Cave Tours

PLEASE NOTE

As the National Park Service (NPS) monitors and responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, we work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health to use the latest science to guide our decision making. Modifications to Mammoth Cave National Park operations and the addition of cave tours to the current reservation schedule will be adjusted as park managers monitor local conditions and evaluate facilities and services with the support of public health professionals.  

Cave tours are planned for the entirety of 2021, but tour offerings and schedules may change in accordance with public health guidance. Please check back periodically for an updated tour schedule as it will be updated when tour offerings are determined. We strongly recommend making tour reservations prior to your visit as cave tours often sell out. 

 

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Tour Schedule

Tour route availability and times change depending on the season. Before arriving at the park or trying to reserve tickets for a tour, please review the tour schedule for the dates of your trip. Read more about tour descriptions at the bottom of this page.

June 6, 2021 - June 19, 2021

Tour	Departure Time
Historic Modified Tour	8:45, 10:00, 10:30, 11:45, 12,30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:45
Extended Historic Modified Tour	9:15
River Styx Modified Tour	11:30, 1:00
* Frozen Niagara Modified Tour	9:00, 10:00, 11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:30
* Cleaveland Avenue Modified Tour	10:15, 12:45, 3:15
Mammoth Passage Modified Tour	4:45
Discovery Self-Guided Modified	9:30, 9:45, 10:15, 10:45, 11:00, 11:15, 12:00, 12:15, 12:45, 1:30, 1:45, 2:15, 2:45, 3:15, 3:30 (tickets sold in person at the visitor center, first come, first served)

*These tours require a bus ride to and from the cave. Visitors are required to wear a mask while on the bus.

June 20, 2021 - June 30, 2021

Tour	Departure Time
Historic Modified Tour	8:45, 10:00, 10:30, 11:45, 12,30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:45
Extended Historic Modified Tour	9:15
River Styx Modified Tour	11:30, 1:00
* Frozen Niagara Modified Tour	9:00, 10:00, 11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:30
* Cleaveland Avenue Modified Tour	10:15, 12:45, 3:15
Mammoth Passage Modified Tour	4:45 (tickets sold in person at the visitor center, first come, first served)
Discovery Self-Guided Modified	9:30, 9:45, 10:15, 10:45, 11:00, 11:15, 12:00, 12:15, 12:45, 1:30, 1:45, 2:15, 2:45, 3:15, 3:30 (tickets sold in person at the visitor center, first come, first served)

*These tours require a bus ride to and from the cave. Visitors are required to wear a mask while on the bus.

July 1, 2021 - August 14, 2021

Tour	Departure Time
Historic Modified Tour	10:00, 10:30, 11:45, 12,30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:45
Extended Historic Modified Tour	9:15
River Styx Modified Tour	11:30
* Frozen Niagara Modified Tour	9:00, 10:00, 11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:30
* Cleaveland Avenue Modified Tour	10:15, 12:45, 3:15
Mammoth Passage Modified Tour	4:45 (tickets sold in person at the visitor center, first come, first served)
Discovery Self-Guided Modified	9:30, 9:45, 10:15, 10:45, 11:00, 11:15, 12:00, 12:15, 12:45, 1:30, 1:45, 2:15, 2:45, 3:15, 3:30 (tickets sold in person at the visitor center, first come, first served)

*These tours require a bus ride to and from the cave. Visitors are required to wear a mask while on the bus.

 

Tour Reservations

Tickets are required to enter Mammoth Cave. Reservations are not required, but are strongly recommended. Cave tours frequently sell out and reservations are the only way to ensure a spot is available for your party. Please plan accordingly.

 

Visit Recreation.gov To

Reserve Your Cave Tour Tickets

 

Some Tour Routes are Closed for Trail Rehabilitation Projects

A trail rehabilitation project within the cave has started.  

The Grand Avenue and Wild Cave Tours are temporarily closed.

The trail work will improve the walking path, stairs, handrails, seating and resource issues along approximately two miles of trail. The entire project is scheduled to take 18-20 months to complete.

 

Know Before You Go

 

White-nose Syndrome Alert

White-nose Syndrome has been confirmed in Mammoth Cave. All participants on cave tours must walk on bio-security mats immediately following the conclusion of their tour. No exceptions. Your assistance is required to slow the spread of this fungal disease affecting bats. 

 

Things To Leave Behind

To ensure the safety of all visitors and the continued protection of Mammoth Cave the following items are not permitted on cave tours:

• Flash photography (photography is allowed if the flash is turned off)
• Child backpack carriers (front packs are permitted)
• Strollers
• Tripods/Monopods
• Walking sticks
• Metal framed backpacks and backpacks that are higher than the shoulder or that are of a length that extends below the hips (i.e. large trekking backpacks)
• Firearms or other weapons
• Pets (Day use kennels at the Lodge at Mammoth Cave are available for rent. Proof of vaccination must be provided upon entering the kennel. Learn more about pets in the park.)

Mammoth Cave is for Everyone

During the spring and fall seasons the park is a very popular destination for school trips and other parties. As a result, your tour may include other group(s) of various ages.

