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Visitation Visitation is highest in June, July, and August and lowest in January. Location Edmonson, Hart, and Barren counties, KY. The park lies 9 miles north of Interstate 65 and approximately 85 miles from both Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee. Address Mammoth Cave National Park\ Telephone (502) 758-2328 Operating Hours & Seasons Schedule varies by season. Call for current information. Closed December 25. Climate & Recommended Clothing The temperature in the cave is approximately 54°F. A light jacket or sweatshirt is recommended. Directions By car: Mammoth Cave is easily accessible by Highway I-65, 31W, and 31E from the north; Bluegrass Parkway, Cumberland Parkway, and U.S. 68 from the east; I-65, 31W, and U.S. 68 from the south; and U.S. 231, William H. Natcher Parkway, and Western Kentucky Parkway from the West. All connect with KY 70 and KY 255 to the park. Transportation Bus: Southeastern Greyhound Bus stops in Cave City. Taxi service is available from the bus station to the park, approximately 11 miles. Air: Major airlines operate in Nashville, TN, and Louisville, KY. Both cities are approximately 90 miles from the park. Car rental is available at the airport. Bicycles are permitted on any paved roadway and there is one trail especially for bicycles. Visitors may use their own vehicles for sightseeing in the park. Fees, Costs & Rates Park entry is free. Cave tours have varying fees. For rates at the Mammoth Cave Hotel in the park, call (502) 758-2225. Golden Eagle Passport The Golden Eagle Passport is an entrance pass to any national park, monument, historical site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee. It is a great convenience for those who plan on visiting several different areas that charge special fees. It is valid for one year from the purchase date. A Golden Eagle Passport may be purchased for $50 at any National Park Service entrance fee area or by mail. To order by mail, send check or money order (no cash, please) to: National Park Service Where entry is by private vehicle, the Golden Eagle Passport will admit the passholder as well as any passengers. Where entry by private vehicle is not possible, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents. The Golden Eagle Passport will not reduce use fees, such as those for camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or cave tours. It covers entrance fees only. Golden Age Passport The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for those United States residents 62 years or older. These may be purchased at any National Park Service entrance fee area for a one-time processing fee of $10. The Golden Age Passport cannot be purchased by mail or telephone. Proof of age and citizenship or permanent residence must be shown at the time of purchase. The Golden Age Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. When entrance is not via private vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder as well as children, spouse, and parents. The Golden Age Pass grants a 50% discount to the holder on any federal use fees charged for things such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or tours. It does not, however, reduce the price of special recreation permit fees or fees for concessions. Golden Access Passport The Golden Access Passport is a free entrance pass to any national park, monument, historic site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge for those who are blind or permanently disabled. The Golden Access passport may be obtained at any National Park Service entrance fee area. Proof of a medically determined disability and eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law is necessary at purchase. The Golden Access Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. Where entrance is not by vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents. The Golden Access Passport also provides a 50% discount on any federal use fees charged for services and facilities. It does not cover special recreation permit fees or fees charged for concessions. All passes described above are non-transferable. Facilities & Opportunities
