One hundred years ago, tragedy struck at the site of what is now Mammoth Cave National Park. Nevertheless, the heartbreaking incident led to nationwide recognition of the astonishing cave system and the surrounding area.
With over 420 miles of mapped passageways, it’s the largest known cave system on the planet and a mere 6-hour drive from Montgomery up I-65. Exit 48 leads to Hwy 255 and, just a few miles down the road, the iconic brown National Park entrance sign.
Although entry to the park is free, cave tours are not. Tickets can be purchased online or at the park. However, in-person availability is not guaranteed as tours may sell out, so plan ahead.
One of the most popular tours is the Historic Tour, a 2-hour/2-mile walk that “descends to much tighter places deep inside the cave,” according to the park’s website (www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm).
But with more than 500 stairs and several steep sections, this route might prove challenging for anyone with mobility issues. During our last summer visit, we tackled the shorter Discovery Self-Guided Tour. Although not available year-round, visitors can leisurely stroll through a mostly flat 0.75-mile portion of the cave – once you navigate ‘only’ 135 stairs at the entrance, that is.
The Discovery Self-Guided Tour is just $6 with the seniors America the Beautiful pass, whereas the Historic Tour is twice that. There is also a short downhill path (about 2/10 mile) to reach the entrance from the visitor center, but the return walk up is not too difficult.
Before entering the cave, a ranger will explain cave etiquette and safety guidelines, all instructions being rather obvious (e.g., and I’m paraphrasing here: don’t mess with the bats; keep your paws off the rocks and walls; leave your lunch outside).
And watch your step – it’s dark down there (much darker than in the accompanying photo). It’s also cool – both impressive and chilly. The temperature dropped by over 40 degrees as we descended the stairs in July. So, bring a light sweater or jacket if you can’t tolerate 50 degrees for an hour or so in short sleeves. After exiting the caves, all visitors are required to wipe their feet on a bio-security mat to help reduce the spread of White-nose syndrome, a fatal fungal disease affecting the cave’s hibernating bats.
There are more tours listed on the park website – some longer, some shorter than the two mentioned above. So select your tour(s) ahead of time to match your interests and ability.
But not all Mammoth Cave adventures lie underground. The park has around 85 miles of hiking trails throughout its 52,000 acres in south-central Kentucky, with some leading to rivers, springs, and sinkholes. For anyone interested in the history of the park, the short (0.3-mile) Sand Cave Trail is a must. Although access to the actual cave is closed to visitors, the entrance can be viewed from the path.
It was there that amateur caver Floyd Collins ventured below ground in 1925, only to become pinned by a falling rock. Crews worked for 18 desperate days to free him, while the nation followed the ordeal through newspaper reports and radio bulletins. Thousands flocked to the site, drawn by both hope for a rescue and morbid curiosity.
Collins died just two days before searchers finally reached his underground tomb. Standing near the cave today, one can only shudder at the isolated torment and despair he must have suffered as darkness, thirst, and hunger slowly engulfed him.
The tragedy that gripped the nation and propelled Kentucky’s subterranean wonder into the national spotlight ultimately inspired Congress to designate the site as Mammoth Cave National Park in 1941.
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines. His hiking column describes short trails, hikes, and walks from around the country that seniors might enjoy. See www.ItsAWonderfulHike.com.