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Mammoth Cave National Park offers a diverse lineup of cave tours throughout the year, each highlighting different sections and unique features of the world’s longest known cave system. This is a comprehensive list of all the cave tours at Mammoth Cave National Park. Tour availability shifts with the seasons and not every tour listed on this page may be offered during your visit.
A bit of planning before your visit to Mammoth Cave will help you choose the best experience for your day in the park. Be sure to check the current cave tour schedule ahead of time to find which tours will be offered during your visit.
Reservations are always recommended as they are the only way to guarantee your preferred cave tour experience. Visit Recreation.gov to check availability and book your tickets in advance.
NPS Photos
Signature Cave Experiences
Discover the essential Mammoth Cave tours that highlight the park’s most iconic passages, formations, and stories. These are the classic tour experiences many visitors choose on their first visit to the world's longest cave.
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 restroom available.
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 that 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.
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
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: Moderate Ages: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 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, Grand Avenue, Introduction to Caving and Wild Cave Tours.
Duration: 1.25 hours Distance: 0.25 miles (0.4 km) Total Stairs: 64, plus an optional 98 Difficulty: Easy Ages: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 38
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. 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: 110
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
Explore the passageways that named Mammoth Cave at your own pace on the Discovery Tour. This self-guided tour ventures through large, open passageways with points of interest along the route. Participants can explore at their own pace through large open passageways featuring informational waysides and artifacts from the cave's early history. Rangers are stationed along the route to answer questions. This tour is ideal for those who want to move at their own pace or are looking for a cave experience without much time commitment.
This tour is a self-guided version of the Mammoth Passage Tour and also includes part of the Historic Tour.
Duration: 0.5 hours Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2 km) Total Stairs: 135 Difficulty: Easy Ages: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: Unlimited
NPS Photos
Legends and Lantern Light
Step into the past and explore the people, traditions, and historic pathways that shaped the Mammoth Cave area. These tours illuminate centuries of human connection to the underground landscape.
Walk a hillside trail down to Mammoth Cave's most famous entrance as you follow the path used during nearly two centuries of touring. Experience the gently lit ambiance of a large trunk passage in the world's longest cave. Discover how Mammoth Cave has intrigued countless visitors since the first human entered its darkness nearly 5,000 years ago. This tour enters and exits through the Historic Entrance, visiting the Rotunda, Broadway Avenue, Methodist Church, the saltpeter mining ruins at Booth's Amphitheatre, Giant's Coffin, and the Tuberculosis Huts along the way.
Includes part of the Extended Historic Tour.
Duration: 2 hours Distance: 1.75 miles (2.8 km) Total Stairs: 160 Difficulty: Easy Ages: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 30
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. 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: 110
Discover the fascinating story of Mammoth Cave on this extended version of our classic Historic Tour. Explore the immense chambers that gave Mammoth Cave its name before descending into much tighter passageways deep inside the cave. Be prepared for a physically challenging experience, as this tour involves hundreds of stairs and steep inclines without alternative routes. This tour also includes a visit to the site of an 1840s-era underground tuberculosis hospital experiment. Ideal for history enthusiasts and adventurers alike, this tour is a great option for those wanting to delve deeper into the cave’s rich history!
Portions of this tour are also seen on the Violet City Lantern, Star Chamber and Gothic Avenue Tours.
Duration: 2.25 hours Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) Total Stairs: 540, including 155 at Mammoth Dome Difficulty: Moderate 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: 60
Gothic Avenue was named because of its unusual rock formations resembling Gothic architecture, and was the site of some of the earliest 19th century tourism. Early visitors left behind signatures, artifacts, and monuments in this area of the cave, which also features stalactites and stalagmites. This tour focuses on 1800s tourism and uses of Mammoth Cave, and is ideal for people with a high interest in history.
Portions of this tour are also seen on the Star Chamber, Historic and Violet City Lantern Tours.
Duration: 2 hours Distance: 1.7 miles (2.74 km) Total Stairs: 170 Difficulty: Moderate Ages: Age 6 years and older. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 40
A beautiful cave in its own right, Great Onyx Cave houses an abundance of beautiful geologic formations that sparkle in the lantern light of this tour. Visitors on this tour can see many stalactites, stalagmites, gypsum crystals, and helictites. This cave was also the site of very important cultural history in the early days of Kentucky cave tourism. This tour is ideal for people with an interest in cave tourism history and unusual rock formations. Please note: this tour is in Great Onyx Cave, which is separate from Mammoth Cave.
