WILD CAVING TOUR
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 Wild Caving Tour at Mammoth Cave National Park, so the following is from the National Park Service website:
The most extreme tour offered at Mammoth Cave, this crawling tour is an all-day adventure underground. This tour is very physically demanding. Lengthy amounts of time will be spent crawling through extremely tight crawl spaces and climbing through difficult areas. This tour is ideal for people who wish to spend the entire day overcoming a wide variety of extremely challenging physical obstacles in a unique environment. Requires at least 2 participants.
In order to minimize the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a bat disease caused by an invasive fungus, Mammoth Cave National Park has instituted strict cleaning procedures for all off-trail crawling tours. All equipment (coveralls, helmets, knee pads, and head lamps) are provided by the park. Visitors must provide their own footwear. No personal caving equipment allowed. No exceptions. Shorts and a t-shirt recommended for wear under the required coveralls.
MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YRS. OF AGE TO PARTICIPATE ON THIS TOUR. AN ADULT MUST ACCOMPANY VISITORS UNDER AGE 18. Chest or hip measurement 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: 6 hours
Distance: 5 1/2 miles
Difficulty: Extremely Difficult
Ages: 16 and older
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Last updated on October 10, 2024
