INTRODUCTION TO CAVING

For reviews of all Mammoth Cave National Park tours, how to get tickets, what to wear, and rules for the tours, see the Cave Tours web page here on National Park Planner. Keep in mind that not all tours are offered year-round, and the schedule of what tours are available changes often. Be sure to check the National Park Service’s official Cave Tours web page for the current schedule.

I did not take the Introduction to Caving Tour at Mammoth Cave National Park, so the following is from the National Park Service website:

Offering an off-trail experience, this tour crawls and climbs through hard-to-reach areas for 3.5 hours. Focusing on learning safe caving techniques, this tour explores parts of the cave difficult to access. Please note that due to the tight nature of some of the areas visited, chest and hip measurements must not exceed 42 inches in circumference. Lengthy amounts of time will be spent in tight crawl spaces and difficult climbs with no alternative routes available. Please note, at 3.5 hours, there are no restrooms facilities available on this tour. This tour is ideal for people who wish to overcome a wide variety of challenging physical obstacles in a unique environment.

MUST BE AT LEAST 10 YEARS OF AGE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TOUR. AN ADULT MUST ACCOMPANY VISITORS UNDER AGE 18. Chest and hip measurements must not exceed 42 inches; if you are larger, you cannot physically pass through the crawlspaces. Lace-up hiking boots that cover the ankle are required. Boots must have sturdy over the ankle support and aggressive tread. Boots with zippers will not be admitted on the tour. No slick-soled footwear is permitted. No tennis shoes or boots with zippers allowed. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear — no exceptions.  

**There will be no refunds or ticket exchanges for arriving to your tour with improper footwear.**

All crawling tours must have a printed ticket from ticket office. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your tour to be able to get these printed.

Duration: 3.5 hours
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Difficult
Ages: 10 and older

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