Six miles of trail near the visitor center; four short trails and a motor trail on the south side of the Green River; over 60 miles of trail on the north side of the Green River. Programs & Activities Regularly scheduled ranger-guided tours are available. Environmental education programs for local area schools are given in spring and fall; reservations required. Elder hostel programs are conducted twice a year in cooperation with Otter Creek State Park in Louisville, KY. Lodging and Camping Facilities Camping and Lodging available. For information on accommodations outside the park, call the Cave City Convention Center (800) 346-8908. Food & Supplies The park concessionaire operates food service and a camp store. Other Concessions, NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities Eastern National Parks & Monuments Association operates a bookstore in the Visitor Center. Recommended Activities & Park Use Touring the cave, hiking the forest trails, canoeing, fishing, and camping. Combining a cave tour with a surface hike is the best way to get the full picture of this resource. Reservations & Permits Reservations are strongly recommended for cave tours. Call (800) 967-2283. Those wishing to camp overnight in the backcountry must obtain a backcountry use permit (no charge) at the visitor center information desk. No permit is required for fishing in the park. Basic Visit Recommendations The shortest cave tour (in season) is the Discovery Tour, 45 min. Guided tours last 1.25 hours to 6.5 hours. Three to four days are recommended to make a complete summer visit. Cave tour reservations are strongly recommended. Visitor Impacts Ferries may close during flooding or drought. Adjacent Visitor Attractions Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP, Tailwaters Recreation Area, Nolin Lake, Barren River Lake State Resort Park. For information on local attractions, call the Cave City Convention Center at (800) 346-8908. Additional Information Write Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave, KY, 42259, or call (502) 758-2328. Services in the Park Emergencies Dial 911. For non-emergency assistance, dial the following, in order, until you receive a reply: (502) 758-2328, (502) 758-2322, (502) 758-2111 Fuel and Automobile Servicing Service Center Camp Store at Headquarters Campground, (502) 758-2311 Gifts Mammoth Cave Hotel, (502) 758-2225 Groceries Service Center Camp Store at Headquarters Campground, (502) 758-2311 Post Office Service Center Camp Store at Headquarters Campground, (502) 758-2311 Restaurants Mammoth Cave Hotel, (502) 758-2225 Showers and Laundromat Service Center Camp Store at Headquarters Campground. Hours vary by season. Ticket Sales Area Visitor Center, (502) 758-2328
Consider your physical limitations realistically when choosing a cave tour. Some tours are not recommended for visitors who fear heights or close places or cannot climb steps. Do not let friends or family members talk you into joining a cave tour if you feel uncomfortable about it. Walking sticks and canes are permitted on cave tours only when sufficient need is demonstrated. Tripods and monopods can be hazardous to other visitors and may damage cave formations. Therefore, they are not permitted in the cave. Photography and video recording may be restricted under certain conditions. Strollers are impractical on bumpy, narrow cave walkways and stairways and are therefore not permitted on cave tours. Carry children in backpacks with caution because of low ceilings; rangers will advise you when they may be used. To protect air quality, smoking is not permitted in the cave. Year-round, the cave temperature in interior passageways fluctuates from the mid-50s to the low 60s. However, winter temperatures can be below freezing at entrances. In most areas of the cave, you'll be comfortable if you wear long pants and take a sweater or jacket with you. Hard-packed dirt trails can be somewhat rough and uneven and may be wet and slippery. You'll encounter numerous stairs and some steep inclines on many cave tours. Therefore, durable, flat-soled footwear suitable for walking is essential. Activities for Children Take the Trog Tour, a trip for young people 8-12 years old. You get to go into parts of the cave no one else - no parents, anyway - gets to see. Put on a hard hat and headlamp and learn how the cave was formed, what lives in it, who has been there before you, and how you can help protect it. Become a Junior Ranger. Young people 6-13 years old are eligible to become Junior Rangers. Purchase the Junior Ranger packet at the book sales area in the visitor center and start rangering! Follow a ranger on guided activities and record your own discoveries in the booklet to become a Junior Ranger. Bring Mom and Dad for an "Introduction to Caving." This is a good trip for people 8 and up, poking into dark, twisting tunnels and learning why people go caving, how they do it safely, and what they find when they're there. Photography in the Cave Even though the cave is electrically lighted, taking photos in the cave can be tricky, especially in large caverns where the light dissipates. To make picture-taking more successful, follow these tips:
