Information:Temporary Closure of Select Trails for Rehabilitation Project
Information:Tickets are required to enter Mammoth Cave
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Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave

Family Friendly Kentucky

Mammoth Cave National Park Conducts Sobriety and Safety Checkpoints

Mammoth Cave National Park law enforcement officers will conduct periodic sobriety and safety checkp...

Mar 30, 2026
The side of a white vehicle with the brown, green and white National Park Service Arrowhead Logo and the words "U.S. Park Ranger" written in green.

Green River Ferry Reopens in Mammoth Cave National Park 

The Green River Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park will reopen March 5 and resume daily operations ...

Mar 4, 2026
A cable ferry sits at the riverbank with its ramp down, guide cables overhead

Mammoth Cave National Park Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rule for Bicycle and Horse Use

The National Park Service invites public comments on a proposed rule that would amend special regula...

Feb 9, 2026
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Overview

Mammoth Cave National Park in central Kentucky protects the longest known cave system in the world — over 420 miles of surveyed passages, with more being discovered every year. The cave formed over millions of years as mildly acidic groundwater dissolved through thick layers of limestone, creating a labyrinth of tunnels, domes, pits, and underground rivers that extends beneath the rolling hills of the Kentucky karst landscape. No other cave on Earth comes close to its mapped length. The park offers a variety of ranger-led cave tours ranging from the easy, flat Historic Tour (which follows the route used by tourists since the 1810s) to the strenuous Wild Cave Tour, where participants crawl through tight passages, climb over breakdown piles, and squeeze through gaps barely wider than a human body. The Domes and Dripstones Tour passes through rooms decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone formations, while the self-guided tour of the Historic Entrance explores the most accessible section with its massive passages and saltpeter mining artifacts from the War of 1812. Above ground, Mammoth Cave National Park protects 52,000 acres of mixed hardwood forest, the Green River (one of the most biodiverse waterways in North America), and over 80 miles of trails. Kayaking and canoeing the Green River, with its limestone bluffs and old-growth sycamores, is the park's best-kept secret.

Things to Do

  • Take the Historic Tour through massive cave passages
  • Crawl through tight passages on the Wild Cave Tour
  • See formations on the Domes and Dripstones Tour
  • Canoe or kayak the Green River
  • Hike the Cedar Sink Trail to a dramatic collapse
  • Explore the self-guided Historic Entrance tour
  • Bike the Mammoth Cave Railroad trail
Campsites with picnic tables nearby the river.

Houchin Ferry Campground

Sites available

Water
$20 Reserve
A white and blue tent and fire ring in a woodland setting

Mammoth Cave Campground

Sites available

RestroomsShowersWater
$25 Reserve
A typical Maple Springs campsite with picnic tables, fire rings, water pump and tie-off for horses.

Maple Springs Group Campground

Sites available

Water
$50 Reserve
A large cave passage with a paved trail on the right side.
Guided Tours

Cave Tours

Join a ranger as you discover the complex history and intricate geology of the worlds longest cave s...

1-6 HoursWinter, SpringReservation Required
A plastic junior ranger badge sitting on a ranger hat
Junior Ranger Program

Become a Mammoth Cave Junior Ranger

Do you want to explore, learn about, and protect Mammoth Cave? If so, become a Mammoth Cave Junior R...

Winter, Spring
White flowers
Front-Country Hiking

Explore Wildflowers at Cedar Sink

Stunning rock faces, cave springs, and geological panoramas, you will experience a wide array of sea...

45-60 MinutesSpring, Summer
A orange salamander with black spots.
Wildlife Watching

Viewing Park Wildlife

Mammoth Cave is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life ranging from rare exotic cave specie...

Winter, Spring
A ranger talks to two park visitors near a historic train
Guided Tours

Attend a Ranger-led Program

Attending a ranger-led program in the park is a great way to discover new things and learn more abou...

10-60 MinutesWinter, Spring
A river with tall trees on each bank
Paddling

Houchin Ferry to Brownsville

This short trip travels along the Green River from Houchin Ferry inside Mammoth Cave National Park t...

90-120 MinutesSummer
View All 17 Activities
A large open cave passage with a paved trail leading down the middle.

Audubon Avenue

Mammoth Cave

Named for James Audubon, this passage houses several artifacts on display.

A large cave passage with a concrete tile floor.

Audubon and Little Bat Avenue - Beneath Your Feet

Beneath Your Feet

On the Historic Tour route 149 feet beneath your feet is the intersection of Audubon and Little Bat Avenues. In the mid-...

A metal staircase leads to a upper cave passage.

Booth's Amphitheatre - Beneath Your Feet

Beneath Your Feet

Booth’s Amphitheatre, named after the 19th century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth (brother of the infamous John Wilkes ...

A metal staircase leading to a upper side passage.

Booth’s Amphitheatre

Mammoth Cave

Actor Edwin Booth once gave a recital of Hamlet's soliloquy from the natural stage formed by the rock outcropping.

A large open cave passage with a paved trail down the center. A large pile of rocks is on the right.

Broadway

Mammoth Cave

Broadway also known as main cave continues for miles undergrounds.

View All 30 Places

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Cave Cricket Indiana Bat Kentucky Cave Shrimp White-tailed Deer Wild Turkey Barred Owl Box Turtle

Pro Tips

  • 💡 Book cave tours well in advance on recreation.gov — popular tours sell out weeks ahead, especially in summer
  • 💡 The Wild Cave Tour is a genuine adventure; you will get dirty and squeeze through tight spaces for 6 hours
  • 💡 The cave is a constant 54°F — bring a light jacket even when it's 90°F outside
  • 💡 The Historic Tour is the best introduction and follows the original 1816 tourist route with huge passages
  • 💡 Combine with a canoe trip on the Green River for an above-and-below experience

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Hot, humid summers above ground with highs in the 90s. The cave maintains a constant 54°F year-round. Spring and fall are most comfortable for surface trails. Winter is mild for the region.

Best seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall