Mammoth Cave Park
Dark, winding passages, eerie silence, a labyrinth of treasures and discoveries, that’s what Native Americans found when they stumbled upon Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave more than 4,000 years ago. Now a national park, you too have the chance to explore the longest cave in the world and discover the mystery that has held the fascination of so many.
It’s widely believed that Native Americans visited the caves for about 2,000 years to mine gypsum, which was used for ceremonial purposes. Scientists and explorers have found much evidence of pre-Columbian civilization, including burials, discarded torches, and even clothing, very well preserved due to the cave climate.
For whatever reason, the cave was abandoned about 1,000 years ago and wasn’t rediscovered until the 1790s. From that period on, the cave has had a long, colorful history. It proved an integral part of the War of 1812 when the British cut off America’s supply of saltpeter, which was an ingredient for making gunpowder.
But mostly, Mammoth Cave has been the center of the imagination for explorers around the world. One of the first, and perhaps most significant explorer, was Stephen Bishop, an African-American slave. Bishop served as a tour guide in the 1840s and 50s and made some of the first extensive maps of the caves. He even named many of the features you’ll have a chance to explore on your visit.
A national park since 1941, Mammoth Cave is just as magical today as it must have been thousands of years ago. Though there are more than 392 miles of labyrinth that make up Mammoth Cave, most scientists believe there is still much to be discovered. For tourists though, you’ll have to satisfy yourself with one of the many guided tours.
Tours of Mammoth Cave range from easy to crawling-on-your-belly strenuous. Aside from level of difficulty, they also vary in time, distance, and age and ability requirements. Luckily, the National Park’s web site provides all the information you need to determine which tour is best for you. If you have adventurous kids, consider the “Trog” tour. Kids have a chance to explore rarely seen parts of the cave and learn about the cave’s eco-system through “first-hand discovery.”
While Mammoth Cave is the obvious jewel of Mammoth Cave National Park, the park is also home to more than 70 miles of backcountry trails for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. The Green and Nolin Rivers also provide more than 30 miles of waterways for those who like to boat and fish—there’s even an opportunity for backcountry and riverside camping.
Other points of interest include The Big Woods—an uncut forest, Cedar Sink—an impressive sinkhole, and an old engine from the Mammoth railroad. For information on everything you could need to know about Mammoth Cave National Park, visit www.nps.gov/maca.
All that exploring will probably leave you hungry. If you brought your own lunch, find your way to one of the five picnic grounds at the park. Picnic tables are provided, and you’ll be sure to dine among beautiful scenery. Otherwise, there are several dining options at the Mammoth Cave Hotel on the grounds of the park—you’ll have your choice of a sit-down meal or you could opt for a quicker bite to eat so you can get back exploring.
Speaking of the Mammoth Cave Hotel—it’s a great idea to plan on spending at least one night so you can really maximize your visit to the park. The hotel is the only hotel in the park and offers room accommodations as well as cottages. But really, what trip to a national park would be complete without a camping trip? Mammoth Cave National Park offers three campgrounds as well as dozens of primitive campsites in the backcountry and along the Green and Nolin Rivers. For other options, check out Cave City, Kentucky. Its central location makes it perfect for exploring “Cave Country.” Visit www.cavecity.com for more information.
You may also want to think about whether or not Fido will enjoy the trip. While dogs are allowed in the park on a leash, they are not allowed in any caves (unless they are service animals), and they are not allowed in all rooms at the Mammoth Cave Hotel, but the hotel does offer a kennel.
Don’t forget that along with Mammoth Cave National Park, this area of Kentucky is full of caves open to visitors. The Lost River Cave is unique in that it offers the only boat tour of a cave. It starts with a 20-minute walk along the river followed by a 25-minute boat ride—all while learning about the history, geology, and legends of the cave. Visit the web site www.mammothcave.com for a list of caves in the Mammoth Cave area.
