail runs on top of it, Mammoth Cave National Park

What nobody notices—and there is no reason to notice—is a cairn at the turn. A cairn is a purposely stacked pile of rocks created by hikers to warn other hikers of something of importance. In this case, the cairn is worthless because it is the only cairn in the entire backcountry of Mammoth Cave, so nobody is looking for it, nor would anyone understand what it means. Hikers at Mammoth Cave are looking for blazes, not cairns.

Now that you know what to look for, when you see the cairn, take a sharp left. As mentioned, there isn’t much of a trail, but just walk towards the ledge and you will soon see blue blazes on the trees. In the series of three photos below, the first is the cairn, the second is the unmarked trail that you’ll end up on if you don’t know any better, and the third is where you need to go.

Cairn marks a sharp turn near the 4.25-mile mark on the McCoy Hollow Trail, Mammoth Cave National Park

Unmapped and unmarked trail near the 4.25-mile mark on the McCoy Hollow Trail in Mammoth Cave National Park

Just past the 4.25 mileage marker, the McCoy Hollow Trail turns towards a rock ledge, Mammoth Cave National Park

It is a steep climb to the top of the ledge. Once there, take a right to continue on the McCoy Hollow Trail.

McCoy Hollow Trail heads steeply up a rock ledge just beyond the 4.25 mileage marker, Mammoth Cave National Park

McCoy Hollow Trail runs along a rock ledge at the 4.25 mile point on the hike from the Temple Hill Trailhead, Mammoth Cave National Park

The trail to the McCoy Hollow Campsite is roughly a quarter mile farther down. There is a MCCOY HOLLOW CAMPSITE sign at the turn (it was broken and leaned against a tree when I did the hike).

Sign at the intersection of the McCoy Hollow Trail and the McCoy Hollow Campsite trail in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

Many of the backcountry campsites at Mammoth Cave National Park are located either at the top or bottom of a steep hill. It’s no different at McCoy Hollow. The trail to the campsite is a tenth of a mile long, and the first half heads downhill on an average grade of 15%, which is considered the start of strenuous hiking. The second half has an average grade of only 10%, so it is not as steep. On top of that, the trail is somewhat overgrown, so check yourself for ticks. Be aware that orange blazes mark the routes of campsite trails. Blue blazes mark the routes of the hiking trails.

Orange blazes mark the route of the trail to the McCoy Hollow Campsite in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

The McCoy Hollow 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. Trash, including used toilet paper, should be carried back with you. Also, McCoy Hollow is the only campsite in the backcountry without a nearby water source, so be sure to bring plenty of water with you.

Fire pit at the McCoy Hollow Campsite in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

Lantern post and tent pad at the McCoy Hollow Campsite in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

If you are hiking to the McCoy Hollow Campsite from anywhere else in the park, when you get to the intersection of the McCoy Hollow and Wet Prong trails, the campsite is approximately two miles away. You won’t have to deal with the problems of coming from the Temple Hill Trailhead. Just be on the lookout for the MCCOY HOLLOW CAMPSITE sign.

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