This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.
Please Note: This cave is toured within Mammoth Cave National Park, but is not known to connect with the Mammoth Cave System.
Duration: 2.25 hours Distance: 1 miles (1.6 km) Total Stairs: 82 Difficulty: Moderate Ages: Age 6 years and older. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 38
An evening tour in Mammoth Cave by lantern light, this tour winds its way to historic Star Chamber. Described as more of an experience tour than a sightseeing tour, the Star Chamber Tour explores historic sections of the cave in the lighting of the earliest explorers, emerging from the cave in late evening. Focusing on early history of Mammoth Cave, this tour includes a trip into Gothic Avenue. This tour is ideal for visitors wanting a unique way to experience the cave and its history.
Portions of this tour are also seen on the Historic, River Styx and Gothic Avenue Tours. Only visitors age 16 and over may carry lanterns. To preserve the nostalgic atmosphere of the activity, there is no flashlight use permitted on this tour.
Duration: 2.5 hours Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) Total Stairs: 170 Difficulty: Moderate Ages: 6 years and older. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 40
A truly historic way to experience Mammoth Cave, this tour travels exclusively by lantern light. At three hours long, this tour winds through the history and prehistory of Mammoth Cave as you wander through huge, broad tunnels. This tour climbs and descends many incredibly steep hills on historic dirt trails as you experience the cave in the light of the earliest explorers. This tour is ideal for visitors who like to hike and are wanting a unique way to experience the cave.
This tour requires a short bus ride back to the visitor center from the cave exit.
Portions of this tour are also seen on the Historic, River Styx and Mammoth Passage Tours. Only visitors age 16 and over may carry lanterns. Be prepared, the rugged nature of this tour possesses steep hills, low lighting, uneven terrain and no handrail or electric lighting infrastructure. To preserve the nostalgic nature of this tour, the use of flashlights is prohibited.
Duration: 3 hours Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km) Total Stairs: 200 and numerous hills with no handrails. Difficulty: Difficult Ages: Age 6 years and older. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 38
Journey into the natural processes that formed Mammoth Cave and others over millenia. These tours showcase dramatic formations, rock layers, and the impact of geologic forces.
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: Moderate Ages: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 110
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 as you travel Cleaveland Avenue to the Snowball Room. This tour is ideal for people looking for a unique part of Mammoth Cave and an interest in geology and history.
This tour enters the cave by descending nearly 231 stairs and exits the cave via an elevator. In the event the elevator is not available due to unforeseen circumstances, the tour extends its time 30 minutes, retraces the route, and ascends the near 231 stairs back out of the cave.
This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.
Includes all of the Accessible Tour route.
Duration: 2 hours - (2½ hours if the elevator is unavailable) Distance: 1 miles (1.6 km) - (2 miles (3.2 km) if the elevator is unavailable) Total Stairs: 231 - (462 if the elevator is unavailable) Difficulty: Moderate 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: 34
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, Grand Avenue, Introduction to Caving and Wild Cave Tours.
Duration: 1.25 hours Distance: 0.25 miles (0.4 km) Total Stairs: 64, plus an optional 98 Difficulty: Easy Ages: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 38
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 98 Difficulty: Strenuous Ages: Age 6 years and older. 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: 78
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 used along the rest of the route.
This tour covers the entire Historic Tour route. Limited sections of the Star Chamber, Violet City Lantern and Mammoth Passage 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: Age 6 years and older. 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: 40
Take a leisurely bus ride with a ranger across the park landscape and learn about the communities and people that were once here. After a short bus ride, enjoy a hike in the Tranquil Valley of Wondering Woods. At the end of the hike, a short cave tour awaits you where you'll be surrounded by beautiful cave formation!
This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.
Please Note: This cave is toured within Mammoth Cave National Park, but is not known to connect with the Mammoth Cave System.
