Mammoth National Park Eco Excursion

Welcome to Mammoth National Park in central Kentucky! You’ll be amazed by all the beautiful wildlife above the ground before you even see the cave. Take a rest before you start your hiking journey tomorrow.

Strap on your walking shoes, because it’s time to go on your first tour of Mammoth Cave! Today’s tour is called Domes and Dripstones. You’ll see an amazing system of domes and pits and take a journey through drip formations.

Now you’ll visit the American Cave Museum. Your tour guide will show you cave rocks, geodes, and fossils, and you’ll learn about the archaeology and geology of many of the caves in Kentucky.

Today is your longest hike through the cave. You’re going on the Grand Adventure Tour, a physically demanding four-hour trek. You’ll really be able to get a grasp of how huge this cave is while you explore. Your tour guide will answer any questions you have about the caves and how they were formed, and you’ll get to take in the beautiful sights.

It’s time to volunteer! Today, you’ll work with a park ranger to maintain a small chunk of the nearly 84 miles of trails in the park. You’ll clear the paths of any debris and maybe even plant a tree or two.

Next, it’s time for an adrenaline rush! You’ll be ziplining from seven different treetop platforms and three sky bridges at a location a few miles outside the park. No one will judge you if you scream, promise!

Today, your first stop is the Lost River Cave Boat Tour. It’s the state’s only underground boat tour, and it’s really magical. This tour takes place in Lost River Cave, not Mammoth Cave. Lost River Cave has one of the largest cave openings in the US, and your guide will tell you about its historical significance, too. 

Now, you’ll go horseback riding along the trails in Mammoth National Park. You’ll have a guide who will lead you to the most scenic and exciting places along the trails.

It’s your last day in the park, but you’re going to make the best of it! First, you’ll go canoeing in the state park. There are 25 miles of Green River in the park, and the river is easy enough to be enjoyed by all levels of canoers. Pick up your paddle and have a blast!

Your last stop is really exciting. You’ll take one more tour of Mammoth Cave, but it’ll be a little different. You’re taking the Violet City Lantern Tour, where you’ll travel the cave exclusively by lantern light. You’ll hear the stories of the cave’s primitive history, and time will stand still. This is a peaceful and very unique way to end your journey.

It may be time to go back home, but you’ll always have your memories of Mammoth Cave. There’s really nothing like it!