Sal Hollow Trail in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

---

If you plan to hike in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park, do not rely on the map that comes with the free park brochure. Purchase the weatherproof map by National Geographic that is available in the Visitor Center book store (it is also available from various online retailers). This map has more detail, and it is going to last much longer than the paper map. I hiked most trails in the backcountry using the National Geographic map, and it’s nearly as good as new.

---

Length:  8.5 miles (one way)
Time:  3 hours
Difficulty: Mainly easy with a few moderate hills
Suitable for Horses: Yes

The Sal Hollow Trail in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park is an 8.5-mile trail that is open to both hikers and horseback riders (no bikes). It runs from the Maple Springs Trailhead at its eastern end to the Buffalo Creek Trail at its western end. It intersects with the Turnhole Bend Trail near its midway point. The Sal Hollow Trail is the most direct way to get to the Sal Hollow Campsite, and it also connects to the trail that leads to the Bluffs Campsite.

I only hiked the Sal Hollow Trail from Maple Springs to the Turnhole Bend Trail, and this report covers only that section of the trail.

Sal Hollow Trail map (click to enlarge)

The Maple Springs Trailhead is the hub for many activities at Mammoth Cave National Park, including picnicking at the Maple Springs Picnic Area and camping at the Maple Springs Group Campground. There is a fancy outhouse in the parking lot. This is what Jed Clampett would call a portable toilet in a permanent building.

The trailhead for the Sal Hollow and Buffalo Creek trails is located across the street from the parking lot. At the parking lot itself is the trailhead for the Maple Springs Trail, which connects to the Mill Branch and Big Hollow trails. I point this out because the most obvious trailhead is the one for the Maple Springs Trail, and if you don’t know to look across the street, you may be wondering if you parked at the right place.

Trailhead for the Sal Hollow Trail across from the Maple Springs Trailhead parking lot in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

Mileage markers are attached to the trees along the trail every quarter mile (though some are missing). The route is also marked with blue blazes: paint splotches or colored markers on trees that serve as Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs. However, blazes aren’t needed on the Sal Hollow Trail, as there are no unmarked intersections or other points of confusion.

Mileage marker on a tree along the Sal Hollow Trail in the Mammoth Cave backcountry

The trail forks less than a minute’s walk from the road. Right is the Buffalo Creek Trail and left the Sal Hollow Trail. The directional sign at the fork indicates that the Turnhole Bend Trail is also to the right, but that’s just the quickest way to get there. It intersects with the Buffalo Creek Trail after 1.1 mile. The hike to the Turnhole Bend Trail via the Sal Hollow Trail is 3.5 miles. If your destination is either the Turnhole Bend or Homestead backcountry campsites, the Buffalo Creek Trail is the quickest way to get to either.

Fork for the Sal Hollow and Buffalo Creek trails in Mammoth Cave National Park

The Sal Hollow Trail is a narrow path with a smooth surface largely free of rocks and roots for much of its length to the intersection with the Turnhole Bend Trail. However, there are some sections that become rutty and gully-like, which is typically caused by years of horse travel on the trail.

Typical terrain on the Sal Hollow Trail east of the Turnhole Bend Trail intersection, Mammoth Cave National Park

Rutty terrain on the Sal Hollow Trail east of the Turnhole Bend Trail intersection, Mammoth Cave National Park

The terrain covered on the hike is hilly, but grades rarely exceed 10% (15% is where strenuous hiking begins). There is one 50-foot section with a grade of 16%, but other than that, the trail might as well be considered flat.

What ruins many of the Mammoth Cave backcountry trails for hikers are the numerous mudholes created by horse hooves churning up dirt in wet areas along the trail. The Sal Hollow Trail, while certainly not the worst in the backcountry, is no exception. Many mudholes have side trails around them, which goes to show that the area is muddy more often than not. Even if the mud is dry, there are hoof prints six inches deep, so it is still very difficult to walk across this terrain without twisting an ankle.

Horse hoof-created mudhole on the Sal Hollow Trail in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

One giant mudhole of particular note comes 1.5 mile into the hike at a small stream crossing. Assuming that water flows in the stream year-round, this is one mudhole that most likely never dries up.

Creek crossing on the Sal Hollow Trail in the Mammoth Cave National Park backcountry

A couple minutes later is a larger stream with a bridge across it. The stream flows down multiple levels of rocks, and there is a small waterfall to the right. Had it been raining, it might be significantly more picturesque.

Bridge across a creek on the Sal Hollow Trail in the Mammoth Cave National Park backcountry

Small waterfall on the Sal Hollow Trail in the Mammoth Cave backcountry

The steepest uphill climb on the hike starts 1.7 miles from the start and lasts only a tenth of a mile. This is the hill with the aforementioned 50-foot segment that has a 16% average grade. The trail is slightly rougher in this area as well but still easy to walk along.

Rough section of the Sal Hollow Trail 1.75 mile from the Maple Springs Trailhead, Mammoth Cave National Park

The last mile of the Sal Hollow Trail prior to the Turnhole Bend Trail intersection is comprised of much longer uphill and downhill treks than the previous mile, but anyone who set off to hike five or more miles in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave would most likely remember the hike as being along fairly level terrain. The only thing of note is that the trail gets a little rougher over the last 400 feet before the intersection.

Typical terrain on the Sal Hollow Trail just east of the Turnhole Bend Trail intersection, Mammoth Cave National Park

A half mile east of the Turnhole Bend Trail is a cut tree trunk that some maintenance guys carved their initials into. I hate to say it, but this is the highlight of the hike. That’s not to single out the Sal Hollow Trail as mundane. All the trails in the Mammoth Cave backcountry are like this. Unless you really enjoy hiking in the forest, there is not a lot to recommend. The backcountry trails have more appeal to horseback riders than hikers.

Tree stumps with initials carved in them on the Sal Hollow Trail in Mammoth Cave National Park

As mentioned, my time on the Sal Hollow Trail came to an end at the intersection with the Turnhole Bend Trail. I had plans to hike the rest of it at a later date but never got around to it. The first half is a pleasurable hike, but unfortunately I have no idea what lies farther down the trail.

Intersection of the Sal Hollow and Turnhole Bend trails in the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park

Back to the Top