Whites Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park

Length: .6 mile, one way
Time:  20 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate

The Whites Cave Trail is a .6-mile out-and-back trail with its eastern trailhead near the Mammoth Cave Campground and its western trailhead at its intersection with the Sinkhole Trail (aka Mammoth Dome Sink Trail). The stated length, however, does not take into account the distance you must travel just to get to one of the trailheads. To reach the eastern trailhead, if you aren’t departing from the campground (as most people will not be), then the closest place to start the hike is the Mammoth Cave Lodge parking lot. It is a .3-mile walk from there to the trailhead. To get to the western trailhead, it is best to park at the Green River Ferry and hike counterclockwise .3 mile on the Echo River Spring Trail (easy paved path) to the Sinkhole Trail intersection, then take the Sinkhole Trail for .3 mile to the start of the Whites Cave Trail.

Whites Cave Trail map (click to enlarge)

My hike on the Whites Cave Trail started at the Sinkhole Trail intersection via the Sinkhole Trail from Echo River Spring. If traveling this way, when you get to the intersection, just keep hiking straight to merge onto the Whites Cave Trail. You actually have to turn left to stay on the Sinkhole Trail. There was no directional signage that identified either trail when I did the hike, but there was a sign pointing to the CAMPGROUND. That is the Whites Cave Trail.

Start of the Whites Cave Trail at the intersection with the Sinkhole Trail, Mammoth Cave National Park

Oddly enough, if you stay on the Whites Cave Trail, you won’t see White’s Cave. It’s actually on the Sinkhole Trail, but just a stone’s throw from the intersection. Make the short detour if you want to see it, but in truth, it’s not all that interesting.

White’s Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park

The Whites Cave Trail is a dirt path with a smooth surface (very few rocks or roots). For its first tenth of a mile, it covers level terrain. However, the next .2 mile is much different. The trail heads up two short-but-steep hills, both with average grades of 15%, which is considered the starting point of strenuous hiking. In between the two hills is a short, level area.

Hilly terrain on the western end of the Whites Cave Trail in Mammoth Cave National Park

The second steep hill ends at a 4-way intersection that is not on the trail map in the park brochure or on the National Geographic map on sale at the Visitor Center (I drew this in on the map above using a RED DOTTED LINE). There was a guy hiking towards me from the right, and I asked him where he was coming from. “The campground,” he told me. If so, this must be some roundabout way to get there. I have no idea where straight ahead leads other than up a steep hill. To stay on the Whites Cave Trail, take a left, following the directional sign to the CAMPGROUND.

Four-way intersection on the Whites Cave Trail near the Mammoth Cave Campground that is not on the trail map

Turn left at the four-way intersection near Mammoth Cave Campground to stay on the Whites Cave Trail

The hike continues uphill for another .2 mile, though this time the grade only averages around 10%, moderate in difficulty.

Hilly terrain near the mid point of the Whites Cave Trail, Mammoth Cave National Park

Whites Cave Trail finally levels out about .4 mile from the Sinkhole Trail intersection. It passes a small amphitheater called the Campfire Circle along the way. The campground itself is to the left, and you can see some of the campsites.

Campfire Circle near the Mammoth Cave Campground

Just beyond the Campfire Circle is a T-intersection, the one shown on the map. This is the eastern trailhead for the Whites Cave Trail, .6 mile from the intersection with the Sinkhole Trail. To the right is the campground. Take a left to get back to the Lodge and Visitor Center (there is a bridge). Directional signage is at the intersection.

End of the Whites Cave Trail when hiking east from the Sinkhole Trail, Mammoth Cave National Park

Trail between the Mammoth Cave Lodge parking lot and the eastern trailhead of the Whites Cave Trail

It is a third of a mile back to the Visitor Center. Most of the hike is along an earthen trail (level terrain), but the last tenth of a mile is a paved path / boardwalk. It comes out at the park amphitheater.

Walking path near the Mammoth Cave Amphitheater that connects to the campground and the Whites Cave Trail

Mammoth Cave Amphitheater

From the amphitheater you can see the cabins and the Mammoth Cave Lodge. Just follow the paved path to the parking lot.

Paved path from the Mammoth Cave Lodge to the amphitheater

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