Turnhole Bend Backcountry Campsite in 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 Turnhole Bend Backcountry Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park is located on land surrounded by a tear-drop shaped bend in the Green River. Passenger boats traveling on the river in the 1800s that needed to reverse course could not simply turn around in the river channel, for they were too long and the river too narrow. Instead, they would enter a large cove located at the bend. The cove was actually a freshwater spring, the largest in Kentucky. Since this became the de facto place to turn around, the bend became known as Turnhole Bend and the spring, Turnhole Bend Spring. However, don’t expect to see the Green River or the spring from the campsite, because it is nowhere near the water.

The quickest way to get to the campsite is by departing from the Maple Springs Trailhead and taking the Buffalo Creek Trail for 1.1 mile to the Turnhole Bend Trail. Take a left at the intersection and continue another 2 miles to the campsite.

Turnhole Bend Trail map (click to enlarge)

All of the backcountry campsites I visited at Mammoth Cave National Park were located either at the top or bottom of an extremely steep hill. It’s no different at Turnhole Bend. Over the last tenth of a mile to the campsite, the trail heads down and out of a deep ravine. This all starts when the otherwise straight-as-an-arrow Turnhole Bend Trail makes a big curve to the left. The hike into the ravine isn’t bad, but the hike up has an average grade of 23% and lasts for about 150 feet (15% is the start of strenuous hiking). That’s tippy-toe steep. You have to walk on the balls of your feet to move forward, and your heels never touch the ground. Once you climb out of the ravine, it is another hundred yards to the campsite.

The Turnhole Bend Campsite itself is quite nice. It has a fire pit / grill, a lantern post, and even a level tent pad, which is something I did not see at some of the other backcountry campsites. If your group has more than one tent, you can 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.

Tent pad at the Turnhole Bend Backcountry Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park

For those on horseback, there are three hitching posts within eyesight of the campsite.

Horse hitching posts at the Turnhole Bend Backcountry Campsite in Mammoth Cave National Park

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