One of Mammoth Cave's Natural Wonders

As a Kentucky native, I first visited Mammoth Cave National Park, the world’s largest cave network as a child. There are some trips you never forget.

Years later, on a return visit to this natural wonder that was established as a national park in 1941, I found some things had changed and others were just as I remembered them.

Historic Opening of Mammoth Cave

Famous For: Cave tours that traverse portions of the cave’s 367 miles of already explored underground chambers and caverns. Cave tours, (the first were offered in 1816, 4000 years after humans first entered the cave’s labyrinth) have been developed to accommodate a variety of visitors’ ages, abilities and interests.

Kids will like: For the 8-12 years of age crowd, the Trog Tour is a chance to explore the underground without parents. The tour is an 2 ½ hour“off-trail adventure” with two park rangers.

Whole Families will enjoy: “Introduction to Caving,” a tour that teaches about caving and offers the chance to go through parts of the cave that are not usually included in other tours.

Pre-teens and teens will like: Any of the tours. Many of the cave’s stories passed along by the ranger guides are fascinating, particularly the story of how one section of the cave was used as a hospital for TB patients in an experiment that failed. Plus, Mammoth Cave is so vast, mysterious and sometimes creepy, what’s not to like?

What’s changed since my first visit?: “Lost John,” the remains of a Native American who had become trapped under a fallen boulder are no longer on display. In the 1970s, his remains were interred in an undisclosed location after it was deemed inappropriate to have him on view.

Due to adverse environmental impacts, there are no longer boat tours on Echo River, one of the cave’s underground marvels where eyeless fish swim. You can still see the river on the “Making of Mammoth Tour.”

Admission: Cave tours cost: $5 to $45 depending upon the tour. The longest, the Wind Cave tour takes 6 to 6 ½ hours. The shortest tour, the self-guided Mammoth Cave Discovery tour, takes 30 minutes.

Admission into the park is free.

Other Mammoth Cave offerings. Above ground there’s plenty to do. Horseback riding, hiking, swimming, boating and fishing are also available.

More than thirty miles of Green and Nolin Rivers are in the park. Rent a canoe or raft from one of the several outfitters close by.

A Historic Woodland Cabin

Where to stay:

Inside the park, The Mammoth Cave Hotel is a network of hotel rooms and cottages. Two locations– the Heritage Trail Rooms and Sunset Terrace Rooms have 62 rooms between them. The 20 Woodland Cottages have one to four bedrooms. The 10 Historic Cottages accommodate 1 to 2 people. Reservations to either options can be made online.

Mammoth Cave also has three developed campgrounds and more than a dozen primitive camping sites.

Make reservatoins for campsites and many of the tours online or by calling 877/444-6777.  

Lodging nearby: In Cave City, Mammoth Cave’s gateway, there are several lodging options ranging from privately owned and chain hotels to B&Bs to campgrounds.

Where to eat: For plenty of comfort food dining, try the park’s Travertine Restaurant. For more casual fare, stop in TrogloBITES.

Coffee and homemade desserts are served at the Crystal Lake Coffee Shop.
 

Before you leave the park: Stop in Kentucky Home Gift Shop where you can purchase items made by Kentucky craftsmen and artisans. Even if you don’t buy, it’s a treat to look.

 Photos:

More info can be found at the always helpful NPS.gov site: http://www.nps.gov/maca/

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