Hidden beneath the rolling hills of southern Kentucky is the longest cave system in the world: Mammoth Cave National Park. With over 400 miles mapped, this enormous cave is still being explored, and it is believed there could be as many as 1,000 miles leading through this vast labyrinth!
Established as a national park in July of 1941, Mammoth Cave was named a World Heritage Site in 1981, and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990. The 52,830-acre expanse is in a section of Kentucky known as the Green River Valley.
A guided tour of the cave brings visitors deep underground and through the winding maze of caverns. Some, like Grand Avenue, are expansive, while others, like the tight squeeze known as “Fat Man’s Misery” are a bit more snug. There are even special tours where the only light is provided by paraffin lamp, allowing explorers to get a feel for what early 19th century adventurers may have experienced while in this cave.
If you really want to go all out, ask for one of the “wild” tours. These take visitors off the more common trails and into dusty tunnels much less traveled. You’ll get down and dirty on these tours, crawling through the mud and walking where few others have tread.
There are several campgrounds in the area around Mammoth Cave, suited to tent and RV campers alike. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to many animals including white-tailed deer, opossums, and the pygmy shrew. The cave also draws numerous species of bats. Indiana, gray, little brown, and big brown varieties of bats have called this spot home, though the gray bat is currently listed as endangered. Bobcats, coyotes, foxes, flying squirrels, and raccoons can also be seen here.
Remember, 2016 marks the 100 year anniversary of the National Park Service, so get out and wish Mammoth Cave and your other national parks a happy anniversary. Admission is Free on Veterans Day, November 11.
Featured Image from Ivana Cajina/Unsplash
