Table of Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments x
Introducing Mammoth Cave National Park 1
A Brief History of Mammoth Cave 1
An Overview of Recreation at the Park 5
Mammoth Cave National Park Weather 9
Author's Favorite Sights and Scenes at Mammoth Cave 10
How to Use This Guidebook 12
Regional Map 14
Visitor Center Area Map 16
Exploring Belowground: The Caves 17
Enjoying the Underground World 20
Cave Tours 24
New Entrance Tour 24
Grand Avenue Tour 25
Historic Tour 28
Introduction to Caving Tour 30
Mammoth Cave Discovery Tour 31
Mammoth Passage Tour 33
Snowball Tour 34
Star Chamber Tour 35
Frozen Niagara Tour 37
Trog Tour 38
Violet City Lantern Tour 39
Wild Cave Tour 41
Other Nearby Caves 42
Diamond Caverns 42
Hidden River Cave 43
Kentucky Caverns 43
Lost River Cave 43
Outlaw Cave 43
Exploring Aboveground: The Trails 44
Backcountry Rules and Regulations 45
How to Use the Trails Information 45
Mammoth Cave National Park Trail Finder Table 46
Interpretive Trails in the Visitor Center Area 48
Campground Trail 48
Dixon Cave Trail 49
Dixon Cave Connector 50
Echo River Springs Trail 51
Green River Bluffs Trail 53
Heritage Trail 54
Mammoth Dome Sink Trail 56
River Styx Spring Trail 57
Sunset Point Connector 59
Other Park Interpretive Trails 60
Cedar Sink Trail 60
Sand Cave Trail 62
Sloans Crossing Pond Walk 63
Turnhole Bend Nature Trail 64
Hiking the Backcountry Trails 65
Big Hollow Trail 65
Blair Spring Hollow Trail 68
Buffalo Creek Trail 70
Collie Ridge Trail 72
Dry Prong Trail 74
First Creek Trail 75
Maple Springs Trail 79
McCoy Hollow Trail 80
Mill Branch Trail 84
Raymer Hollow Trail 85
Sal Hollow Trail 88
Turnhole Bend Trail 91
Wet Prong Trail 92
White Oak Trail 95
Exploring Aboveground: The Rails and Roads 97
Trail Biking 97
Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail 98
Road Biking 102
Doyel Valley Ride 103
Houchins Valley Road Ride 103
Ollie Ridge There-and-Back Ride 104
Scenic Driving 105
Mammoth Cave Park Scenic Loop Drive 105
Exploring Aboveground: The Rivers 109
Canocing and Kayaking 110
Green River: Dennison Ferry to Green River Ferry 112
Green River: Green River Ferry to Houchins Ferry 114
Nolin River: Nolin River Lake Dam to Houchins Ferry on the Green River 117
Motorboating 119
Fishing 119
Where to Lay Your Head 122
Backcountry Campsites 122
Bluffs 122
Collie Ridge 123
Ferguson 123
First Creek 1 124
First Creek 2 124
Homestead 125
McCoy Hollow 125
Raymer Hollow 126
Sal Hollow 126
Second Creek 127
Three Springs 127
Turnhole Bend 128
White Oak 128
Campgrounds 129
Headquarters Campground 129
Houchins Ferry Campground 131
Maple Springs Group Campground 133
Accommodations 134
Mammoth Cave Hotel 134
Sunset Terrace 135
Historic Cottages 136
Woodland Cottages 137
Area Bed-and-Breakfasts 137
Cave Spring Farm Bed and Breakfast 137
Serenity Hill 138
The Wayfarer 138
More Services and Resources for Explorers 139
Picnic Areas 139
Dennison Ferry 139
Headquarters 140
Houchins Ferry 141
Maple Springs 142
Overlook 143
Sloans Crossing 143
Tailwater 144
Nearby Towns 144
Bowling Green 145
Brownsville 145
Cave City 145
Glasgow 145
Park City 146
Outfitters 146
Volunteering 147
Index 148
About the Author 150