High intensity lights attached to video cameras spoil the ambience of visiting the cave. Please use video cameras that work effectively in low light, and leave attachment lights on the surface. Off the Beaten Track Trog This 2-hour trip, offered for kids from 8 to 12 years old, is designed to promote awareness of the important relationship between the surface and cave environments. The trip takes troggers to cave passages not normally shown to the public. Trog begins at the visitor center, and parents must accompany their children for the first 15 minutes of the program to hear the rules and to assist the ranger in getting troggers prepared for the trip. Parents must also pick up troggers promptly at the end of the program. Troggers must wear long pants (jeans are best) and sturdy shoes. Helmets and lights will be provided. Kneepads are recommended. The park ranger has the option to select one of two Trog routes:
Trog costs $8.50 and is offered every day in the summer and some weekend days in the spring and fall. Wild Cave Tour This 6-hour, 5-mile trip is offered to those 16 years of age or older. The trip begins at the Carmichael Entrance and winds its way to the Snowball Room through a variety of passages that the participant will find interesting and challenging. This area includes some small openings, tight holes, and a substantial amount of crawling. Participants will need to bring a lunch, plan to purchase lunch in the Snowball room (seasonal), and bring a small bottle of water. The only restroom along the route is located at the Snowball Room. After lunch, the group will investigate a series of canyons that include the Cathedral Domes, a dramatic series of vertical shafts. These canyons lead to an area in which the group will navigate by climbing and crossing chasms. The trip will eventually exit through the Frozen Niagra section. The exact route will vary on each trip, depending on the interest of the group, but all wild cave trips introduce visitors to save caving techniques, cave geology, cave mapping, and the history of Mammoth Cave exploration. Participants must have a chest size of no larger than 42 inches. Cavers should wear clothes that can be torn or soiled. Required for the trip are sturdy shoes or boots, long-sleeved shirts, and long, sturdy pants (jeans are best. Kneepads are provided, but participants may bring their own. Gloves recommended. Helmets and lights are provided. Wild Cave Tour costs $35 and is offered on weekends year-round with weekdays added during the summer. Tickets will be held at "Will Call" and must be picked up at least 30 minutes prior to trip departure. Introduction to Caving This 3-hour tour will introduce youths, adults, and families to the fun and excitement of cave exploring. During the trip, participants will learn safe caving techniques. The trip will start with a brief orientation in the Visitor Center Auditorium. The cave trip will visit small passages off traditional tour routes. Stooping, bending, and easy crawling will be part of the trip. Helmets and lights are provided. Gloves and kneepads are strongly recommended, and participants should wear sturdy pants and boots. Restrooms are not available. Adults: $18 Youths 10-12 years: $11 Youths must be at least 10 years of age. Ages 10-15 must be accompanied by an adult. Tour limit is 20. Tickets will be held at "Will Call" and must be picked up at least 30 minutes prior to trip departure. Above Surface Activities North Side Over a dozen campsites dot the 70+ miles of trails on the North Side. Hikers here may not see another living soul for days. Seek solitude in the rugged hills and deep valleys, camp by river, lake or waterfall, explore bluffs and ridgetops. Ride horses along these backcountry trails. Drive the scenic routes of Houchins Ferry Road and Little Jordan Road. Seek out the Big Woods, one of the few remaining stands of old-growth timber in Kentucky. Large groups may want to camp out at the Maple Springs Group Campground. North Side Hints and Regulations:
South Side A quick drive and an easy walk will show visitors some of the park's most beautiful scenery. Take a picnic, stroll the circle of Sloan's Crossing Pond Nature Trail and listen for bullfrogs, green frogs and red-winged blackbirds among the cattails. Descend into Cedar Sink to find out how water travels beneath the ground, then go to Turnhole Bend Nature Trail and find out where and how that same water joins the Green River. In season, drive the Joppa Ridge Motor Nature Trail and peer into the deep valleys. South Side hints and regulations: The Joppa Ridge Motor Nature Trail is open seasonally. Inquire at the visitor center before visiting Joppa Ridge. Rivers More than 30 miles of the Green and Nolin Rivers trace through the park and offer a wealth of recreational opportunities. Angle for muskellunge, bluegill, catfish, bass, perch, crappie, and other game fish. Canoe the rivers and camp along their shores. Camp by the river at the Houchins Ferry campgrounds. Cross the Green River on two ferries - Green River Ferry and Houchins Ferry - two of the few operating rural ferries in the nation. Cruise on the Miss Green River II and look for wildlife, springs and river bluffs. River hints and regulations:
Boating and Canoeing Almost 30 miles of the Green and Nolin Rivers can carry boaters past dramatic bluffs and large trees. To explore the Green River, visitors may launch a canoe at Dennison Ferry Campground or Green River Ferry. The best take-out points are at Green River Ferry or Houchins Ferry. On the Nolin River, Launch just below Nolin River Dam at Tailwaters Recreation Area. When boaters reach the Green river, they should paddle upstream against a gentle current and take out at Houchins Ferry. We do not recommend that paddlers continue down the Green River to Lock and Dam #6. Located outside the park, the approach to the dam is not marked with warning signs. Being sucked into the current above the dam could be extremely hazardous. Canoes may be rented from concessionaires located near the park. With a backcountry camping permit, boaters can camp anywhere within the floodplain more than .5 miles from ferry crossings or developed campgrounds. River levels and currents fluctuate dramatically, particularly during the winter months, and snags or sandbars may be hidden underwater. Each boat must contain at least one Coast Guard approved life preserver for each person on board. Visitor Center Area Walk on top of what lies below - six miles of beautiful woodland trail lead you into huge sinkholes and down to flowing springs. Both are windows into the underworld. Take in a ranger-led walk and get some first-hand knowledge about the wildlife and flora of the region. Sit in on a campfire program at the Campfire Circle or an evening program at the amphitheatre and find out how people lived 2,000 years ago. Discover what kinds of creatures like the dark. Talk to someone from the 1800s. Learn what owls, frogs and snakes do in their spare time. Bicycle along the bike trail or stroll along the Heritage Trail. Drive the winding and beautiful Flint Ridge Road and stop by historic Mammoth Cave Church. Walk down the Sand Cave Trail to the entrance of the cave and learn its bizarre story. Have lunch at the hotel. See the train Hercules and learn how people got to Mammoth Cave before everybody had a car. Camp in Headquarters Campground. Take in a film, slide show, or mini-talk in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Visitor Center Area Hints and Regulations:
Camping Headquarters Campground has 111 sites, $10 per night. Hot showers, coin-operated laundry, and a camp store near Headquarters Campground are operated from spring to fall by a concessionaire. Houchins Ferry camping area has 12 primitive campsites and is open year-round, $5 per night. The other three camping areas are open March through November. Maple Springs Group Campground accommodates horses and large groups of people (limit 25 per site), $15 per night. Maple Springs is the only park campground that requires reservations. Call (502) 758-2251. All park campgrounds have toilets, grills, picnic tables, and potable water. The following rules apply to all campers at all park campgrounds:
Horseback Riding Sixty miles of trails north of the Green River (all except Ganter Cave Trail) are open for horseback riding. Day-use horseback riders can park trailers at:
A trail map is available in the park's free brochure, and other maps and guides sold at the visitor center show topographic features and trails in greater detail. Several rules apply to all horseback riders using the park:
If you plan to camp overnight in the park with horses, the following information applies:
More specific rules apply to horseback riders using campsites at Maple Springs Group Campground:
Miscellaneous Activities Twelve peaceful and scenic backcountry campsites offer opportunities to find solitude and appreciate the beauty and diversity of Mammoth Cave National Park's rugged hills and majestic woodlands. Overnight camping is permitted at designated sites and along floodplains more than a .5 mile away from ferry crossings or developed campgrounds. Each campsite holds a maximum of eight people. All sites except McCoy Hollow have a nearby water source. Obtain a free backcountry use permit and a free trail map showing backcountry campsites at the Visitor Center Information Desk. Other detailed guidebooks are available for sale. School groups may participate in the parks environmental education program by writing or calling the Mammoth Cave National Park Environmental Education Coordinator at (502) 758-2354. Find a schedule of ranger-led walks, campfire and evening programs at the visitor center. For event-specific information on workshops, cultural demonstrations, archeological and geological seminars, costumed interpretations, and story telling call (502) 758-2251.
