Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park will host a star party for the Geminids meteor shower on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This family-friendly event is open to all, from seasoned astronomers to first-time star gazers.

The evening will begin with a special ranger-led program in the outdoor amphitheater at 5 p.m. followed by star gazing and meteor viewing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the bus loop behind the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.

In addition to meteor watching, telescopes will be available for planet and nebulae viewing, offering a unique opportunity to observe the wonders of our universe. Knowledgeable rangers as well as volunteers from the WKU’s Hilltopper Astronomy club, Dark Sky Kentucky, and the Louisville Astronomical Society will be on hand to assist and share insights about the night sky.

This event will take place entirely outdoors. Participants should be prepared for cold temperatures and dress appropriately in warm layered clothing with coats, hats, and gloves. Bring along additional blankets, chairs, and hot beverages for a more comfortable viewing experience.

Mammoth Cave National Park will host a star party for the Geminids meteor shower on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This family-friendly event is open to all, from seasoned astronomers to first-time star gazers.

The evening will begin with a special ranger-led program in the outdoor amphitheater at 5 p.m. followed by star gazing and meteor viewing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the bus loop behind the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center.

In addition to meteor watching, telescopes will be available for planet and nebulae viewing, offering a unique opportunity to observe the wonders of our universe. Knowledgeable rangers as well as volunteers from the WKU’s Hilltopper Astronomy club, Dark Sky Kentucky, and the Louisville Astronomical Society will be on hand to assist and share insights about the night sky.

This event will take place entirely outdoors. Participants should be prepared for cold temperatures and dress appropriately in warm layered clothing with coats, hats, and gloves. Bring along additional blankets, chairs, and hot beverages for a more comfortable viewing experience.

This classic Mammoth Cave Tour visits many of the historic areas that originally made Mammoth Cave famous. Going through tunnels that humans have used for thousands of years, this tour not only explores huge rooms that gave Mammoth Cave its name, but also descends to much tighter places deep inside the cave. Please note that this tour ascends and descends hundreds of stairs and several steep inclines, which can be difficult for many visitors, as there are no alternative routes. This tour is ideal for people with an interest in history and a sense of adventure.  

Portions of this tour are also seen on the Violet City Lantern, Star Chamber and Gothic Avenue Tours. It is seen in its entirety on the River Styx Tour.

Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km)
Total Stairs: 540, including 155 at Mammoth Dome
Difficulty: Moderate
Ages: All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: Yes
Tickets available for each tour time: 110

This classic tour visits areas of Mammoth Cave that have been used for nearly 100 years. This tour begins in a sinkhole, passes through huge domes, amazing breakdown, and ends in the dripstone section known as Frozen Niagara. Please note that this tour ascends and descends hundreds of stairs and several steep inclines, which can be difficult for many visitors, as there are no alternative routes. Focusing on the natural formation of the cave, this tour is ideal for people interested in science and wanting to see stalactites and stalagmites.

This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.

This tour includes the entire Frozen Niagara Tour route and a small portion of the Grand Avenue Tour route.

Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km)
Total Stairs: 640 , including 280 on the initial staircase descent and an optional 96
Difficulty: Difficult
Ages: All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: No
Tickets available for each tour time: 110

The naturally decorated Frozen Niagara section remains one of the most famous at Mammoth Cave, and serves as the last stop for a variety of cave tours. While many tours require long hikes and numerous stairs to reach this point, this short tour offers a chance to visit this area. This tour is ideal for anyone with difficulty walking long distances or negotiating stairs.

This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.

This section of cave is seen in its entirety on the Domes and Dripstones and Grand Avenue tours. 

Duration: 1.25 hours
Distance: 0.25 miles (0.4 km)
Total Stairs: 64, plus an optional 98
Difficulty: Easy
Ages: All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: No
Tickets available for each tour time: 34

Call the visitor center at 270-758-2180 on the day of your visit for availability.

Utilizing the Elevator Entrance, this tour emerges near the famous Snowball Room. Continuing through historic Cleaveland Avenue, this tour passes through areas of the cave highly decorated with historic signatures and sparkling geological formations. This tour is ideal for people who wish to see the cave and are looking for a tour with no stairs.

This is an accessible tour. This tour is designed for persons with a disability, limited physical mobility, or any other reason for a tour with no stairs. If no one in your party needs an accessible tour, please consider selecting another tour unless this is the only tour available at the time of your request. Wheelchairs, scooters and other assistive devices are allowed. Accessible restrooms are on this tour.  

Participants meet at the visitor center for a caravan in their personal vehicles to drive approximately 2 miles to the elevator entrance. Assistive devices will need to be decontaminated upon exiting the cave to limit the spread of White Nose Syndrome.

Please note:

• No transportation or mobility assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers or canes are available. NPS employees will not transport or assist visitors or visitor equipment. If visitors need assistance with the Park's accessible features, they must bring a companion with them for aid.

• The Accessible Tour utilizes a single elevator to reach the tour route inside the cave. The elevator receives regular maintenance but can experience operational issues because of effects from the cave's natural environment.

  If the cave elevator used for the Accessible Tour breaks down during your tour, the only exit from the cave would require walking for one mile on an uneven dirt trail. The trail includes slight elevation changes and a long, single set of 200 stairs. If you or anyone in your group may find this exit route challenging, we recommend reconsidering whether to participate in the Accessible Tour. Visit our Accessible Activities page to explore additional options.

Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 0.5 miles (0.8 km)
Total Stairs: No stairs
Difficulty: Easy
Ages: All ages.  Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older.
Restrooms: Yes
Tickets available for each tour time: 14

At 4 hours long, this lengthy tour explores the geologic diversity of what Mammoth Cave has to offer. Going through slot canyons, tubular passageways, tall canyons, and tunnels sparkled with gypsum. This tour also encounters hundreds of steps and ascends and descends many tall, incredibly steep hills.  Covering a wide variety of the history and geology of Mammoth Cave, this tour is ideal for those wishing for a lengthy, half-day hike inside of the cave. 

This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.

This tour includes the entire Frozen Niagara Tour route and all of the Domes and Dripstones Tour except for the 280 stairs descending the vertical shafts at the entrance.

Duration: 4 hours
Distance: 4 miles (6.4 km)
Total Stairs: 1521 plus an optional 96
Difficulty: Strenuous
Ages: 6 years and older. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: Yes
Tickets available for each tour time: 78

An introductory tour into the Historic Entrance, this section of cave houses many great artifacts left behind by early explorers. Staying along broad walkways in some of the largest rooms in Mammoth Cave, this tour is ideal for those who do not like tight spaces, have small children, or anyone looking for a tour with limited steps. This tour is the guided version of the self-guided Discovery Tour.

Includes part of the Historic Tour and all of the Discovery Tour routes. Includes a steep outdoor hillside trail to and from the cave’s natural entrance. This tour does not see dripstone formation areas.

Duration: 1.25 hours
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km)
Total Stairs: 135
Difficulty: Easy
Ages: All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: No
Tickets available for each tour time: 70

This classic Mammoth Cave Tour visits many of the historic areas that originally made Mammoth Cave famous. Going through tunnels that humans have used for thousands of years, this tour not only explores huge rooms that gave Mammoth Cave its name, but also descends to much tighter places deep inside the cave. Please note that this tour ascends and descends hundreds of stairs and several steep inclines, which can be difficult for many visitors, as there are no alternative routes. This tour is ideal for people with an interest in history and a sense of adventure.  

Portions of this tour are also seen on the Violet City Lantern, Star Chamber and Gothic Avenue Tours. It is seen in its entirety on the River Styx Tour.

Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km)
Total Stairs: 540, including 155 at Mammoth Dome
Difficulty: Moderate
Ages: All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: Yes
Tickets available for each tour time: 110

This classic tour visits areas of Mammoth Cave that have been used for nearly 100 years. This tour begins in a sinkhole, passes through huge domes, amazing breakdown, and ends in the dripstone section known as Frozen Niagara. Please note that this tour ascends and descends hundreds of stairs and several steep inclines, which can be difficult for many visitors, as there are no alternative routes. Focusing on the natural formation of the cave, this tour is ideal for people interested in science and wanting to see stalactites and stalagmites.

This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.

This tour includes the entire Frozen Niagara Tour route and a small portion of the Grand Avenue Tour route.

Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km)
Total Stairs: 640 , including 280 on the initial staircase descent and an optional 96
Difficulty: Difficult
Ages: All ages. Youth under the age of 16 years, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Restrooms: No
Tickets available for each tour time: 110