Exploring the National Parks is one of my favorite things to do. I feel so fortunate that these lands have been set aside for Americans to enjoy as such I have made it my duty to take go on an adventure in every national park I can. Mammoth Caves, holds a special place in my heart for a few reasons. It is the longest cave system in the world, it is historically significant, it features great hiking, camping, caving, and kayaking opportunities. The best part? It’s only an hour drive from my home base here in Nashville!
Table of Contents
Camping
Mammoth caves offers excellent camping sites both developed and backcountry. These days I am a family man so I tend to stay in the more developed sites. On my last adventure I stayed in the Mammoth Cave Campground . It had clean bathrooms, it is conveniently located (5 minute drive to the caves) and is easily accessible by car. Which made it wonderful as a first camping trip for my infant son. However the campground like many developed campgrounds isn’t all sunshine and roses. Upon arriving at the campsite I quickly noticed a large dead, sketchy looking Ash tree that was standing next to our site and precariously leaning toward the exact spot most people would have set up their tent. This meant I had to get creative when it came to finding the best tent location. Unfortunately the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive asian beetle has been wreaking havoc on the forests of Kentucky. They have killed a sizable amount of the native Ash trees and created an epic amount of work for the parks service. It was not a huge deal I am sure many people have faced a similar situation while trying to camp amidst this beetle infestation. Unfortunately that is just nature. The major downside that I experienced was the neighbors. Like many campgrounds the sites are packed pretty close together, which is fine and dandy when you are surrounded by like minded people looking to read a book next to a campfire and listen to the birds chirp. Somehow I never get those neighbors…. on this adventure my neighbor was glamper that barely even realized he was camping. You know the type of person I’m talking about. The city dwelling asshole with a McMansion on wheels that runs a generator 12 hours a day and spoils everyones peace and quiet. Minus my neighbor I found the Campground to great for family and will gladly take mine back to the spot.
Hiking
While Mammoth caves is known for its incredible cave system it also features some excellent hiking spots. Debbie and I took our young son on some of the easier trails on this trip. Such as the Cedar Sink Trail. This 1.5 mile trail takes you through dense Kentucky forest and down into a sinkhole that drains water into the cave system. Over the course of trail we climbed 256 feet in elevation. If that alone was not cool enough for you. The wildlife in this area is abundant! If 1.5 miles is still a bit too long for you fear not I have another recommendation. On our last day in the park Debbie and I hiked the Turnhole Bend. A 0.5 mile loop that takes hikers to a beautiful overlook. I cant recommend this trail enough. although it was slightly overgrown there weren’t many hikers on the trail making it a peaceful escape from our neighbor in the McMansion on wheels. If 0.5 miles and up a small hill is still to challenging for you then I suggest taking the Sand Cave Trail. This 0.3 mile trail in and out trail features a boardwalk making it perfect for folks in a wheelchair or those pushing a stroller. On the way to Sand Cave walkers will learn the history of the cave and about the man that was fatally trapped inside it while trying to look for new ways to take tourists into the cave system.
The Caves
What good is a trip to this national park if you don’t actually venture into the caves?! After arriving at the lodge you will see large screens telling you about cave tours and times. This can be a bit confusing as there are so many options, many of which sell out in advance. Debbie and I ended up deciding to take the Discovery: Self Guided Tour all other tours require you to have an escort to leave the cave and we figured a self guided tour would allow us to leave at will in the event our baby decided he was no longer interested in the cave tour! I thought this tour was amazing. You will get a very short and slightly freaky safety briefing from a park ranger before embarking down a set of stairs into the cool air of the cave. Once inside you will see some large chambers as well as rock formations and relics from when the cave was used as a salt peter mine in the 1800’s. This is a great way to enter into the world of cave exploration, especially if you have a small child or are freaked out by the idea of being so far under the ground.
Conclusion
In the end we had an excellent time! The parks proximity to major cities and its natural beauty make this a must see for anyone visiting the Kentucky/Tennessee area. This was our second trip to this park. Im sure there will be many more in the future. Next time I was to explore the Green River via Kayak or Canoe!
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