#mammoth cave national park campground map

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Discover Mammoth Cave National Park: Your Must-Have Guide

Embark on an unforgettable adventure at Mammoth Cave National Park. Plan your trip to the world's longest known cave system to witness its breathtaking beauty with my comprehensive Mammoth Cave National Park visitor guide.

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Bluegrass & Traveling Trivia

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Of course we woke up to rain. Mammoth Cave Campground is a nice campground in an interesting place so we aren’t in much of a hurry to get moving. A male northern cardinal started tapping on our windshield presumably looking for seeds caught in the windshield wipers driving Dora crazy.

We return the Visitors Center which is much less crowded. Jeanne comes to a stop at the Women at Mammoth and History of the Woman Ranger Uniform temporary exhibits, while Tim prowls the geology.

“Check out this fossil— it’s a scaled pre-tree.”

“OMG! In the 70s women rangers were forced to wear yellow miniskirts and gogo boots. Their uniforms were designed by fashion designers in DC. They had to go to court to be able to wear the men’s uniforms.”

“How do they map the different levels in a 2D map? Can you use a compass underground? How do you indicate depth?"

“A woman on a caving expedition in the Flint Ridge Cave system found the connector to Mammoth, making it the longest cave. She was the only one small enough to squeeze through a crack and saw a tourist trail.”

Mammoth Cave is a National Park and it is obligatory for the Visitor Center to have a movie about the park. This interior designer had some fun with the movie room. The movie projector is attached to the backpack of a mannequin of a caver who is rappelling down through a hole in the ceiling.

We drag ourselves away from Mammoth (where it is starting to rain) and leisurely retrace our steps through Kentucky. We get back Blue Ridge Parkway to Lexington KY. “Is this where the Kentucky Derby is run?” The co-pilot’s duties include answering the idle curiosity of the driver. “No, this is Kneeland race track.”

Kneeland is acres of perfectly manicured grass on artistically rolling hills crossed with immaculate white fences. It is decorated with a castle.

“What’s the capital of West Virginia? I see a gold dome.” The copilot is busy petting the poodle. “Well, it must be Charleston. I fail at State Capitols for 400.”

We finally head into West Virginia with a destination of New River National Recreation Area. Jeanne finds a likely boondocking spot at a ballfield in Fayetteville. There are road closures for flooding and bridges repair, so Google Maps sends us on thin winding roads.

The speed limit is 55mph, but Jeanne doesn’t dare go over 35 around the tight curves. She pulls over often to allow the annoyed locals to zoom by — even around switchbacks steeply descending down a river gorge. WV 16 is a fabulous scenic drive (picture the NH Kancamagus with no tourists or amenities like signs or pullovers). You just have to wrench your eyes from the road to catch a glimpse of waterfalls and gorges.

We pull up at Fayetteville Huse Memorial Park where local school baseball games draw a small crowd of parents. Finally the field lights go out. The local sheriff patrols by but doesn’t bother us.

[nationalparkposters]

Best Things to Do in Mammoth Cave National Park

Best Things to Do in Mammoth Cave National Park: There's something magical about the subterranean world of south central Kentucky, where the world's largest known cave system lurks like a grand peculiar labyrinth, ready to explore. Its mysterious system of 400 miles of passageways and rooms captures the imagination of all who enter. Explorers are discovering new passages even today. Located east of Brownsville in the central part of the state, the caves are home to 130 animal species and have been used by humankind for thousands of years, with fascinating characters who entered the misty depth and led interesting lives. In addition, there are river valleys, historic churches, sinkholes, and vast forestland to discover. Activities can be done here year-round, and events are always happening at this UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Ranger-led Tours and Talks All year round is a good time to go. It's underground, after all, so no having to deal with the elements. The park offers many different tours, focusing on the history, beauty, passageways, and other discovery tours showcasing the many different aspects of the caves. There are also cave tours made accessible for wheelchair users. Talks at the visitor center are often held on the back porch and are a nice 10-minute introduction to a variety of topics about plants and animals, history, scientific research, among others. Evening talks meet at the amphitheater between the lodge and the camp store. The Wild Cave Tour The most in-depth tour offered at Mammoth Cave, you will literally be crawling on your hands and knees for a portion of the tour. But don't worry, you won't be in such a compromising position for long, and you'll be given overalls and knee pads to protect you and your clothing, helmets with lamps at the ready, bandanas, and gloves. These guys don't mess around when it comes to your comfort and safety. Offered spring through fall, it is six hours of fun with lunch included. Those who are afraid of heights, are claustrophobic, in ill health, or under 16 should not go on this tour. Reservations are required; be sure to check the website for the latest. Hiking Trails Galore Easy access trails for those who like their hiking on the more casual side will find 18 miles of well-kept trails on the south side of Green River. Along the way, one can explore the history of the park and discover its unique geology. Around the visitor center, seven miles of trails feature scenic river views, ridgetops, cave-fed springs, cemeteries, sinkholes, a historic train engine. Over 10 miles of forested trails on the south side feature the Cedar Sink Trail, Sloan's Crossing Pond Walk, Sand Cave Trail, and Turnhole Bend Nature Trail. The Finest Backcountry Hiking The best way to get away from the crowds is to grab a backpack with all of the needed provisions and head for the remote wilderness. A dozen scenic and peaceful campsites are up for grabs should you wish to make it a multi-day trip. To get here, a minute-long ferry ride is all that is needed, but plan for possible delays, as the ferry can only accommodate one car at a time, and no RVs. From there, take your pick of several trails, some of which will take you near water sources, such as First and Second Creek trails. If you really want to feel like you're alone in the wilderness, take Collie Ridge trail, and Homestead is a great place to camp. Be sure to get your free backcountry pass from the Visitor Center. Go on a Horseback Riding Tour This park has plenty of trails and campgrounds that can accommodate our trusty horse friends. Whether you have your own horse or opt for paying for a wonderful horseback riding experience. There are over 60 miles of backcountry trails north of Green River, just for this type of adventure. Grab a free trail map, and ride side saddle through the wilderness. Explore the Trails on Two Wheels Biking enthusiasts are not left hanging in Mammoth Cave National Park. Here in the backcountry, there are four designated off-road trails specifically for mountain biking. Explore the Mammoth Cave Railroad and Big Hollow trails, both running about nine miles in length. The Maple Springs Trail is an easy one mile, while the White Oak Trail is about 2.5 miles long. Street bikes are permitted on all paved roads in the park, and mountain bikes are allowed on all administrative roads. Get Out on the Water The Green and Nolin Rivers run through Mammoth Cave National Park, offering many opportunities for boating, canoeing, and kayaking. There are three river access points in the park and are accessible by car and are located on the south side of the Green River: the Dennison Ferry, Houchin Ferry, and Green River Ferry. This is an amazing opportunity to watch for wildlife, explore the springs and river bluffs, and even do some fishing. Anglers can expect to find bluegill, catfish, muskellunge, perch, crappie, bass, and other game fish. You can also paddle or boat your way to one of the islands to camp; there is also camping at the Houchin Ferry Campground. The Best Stargazing is Here People have used the stars for thousands of years to help in navigation, to keep track of time, or to simply ponders the wonders of the universe. Mammoth Cave is an ideal spot for such a pastime. Find a wide-open space, such as a grassy field, to get the best view. The parking lot at the visitor center is also a popular place. Try to avoid areas with artificial light, and carry a flashlight with red lights that will help you navigate to your spot without disturbing your night vision. Here, you don't need a telescope; however, having a good pair of binoculars may aid you in your nighttime viewing. Ranger-led stargazing programs are offered throughout the year, as well, and offer a unique opportunity to gain an appreciation for the park's dark sky environment. Click here to see the Mammoth Cave National Park Rob Decker is a photographer and graphic artist who had the rare privilege of studying under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was just 19 years old. Now, Rob is on a journey to explore and photograph all 61 of America's National Parks. He's creating WPA-style posters to help people celebrate their own national park adventures — as well as encourage others to get out and explore! Join the growing community of 75k+ National Park enthusiasts to receive insider deals and updates. See why 75k+ National Park fans have already joined... https://national-park-posters.com/blogs/national-park-posters/best-things-to-do-in-mammoth-cave-national-park?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_campaign=RSS

