Possible site of the Raymer Hollow Backcountry Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park
For information on obtaining permits for backcountry camping, see the Backcountry Camping web page here on National Park Planner.
I couldn’t find the Raymer Hollow Backcountry Campsite when I hiked to it, but I’m pretty sure it was buried underneath a downed tree (see photo above). I would hope that the site has been cleared by the time anyone reading this report sets out to camp there, but who knows. So while I don’t have any photos of the campsite, I can tell you how to get there. The campsite is located along the Raymer Hollow Trail 1.5 mile from the intersection with the Collie Ridge Trail or 4.75 miles from the intersection with the Mill Branch Trail. These distances do not take into account that you must first hike along the Collie Ridge or Mill Branch trails to get to the Raymer Hollow Trail.
The Collie Ridge Trail starts at the Lincoln Trailhead on Ollie Road. From the trailhead, it is a 2-mile hike on the Collie Ridge Trail and a 1.5-mile hike on the Raymer Hollow Trail to the campsite for a distance of 3.5 miles. These trails are fairly easy to hike and are well suited for horses.
The Mill Branch Trail starts at the Big Hollow Trailhead, and from there it is a 1-mile hike to the Raymer Hollow Trail, and as mentioned, 4.75 miles to the campsite along the Raymer Hollow Trail for a total distance of 5.75 miles. Both of these trails are easy to hike and are suitable for horses.
The turnoff for the campsite from the Raymer Hollow Trail is marked with a CAMPSITE directional post, and once on the .1-mile side trail to the campsite, follow the orange blazes. These are paint splotches or other markers attached to trees that you follow like Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs. When I visited, the trail was overgrown, full of briers, and difficult to follow, so the blazes came in handy.
Post marks the turnoff from the Raymer Hollow Trail for the Raymer Hollow Backcountry Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park
Orange blazes mark the route of the trail to the Raymer Hollow Backcountry Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park
When I got to the downed tree, I went around it figuring the trail continued on the other side. There was nothing on the other side other than forest, which led me to believe that the tree fell on the campsite itself. The entire area was a mess, and since the trail was rotten to begin with, I have to question whether the National Park Service ever comes out here to maintain the campsites and trails. The tree may have fallen the day before, but the trail didn’t devolve overnight.
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Last updated on September 22, 2024
