National Parks Journal
Photo: NPS Photo/ Deb Spillman
Mammoth Cave National Park
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the world's longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Region.
Entrance Fees
No entrance fee. Other fees may apply for tours, camping, or transportation.
Activities
Top Hikes
1 mi · 150 ft gain · loop
Descends 295 stairs into a stunning sinkhole rich with wildflowers in spring and summer.
Starts at: Cedar Sink Trailhead
1.3 mi · 200 ft gain · out & back
Best views of the Green River as it winds through the park with overlook benches.
Starts at: Picnic Area near Visitor Center
1 mi · 100 ft gain · loop
Wheelchair-accessible loop along the Green River featuring natural springs where underground water resurfaces.
Starts at: Green River Ferry
1 mi · 100 ft gain · loop
Winds through forest past numerous sinkholes revealing the karst geology underlying Mammoth Cave.
Starts at: Heritage Trail
Upcoming Events
Call the visitor center at 270-758-2180 on the day of your visit for availability. Utilizing the Elevator Entrance, this tour emerges near the famous Snowball Room. Continuing through historic Cleaveland Avenue, this tour passes through areas of the cave highly decorated with historic signatures and sparkling geological formations. This tour is ideal for people who wish to see the cave and are looking for a tour with no stairs.This is an accessible tour. This tour is designed for persons with a disability, limited physical mobility, or any other reason for a tour with no stairs. If no one in your party needs an accessible tour, please consider selecting another tour unless this is the only tour available at the time of your request. Wheelchairs, scooters and other assistive devices are allowed. Accessible restrooms are on this tour. Participants meet at the visitor center for a caravan in their personal vehicles to drive approximately 2 miles to the elevator entrance. Assistive devices will need to be decontaminated upon exiting the cave to limit the spread of White Nose Syndrome.Please note: No transportation or mobility assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers or canes are available. NPS employees will not transport or assist visitors or visitor equipment. If visitors need assistance with the Park's accessible features, they must bring a companion with them for aid. The Accessible Tour utilizes a single elevator to reach the tour route inside the cave. The elevator receives regular maintenance but can experience operational issues because of effects from the cave's natural environment. If the cave elevator used for the Accessible Tour breaks down during your tour, the only exit from the cave would require walking for one mile on an uneven dirt trail. The trail includes slight elevation changes and a long, single set of 200 stairs. If you or anyone in your group may find this exit route challenging, we recommend reconsidering whether to participate in the Accessible Tour. Visit our Accessible Activities page to explore additional options. Duration: 2 hoursDistance: 0.5 miles (0.8 km)Total Stairs: No stairsDifficulty: EasyAges: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older.Restrooms: YesTickets available for each tour time: 14
This classic tour visits areas of Mammoth Cave that have been used for nearly 100 years. This tour begins in a sinkhole, passes through huge domes, amazing breakdown, and ends in the dripstone section known as Frozen Niagara. Please note that this tour ascends and descends hundreds of stairs and several steep inclines, which can be difficult for many visitors, as there are no alternative routes. Focusing on the natural formation of the cave, this tour is ideal for people interested in science and wanting to see stalactites and stalagmites.This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.This tour includes the entire Frozen Niagara Tour route and a small portion of the Grand Avenue Tour route.Duration: 2 hoursDistance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km)Total Stairs: 640 , including 280 on the initial staircase descent and an optional 96Difficulty: DifficultAges: All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.Restrooms: NoTickets available for each tour time: 110
Discover the fascinating story of Mammoth Cave on this extended version of our classic Historic Tour. Explore the immense chambers that gave Mammoth Cave its name before descending into much tighter passageways deep inside the cave. Be prepared for a physically challenging experience, as this tour involves hundreds of stairs and steep inclines without alternative routes. This tour also includes a visit to the site of an 1840s-era underground tuberculosis hospital experiment. Ideal for history enthusiasts and adventurers alike, this tour is a great option for those wanting to delve deeper into the cave’s rich history!Portions of this tour are also seen on the Violet City Lantern, Star Chamber and Gothic Avenue Tours.Duration: 2.25 hoursDistance: 2 miles (3.2 km)Total Stairs: 540, including 155 at Mammoth DomeDifficulty: ModerateAges: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older.Restrooms: YesTickets available for each tour time: 60
Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit: November
Pleasant weather with fewer crowds
Weather & Climate
Kentucky has a moderate climate with warm, yet moist conditions. Summers average in the high 80s; winters average in the low 40s. Southern Kentucky, where Mammoth Cave is located, receives the highest average precipitation for the state, about 50 inches per year, mostly in spring. Winter can bring mild to moderate snow and ice. Storms happen year-round, and can include tornadoes and flooding in low-lying areas, but severe weather is infrequent. The temperature deep in the cave is a constant 54°F (12°C).