Mammoth Cave is known worldwide and for good reason – it is the world’s longest known cave system, and there’s even more that hasn’t been discovered yet. A team of volunteers regularly explore the cave to find new passages throughout the cave – what a fun hobby!
There are many different tours you can take to see various parts of this enormous cave. If you enjoy physical activity while getting a one-of-a-kind history lesson, this is the place to go. This area in Kentucky has a vast history dating back millions of years and it can all be experienced in Mammoth Cave.
Historic Modified Tour
The historic modified tour is the best tour at Mammoth Cave for new visitors. You immediately go into the main entrance to the cave that opens up into the rotunda. You’ll instantly be amazed at how large this room is and understand where the name Mammoth comes from.
Our tour guide, Ranger Kate, was a delight as she told many cave jokes along our two hour tour on which she shared a vast knowledge of the cave, and those who had visited it before. One story in particular peaked my interest. It was about a man named Stephen Bishop, who was enslaved when he first started giving tours through Mammoth Cave. Later he became a free man but he had fallen in love with Mammoth Cave so much that he continued to give tours. He was one of the first people to discover new areas of the cave, and he was the first to map it out on paper. He explored the cave and discovered the bottom of what is called the Bottomless Pit.
Along with the Bottomless Pit there are other areas of the cave that are intriguing such as Fat Man’s Misery, Great Relief Hall, and the Rotunda. Some of this tour can be done as a self-guided tour which is great if you’re in a hurry or don’t really care for the history lesson. Keep in mind that these tours are limited in capacity and fill up quickly so a reservation is highly recommended. There were a lot of disappointed people who just showed up and couldn’t get a tour because they had already sold out for the week. They also change what tours they are doing throughout the year so keep an eye out for the ones that really interest you.
Know Before You Go:
Be sure to wear good walking/hiking shoes for this tour. While the cave is known as a “dry cave”, there is still a presence of water, so the rocks are slippery at times. On this tour, there is also a lot of stairs. When I say a lot, I mean over five hundred stair steps over the course of the entire tour. This may sound like a lot but keep in mind that it is very cool inside the cave, you can go at your own pace (they won’t leave you in there if you fall behind), and there are breaks between all the walking. If you feel you need to go at a slower pace, stay close to the guide at the front. They set the pace and will go slow if needed.
Domes and Dripstones Tour
This tour includes a short bus ride to get to the starting point of the tour. If you get claustrophobic at all, this may not be the best tour for you since you feel like you’re walking into a bunker right away, descending several stairs in a confined tunnel before reaching a large opening. This tour takes approximately two hours, but part of that is included in the bus ride to and from the visitors center.
This tour ends in the Frozen Niagara area which is where you will find the most rock formations in Mammoth Cave in a compact area. The Frozen Niagara tour can be taken separately if you’re not interested in the full Domes and Dripstones tour. Again, there’s history all throughout the cave, and since this particular section begins in a sinkhole, it is no different. Learn about the people who discovered this particular section of the magnificent Mammoth Cave system.
Cleaveland Avenue Tour
For all the geology enthusiasts out there, there’s a tour to “rock” your world. The Cleaveland Avenue tour takes you on an easy one-mile walk through a wide tunnel like section of Mammoth Cave. There are stairs at the beginning to descend into the cave and there is an elevator at the end to get out (as long as it’s working). Along the tour, your guide will discuss the type of rocks found in the cave, fossils discovered there, and the “last rose of summer”. For those seeking an easy, open experience, this is a great tour. Several little nuggets along the way will peak your interest even if you don’t care anything about rocks. You will get a great photo opportunity of the path ahead that’s over 400 yards long, winding and weaving through the underground landscape. I would highly recommend this tour second to the Historic Tour.
Diamond Caverns
If you’re looking for a cave experience with tons of beautiful rock formations and you’re already in Mammoth Cave National Park, you might as well head over to Diamond Caverns. Diamond Caverns is not a part of the Mammoth Cave system; it is privately owned but it is within the Mammoth Cave National Park property.
This cave tour takes about an hour and only has 350 stair steps spread out throughout the tour. This cave might be smaller than Mammoth Cave, but it’s not lacking in beauty and wonder. The walls are literally dripping with intricate formations. Everywhere you look you find something new; you will definitely want to bring your camera for this tour.
Hiking
If you want to get your head above ground for a bit, take a hike on one of the many trails surrounding Mammoth Cave. The trails are all easy to moderate. You won’t arrive at spectacular vistas or breathtaking views, but you will see the Green River flowing and some beautiful Kentucky nature.
There are several points of interest along the trails, like hidden gems as you walk along and stumble upon something marvelously unexpected, such as natural springs, or a random cave opening. Some of the trails are even wheelchair accessible, so everyone can take in the beauty of nature together. Drive or walk down to the Echo Springs Trail and enjoy a paved path, benches with a view of the river, and the last ferry operating on the river.
Eats + Treats
Cave City Coffee + Creamery
If you’re like me at all you might want a little treat after your cave excursion. I highly recommend going to the Cave City Coffee + Creamery for ice cream. The rich creamy texture and the unique flavors are scrumptious. The people that work there are super nice and love to hear about where you’re traveling from. They’ll let you put a pin in their wall map if you’re the first person from your area to visit them.
Farmwald’s Dutch Bakery and Deli
You can take a short trip over to Hart County where you will find the eighth largest Amish community. Stop in at Farmwald’s Dutch Bakery and Deli for a great meal and some tasty treats. Grab a sandwich from here and take it to Mammoth Cave National Park for a picnic. Dine in options are available for hot food orders – try the burgers they’re great! Be sure to check out all the homemade items they sell in their store.
Bucky Bee’s BBQ
Bucky Bee’s BBQ is a locally owned restaurant that is serving up some of the tastiest eats. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu; ribs fall off the bone, or slather some sauce over the pulled pork, and you’re in hog heaven. Don’t forget to save some room for some delicious pie with a scoop of ice cream to put the cherry on top of a fabulous meal.
Cave City Pizza
Cave City Pizza is a short drive from the interstate into downtown Cave City. It’s hard to miss this little pizza joint in such a small city. With hospitality at it’s finest, you’ll feel right at home while chowing down on some yummy pizza. The crust has a great crunch and just the right amount of chew. Feeling extra hungry? Get some Cheesy garlic breadsticks to hold you over until your pizza is ready.
End of the Road
There’s as much history above ground as there is below in this magnificent part of Kentucky. Be sure to make a reservation before heading to Mammoth Cave so you don’t miss out on a once in a lifetime experience. The tours vary throughout the year so come back multiple times to explore different parts of the cave system. There’s always something new to discover! You could even be the one discovering the newest pathways through the cave by joining the Cave Research Foundation (CRF). Be part of the team that makes new discoveries about Mammoth Cave. What an exciting prospect?
If exploring the longest cave in the world wasn’t enough for you already, Mammoth Cave also holds many titles. It is an International Biosphere Preserve, Unesco World Heritage Site, and on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s so much to explore here, let’s make sure we do our part to protect it.
If you’re looking for things to do in the area, check out Bluegrass Blog’s reasons to Stay, Shop, and Dine in nearby Glasgow. Subscribe to stay up to date on Mammoth Cave tours and follow us on social media so you don’t miss out on our other trips.