Dress Appropriately

You may wish to bring a light jacket during your tour. Cave temperatures can vary widely near entrances (especially in winter), deep cave temperature is 54ºF (12ºC) while surface temperatures in the summer can exceed 90ºF (32ºC).

Cave Tour Accessibility

Visitors with limited mobility may find some cave tours too strenuous. Please review cave tour descriptions and consider your limitations when choosing which tour to participate on.

For members of the deaf and hard of hearing community, assisted listening devices and sign language interpreter services are available with advanced arrangements.

The park is committed to providing accessible options for all visitors. Learn more about accessibility in the park.

Getting Here

When traveling to the park for a cave tour, plan for adequate travel time to the visitor center to arrive around 30 minutes before the start of your scheduled tour. This will allow for time to find parking, pick up your physical paper tour tickets and time to use the restroom.

Do not rely on your mobile GPS or web based mapping applications. These services often lead visitors off track onto routes requiring river crossings via ferry or onto narrow winding roads not suitable for large vehicles. More information about travel directions to the park are available.

 

 

Descriptions of Currently Offered Cave Tours

Historic Modified Tour

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.  

This tour is seen in its entirety on the River Styx Modified 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: 50
Fees: $20 Adults, $15 Youth, $10 Senior Pass Holder, $10 Access Pass Holder.

Extended Historic Modified Tour

Enjoy this Historic Tour with a bonus side trip to one of the sites of the famous 1840s Mammoth Cave experiment to treat consumption. This tour is ideal for people who want a Historic Tour and have a little extra time to spend in the cave.

Duration: 2.25 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: 30
Fees: $23 Adults, $17 Youth, $11.50 Senior Pass Holder, $11.50 Access Pass Holder.

River Styx Modified Tour

Following along the Historic Tour Route, this tour focuses on the unique geologic and natural history of Mammoth Cave. Including a brief side trip to the underground water level, this tour takes an in-depth look at the millions of years of formation of Mammoth Cave. This tour is ideal for visitors with a high interest in geology. 

Please use extra caution when visiting the river level. To access this section of the cave the tour leaves modern tour trail to uneven terrain that may be wet, muddy, and/or slick. The tour route travels next to bodies of water, some of which can be very deep depending on river levels. Viewing of this area will also be conducted with electric lanterns and not the modern lighting system on the rest of the route.

This tour covers the entire Historic Modified Tour route. Limited sections of the Mammoth Passage Modified Tour and Discovery Self-Guided Modified Tours are also seen.

Duration: 2.5 hours
Distance: 2.5 miles (4 km)
Total Stairs: Approximately 600, 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: 30
Fees: $22 Adults, $16 Youth, $11 Senior Pass Holder, $11 Access Pass Holder.

Frozen Niagara Modified Tour

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 with only 12 stairs. This tour is ideal for anyone with difficulty walking long distances or negotiating stairs.

This tour has a bus ride to and from the cave entrance.

Duration: 1.25 hours
Distance: 0.25 miles (0.4 km)
Total Stairs: 12, 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: 20
Fees: $18 Adults, $14 Youth, $9 Senior Pass Holder, $9 Access Pass Holder.

Cleaveland Avenue Modified Tour

For nearly two centuries, Cleaveland Avenue has attracted people from all over the world to see its sparkling walls of gypsum and unique tube-shaped passages. Evidence of early visitors can still be seen on the walls and ceiling of some of its most famous places. This tour is ideal for people looking for a unique part of Mammoth Cave and an interest in geology and history. 

This tour retraces the tour route and will enter and exit the same location. This tour has a bus ride to and from the cave entrance. Masks are required while riding the bus.

Duration: 2 ½ hours
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km)
Total Stairs: Approximately 400
Difficulty: Moderate
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: 20
Fees: $22 Adults, $16 Youth, $11 Senior Pass Holder, $11 Access Pass Holder.

Mammoth Passage Modified Tour

An introductory tour into the Historic Entrance, this section of cave houses many great artifacts left behind by historic and prehistoric people. 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 Modified Tour and all of the Discovery Self-Guided Modified 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: 160
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: 50
Fees: $11 Adults, $9 Youth, $5.50 Senior Pass Holder, $5.50 Access Pass Holder

Discovery Self-Guided Modified Tour

Many people visiting Mammoth Cave ask, “May we visit the cave without a guided tour?” The answer is yes! This self-guided tour requires a ticket, and proceeds into the Historic Entrance. Focusing on early history and prehistory of the cave, this section of cave houses many great artifacts. This tour is ideal for people wanting to move at their own pace or are looking for a cave experience without much time commitment. This tour is the self-guided version of the guided Mammoth Passage Tour.

Includes part of the Historic Modified Tour and all of the Mammoth Passage Modified Tour routes.

Duration: 0.5 hours
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km)
Total Stairs: 160
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: 25
Fees: $8 Adults, $6 Youth, $4 Senior Pass Holder, $4 Access Pass Holder.

 

Other Cave Tours

Mammoth Cave offers numerous cave tours throughout the year. The selection of tours changes seasonally and with staffing availability. You can read descriptions and learn more about these other cave tours before planning your trip to the park. Check back with our cave tour schedule or park calendar to see future offerings of these other cave tours.