Duration: 1.5 hours Distance: 1 miles (1.6 km) Total Stairs: 194, including 54 optional Difficulty: Moderate Ages: All Ages Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 30
Want more time in the most photographed area of Mammoth Cave to get that perfect picture? If so, this is the tour for you. This tour is specifically designed to allow picture takers more amounts of time to capture images of this beautifully decorated area than they normally would during the other tours that traverse through this area. This tour occurs after the visitor center closes and no other tours will be utilizing this section of Mammoth Cave during this activity. Tripods are allowed on this activity!
This section of cave is seen in its entirety on the Domes and Dripstones, New Entrance, Introduction to Caving and Wild Cave Tours.
Duration: 1.5 hours Distance: 0.25 miles (0.4 km) Total Stairs: 12, plus an optional 98 Difficulty: Easy Ages: All ages. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 38
NPS Photos
Grand Journeys
Spend more time underground with tours that explore broad areas of the cave in a single adventure. These experiences offer deeper insight and a broader sense of Mammoth Cave’s vastness.
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 98 Difficulty: Strenuous Ages: Age 6 years and older. 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: 78
Experience the history of Mammoth Cave as never before! This four-hour tour will provide visitors the experience of traveling through the past as they learn about those who first discovered the cave, its first uses, early tourism, and the cave exploration that continues today. Visit some of the cave's most iconic landmarks such as Giant's Coffin, Bottomless Pit, Tuberculosis Huts, River Styx, and Mammoth Dome. It's an adventure thousands of years in the making!
Includes all of the Historic, Extended Historic, Gothic Ave., Star Chamber, River Styx and parts of the Discovery, Mammoth Passage and Violet City Tour routes. Includes a steep outdoor hillside trail to and from the cave’s natural entrance. Lanterns are used during portions of this tour.
Duration: 4 hours Distance: 4 miles (3.2 km) Total Stairs: 640, including 155 at Mammoth Dome Difficulty: Strenuous Ages: Age 6 years and older. 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: 40
A truly historic way to experience Mammoth Cave, this tour travels exclusively by lantern light. At three hours long, this tour winds through the history and prehistory of Mammoth Cave as you wander through huge, broad tunnels. This tour climbs and descends many incredibly steep hills on historic dirt trails as you experience the cave in the light of the earliest explorers. This tour is ideal for visitors who like to hike and are wanting a unique way to experience the cave.
This tour requires a short bus ride back to the visitor center from the cave exit.
Portions of this tour are also seen on the Historic, River Styx and Mammoth Passage Tours. Only visitors age 16 and over may carry lanterns. Be prepared, the rugged nature of this tour possesses steep hills, low lighting, uneven terrain and no handrail or electric lighting infrastructure. To preserve the nostalgic nature of this tour, the use of flashlights is prohibited.
Duration: 3 hours Distance: 3 miles (4.8 km) Total Stairs: 200 and numerous hills with no handrails. Difficulty: Strenuous Ages: Age 6 years and older. Individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older. Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 38
Venture off the developed trail to go on a caving adventure! Crawl, scramble, and explore Mammoth Cave in an immersive underground experience.
→ Check out this video to be better prepared for your crawling tour adventure.
All crawling tours must have a printed ticket from the ticket office. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your tour to check-in at the park visitor center.
In order to minimize the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a bat disease caused by an invasive fungus, all equipment (coveralls, helmets, knee pads and head lamps) are provided by the park. Visitors must provide their own footwear. No personal caving equipment allowed — no exceptions. Shorts and a t-shirt recommended for wear under required coveralls.
An exciting off-trail crawling adventure for kids aged 8-12! This tour features a one-of-a kind way to experience the cave up-close-and-personal. Entering in the Historic Entrance, this tour leaves the main trail to a network of tight crawlways with amazing historic artifacts. Climbing over boulders, sliding down smooth rocks, and belly-crawling through tight tunnels, this tour is ideal for any child looking for a more adventurous trip inside of Mammoth Cave.
Tour Specific Requirements:
Parent/Guardian Notice: Parents, guardians and/or chaperones must attend the first and last 30 minutes of the tour to assist children in "suiting up" at the tour's beginning and assist with White Nose Syndrome shoe cleaning protocol at the end of the tour. Due to the amount of time required to assist at the beginning and end of the tour, adults do not have time to take a concurrent cave tour. Parent or guardian must be reachable for the entire duration of Trog tour in case of emergency.