Paleo-Indians Over 12,000 years ago, huge sheets of thick glacial ice covered large portions of North America. Small nomadic groups of people wandered over the Kentucky landscape. Today, archeologists refer to these early American people as Paleo-Indians, which means "ancient Indians." These people were experts at working stone to make spear points for thrusting into their prey. We know that they lived by hunting animals and gathering plants, and we know that part of their time was spent hunting megafauna (large animals) such as bison, giant ground sloths, and mastodons. The Paleo-Indians were a transient people, moving frequently and moving long distances in order to follow animal herds and collect nuts, berries, and other foods that ripened with the seasons. Because these people moved so often and traveled in small groups, there have been few opportunities to locate the places where they camped. So far, only a few spear points of the Paleo-Indian people have been found in Mammoth Cave National Park. Archaic Indians Over time, temperatures warmed, glaciers retreated to the north, megafauna became extinct, and the local environment changed from a forest dominated by pine, spruce, and fir to a forest of mixed hardwoods containing oak and hickory. The population of Native Americans also increased. With these environmental changes came changes in the ways Native Americans lived. Instead of hunting megafauna, they hunted smaller animals such as deer, turkey, and raccoon. They continued to make fine stone tools, but they made them in different shapes and sizes in order to more efficiently capture smaller animals. Because these descendants of Paleo-Indians practiced a different way of life from their ancestors, archeologists have given them a different name: the Archaic Indians. The Archaic period dates from 8000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. in Kentucky. The earliest Archaic peoples continued a foraging way of life similar to that of their Paleo-Indian ancestors. Small groups of related peoples called "bands" frequently moved within their hunting territories, collecting various plants and animals, as they became seasonally available. Several Early Archaic (8000 - 6000 B.C.) sites exist in Mammoth Cave National Park. Middle Archaic Period As the number of Archaic people grew, the number of bands grew, and the hunting territory of each band shrank in size. The smaller territories and the differences in local environments between territories led to the development of more and more differences between groups. Members of each band adapted to the conditions, developing new tools and modifying seasonal movements and hunting and gathering strategies to take advantage of the resources within their own territory. In Mammoth Cave National Park, this slow adaptation to local environments is reflected in an increase in the number and types of artifacts, especially spear points, found from the Middle Archaic period (6000 - 3000 B.C.). Bands did not live in isolation. They came in contact with other bands, and they exchanged chert, shells, copper, and marriage partners. Late Archaic Period During the Late Archaic period (3000 - 1000 B.C.) the number of people in this region continued to grow. During the later portion of the Archaic period, the Indians began making pottery, cultivating gardens, and growing domesticated plants. It was near the end of the Late Archaic period that Indians began exploring Mammoth Cave and other caves in the area, collecting the minerals that they found. Why Late Archaic people traveled miles within Mammoth Cave to collect selenite, mirabilite, epsomite, and gypsum is a matter of speculation. The most likely reason is that these minerals were valued for their medicinal properties or ceremonial uses, and that they were traded to other groups for food, shells, chert, and other goods.
Reservations are strongly recommended for cave tours. Call (800) 967-2283. Those wishing to camp overnight in the backcountry must obtain a backcountry use permit (no charge) at the visitor center information desk. No permit is required for fishing in the park. No reservations are needed for the two ferries within the park run by the park service. Lodging reservations are made through the National Park Concessions, Inc. at (502) 758-2225. Reservations can be made for the following accommodations within the park: Mammoth Cave Hotel, Sunset Point Motor Lodge, Hotel Cottages, and Woodland Cottages. Return to National Parks Directory
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Mammoth
Cave National Park was established to preserve the cave
system, including Mammoth Cave, the scenic river valleys of
the Green and Nolin rivers, and a section of south central
Kentucky. This is the longest recorded cave system in the
world with more than 336 miles explored and mapped.
Trails
& Roadways
Before
You Go Into the Cave
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