[dreamketchers]

Mammoth Cave is the largest known cave in the world. There are over 400 miles of passages and they map more passages yearly. The campground has plenty of first come first serve spots available this time of year. Book your tour in advance so you get the tour and time you want. ____________________________________ #mammothcave #nps #nationalparks #nature#cave#caves#tours#travelcouple#travelphotography#rvliving#fulltimerv (at Mammoth Cave National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Z0wNRhQDe/?igshid=dzgmrd7t3l3c

[spellucci]

Mammoth Cave National Park

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

It’s pouring rain as we wake up. It has now rained every day of this trip —11 days so far. As we cross the Tennessee River, we compare weather apps to see where we can go with good weather. No luck. Any place with good weather will have rain by the time we can get there. Oh well. We had great weather when we really needed it yesterday.

Jeanne was scrolling maps looking for ideas when she spotted Mammoth Cave National Park. It’s a couple hours away, and we could get in our daily steps without getting drenched. Perfect!! We set Google Maps for Mammoth Cave.

This is not an original idea. We grab the last spot in the campground. We luck out and get the volunteer host site which has power and water. None of the rest of the sites have power. We head over to the Visitor Center to check out the cave tours. The parking lot was packed with cars and RVs. The rain is torrential and the entrance sidewalks are blocked with large puddles. We buy tickets for the self-guided tour and walk down a steep trail toward the historic cave entrance.

The entrance is framed by a waterfall.

We turn in our tickets to the waterproofed ranger at the cave mouth, receive the safety talk from the next ranger who is trying for a career in standup. “If you are bitten by a bat, once you stop screaming, see a ranger who will calm you down with stacks of government paperwork on the dangers of rabies.”

Charmed, we head into the Twilight Zone of animals that live near the entrances to caves.

This is not like Carlsbad Caverns. There are no delicate cave formations. In the tourist area, anything delicate was removed in the 1800s.

The cave was mined for gypsum by enslaved people to make gunpowder for the War of 1812 and beyond.

This cave system is capped by sandstone which prevents the slow percolation of water that builds stalagmites, so there are few formations. It has 5 layers cave rooms as mapped that have been carved by different levels of water before entering the Green River.

Jeanne asks a bored ranger where all the bats are. He says that 90% of the bats have died of white nose syndrome but points out one on the wall. They are 1.5 inches long, and look more like a caterpillar.

We carefully walk the path past WW1 memorial stones and rock formations into a huge oval room that was carved by a river of water.

We stop by the remains of the saltpeter works where gypsum was processed in the 1860’s and sold to DuPont. The sign said it was mixed with turnip and ox blood. Highly dubious, Tim asked the ranger who clarifies it was mostly tree ash. He called it “guide lore” where a good story takes on a history of its own.

The Visitor Center was still crowded, so we headed back to the campstore for showers. Much refreshed, we headed back to the campsite, plugged into power and decided to take advantage of the abundant electrons to cook several days of meals.

After dinner we headed out for what we thought would be a quick stroll around the campground, but stumbled onto a hiking trail where Dora could run. After a day in the rain, an hour’s walk under heavily overcast skies was a treat.