Footwear Requirement: Sturdy, athletic style, closed toe shoes required. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear — no exceptions. Please bring extra pair of tennis shoes or sandals for use during shoe cleaning at the end of the tour.
Age Limits: This tour is limited to children ages 8 to 12 years old.
Additional Information: There are no restroom facilities available on this 2.75 hour tour. Tour requires a minimum of two participants to operate.
Duration: 2.75 hours Distance: 1.5 miles (2.4 km) Total Stairs: 200 Difficulty: Moderate Ages: 8 to 12 years Restrooms: No Tickets available for each tour time: 12
Introduction to Caving Tour - April 19 to May 16, 2026:
This limited-time Introduction to Caving Tour offers a rugged cave experience and the opportunity to explore hard-to-reach areas of Mammoth Cave with a special emphasis on the unique story of cave explorer Floyd Collins. This tour takes place both on the surface and in the cave at sites including:
Sand Cave Trail: This ¼ mile boardwalk path leads through a forested area to an overlook of Sand Cave where Floyd Collins was trapped and ultimately died in 1925.
Floyd Collins Family Homesite & Crystal Cave: Step back in time to where Floyd’s story began. Walk through the Collins family home and original Crystal Cave ticket office before heading underground to travel century-old trails in a remote area of Mammoth Cave featuring unique formations and canyon-like passageways.
Mammoth Cave Baptist Church Cemetery: Visit the final resting spot of Floyd Collins, the “world’s greatest cave explorer”.
Tour Specific Requirements:
Cave Environment: This tour is ideal for people who wish to engage in challenging physical obstacles in a unique environment, including parts of the cave which are difficult to access. Entering and exiting the cave requires walking on 40 slick, stone stairs with no handrail. The cave route is approximately 2-miles of an uneven steep and rocky trail with no natural lighting and no usable handrails. No crawling or climbing is required. Cave temperature averages 54ºF (12ºC). Expected time inside the cave is 1.5 hours.
Footwear Requirement: Participants must provide their own lace-up hiking boots that cover the ankle and are equipped with slip-resistant tread. Athletic shoes or slick-soled footwear do not meet these requirements. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear — no exceptions. Please bring an extra pair of tennis shoes or sandals for use during boot cleaning at the end of the tour.
Age Limits: Participants must be at least 10 years old; individuals under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older.
Additional Information: There are limited portable restroom facilities available on this 3.5 hour tour. Tour requires a minimum of two participants to operate. This tour requires a brief bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.
Duration: 3.5 hours Distance: 2 mile (3.2 km) Total Stairs: 40+ Difficulty: Strenuous Ages: Age 10 years and older. Restrooms: Yes, portable toilets. Tickets available for each tour time: 20
The most extreme tour offered at Mammoth Cave, this crawling tour is an all-day adventure underground. Focusing on a wide variety of topics such as the history of Mammoth Cave exploration, this tour is very physically demanding. Lengthy amounts of time will be spent crawling through extremely tight crawl spaces and climbing through difficult areas. This tour is ideal for people who wish to spend the entire day performing a wide variety of extremely challenging physical obstacles in a unique environment!
Tour Specific Requirements:
Size Limitations & Claustrophobia: Due to the tight nature of some of the areas visited, chest and hip measurements must not exceed 42 inches in circumference. Lengthy amounts of time will be spent in tight crawl spaces and difficult climbs, with no alternative routes available.
Footwear Requirement: Participants must provide their own lace-up hiking boots that cover the ankle and are equipped with slip-resistant tread. Athletic shoes or slick-soled footwear do not meet these requirements. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear — no exceptions. Please bring an extra pair of tennis shoes or sandals for use during boot cleaning at the end of the tour.
Age Limits: Participants must be at least 16 years old; an adult must accompany visitors under age 18. Organized youth groups must have at least two adult representatives accompanying minor children.
Additional Information: No lunch service is available. Participants must bring their own lunch/snacks in small caving pack provided. There are no restroom facilities available on this 3.5 hour tour. Tour requires a minimum of two participants to operate. This tour requires a brief bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.
Duration: 6 hours Distance: 5 miles (8 km) Total Stairs: Approximately 500 Difficulty: Strenuous Ages: Age 16 years and older Restrooms: Yes Tickets available for each tour time: 14
