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Mammoth Cave

Wildflower Day

Vivid blue, bell-shaped flowers on a plant with wide green foliage.
Wildflower Day activities include crafts, nature walks, and talks to celebrate the abundant variety of wildflowers found in the park!

NPS Photo

Wildflower Day 2026

Join Mammoth Cave National Park rangers and volunteers throughout the day on Saturday, April 11, 2026 to celebrate the wildflowers and blooming trees that treat park visitors to colorful displays along park trails, roadways, and forests each spring. The annual park event highlights the importance of wildflowers for our human history and environmental health.

 
Two extravagant purple flowers with a variety of petal sizes and a burst of green and park pink stamen at the center.

Look, admire, and photograph but please do not pick! Wildflowers are protected within Mammoth Cave National Park. Thank you for helping us preserve these beautiful resources!

Image credit: NPS Photo/Kait Evensen

 
 
People look at various flowers in glass containers on a table with colorful quilts displayed in the background.
Wildflower Day activities will include special displays of native wildflowers.

NPS Photo / Jessica Cooper

Visitor Center Area Activities

Special Displays and Craft Demonstrations

Native Wildflower Exhibit

9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
View a display of native wildflowers harvested outside the park by the Warren East Garden Club. Wildflower experts will be on hand to answer questions about the plants and provide suggestions on the best trails to see what is currently in bloom. Rangers will also be available to explain how to manage invasive species found in the park and nearby regions.
Display located inside the visitor center.


Quilting Demonstrations

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Enjoy a display of handmade quilts that showcase the region's textile artistry, creativity, and cultural heritage. View live quilting demonstrations at scheduled times.
Display located inside the visitor center.

 
Five people stand a table that has paints and paper in it while a woman in a green park service uniform with a straw flat hat speaks to them.
Jr. Rangers create beautiful works of art in celebration of wildflowers.

NPS Photo

Wildflower Kids Crafts and Jr. Ranger Activities

9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
Discover wildflowers and plants and engage in crafting activities with park rangers and naturalists.
Meets on the back porch of the visitor center.

 
Pink wildflowers with green foliage.
Wild geranium is frequently found along park trails.

NPS Photo / Jessica Cooper

Hikes and Walks Across the Park

Let's Go Birding

8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Join a knowledgeable ranger for an exciting bird-watching adventure. This bird walk is a wonderful opportunity to see and hear a variety of bird species, from our resident birds to the beautiful spring migrants that pass through. We will have few binoculars to check out for the hike.

Meets at the back porch of the visitor center.
Distance: 1 mile to 1.5 miles (1.6 to 2.41 km)
Difficulty: Moderate



Cedar Sink Hike

9 – 11 a.m.
Join a knowledgeable park volunteer on a hike through Cedar Sink — an enormous sinkhole forest habitat that's home to an incredible variety of seasonal wildflowers, making it a favorite spot for hikers and floral enthusiasts. 

Meets at the Cedar Sink Trailhead
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 kilometers)
Difficulty: Moderate. This trail includes steep uphill and downhill sections with approximately 295 stairs along the route.



Green River Bluffs Hike

11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Join a ranger for a guided nature hike focused on the local terrain, native seasonal flora, and wildlife. Participants will have the opportunity to observe indigenous wildflowers in bloom and appreciate the natural sounds of spring along the Green River Bluffs Trail, Dixon Cave Trail, and other visitor center area trails.

Meets at the visitor center flagpole.
Distance: 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers)
Difficulty: Moderate

 
A tall, slender green wildflower with a large curved bloom.
Despite its resemblance to some carnivorous plant species, this Jack-in-the-pulpit plant attracts insects only for pollination.

NPS Photo / Jessica Cooper

River Styx Loop Wildflower Hike

1 – 3 p.m.
Join a knowledgeable park volunteer on a hike down the hill to the Green River to admire the many native wildflowers along with ferns, trees, and bushes currently in bloom.

Meets at the back porch of the visitor center.
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 kilometers)
Difficulty: Moderate to strenous. This activity includes steep uphill climbs in sections with total route elevation change of approximately 300 feet.



Echo River Spring Trail Walk ♿

2 – 3 p.m.
Join a ranger to observe native wildflowers, ferns, trees, and bushes along this level trail which features overlooks of natural springs where underground rivers emerge from the cave and flow into the Green River.

Meets at the Echo River Spring Trailhead.
Distance: 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers)
Difficulty: Easy

 

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Last updated: March 16, 2026

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 7
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259-0007

Phone:

270 758-2180

Contact Us