Mammoth Cave NP, KY

[slowpez]

 
Spent 3 nights here and had a great time.  The sites were $16/night with no hook-ups.  Security is tight and the area is patrolled regularly.  The bathrooms were clean and stayed that way even through Memorial Day weekend.  Although the campground was full by Saturday, quiet hours were observed.  The camp seemed to be occupied by tenters and PU.  The big rigs were far and few between.  All sites were well shaded, large and private.  Didn t find any we didn t like.  We had plenty of room for a tent, large screen room, the PU, two trucks and could have gotten a couple of more tents on the site if we needed to.  
 If you haven t been to the cave put it on your list of things to see.  Young kids will be bored silly however and they usually ended up crying and having to be carried for the last mile or more of each tour.  Make reservations ahead, on-line works fine.  We took two tours while there (mostly because our son went and loves caves).  We didn t think we would see that much difference between the two tours but they were world s apart (Grand Avenue and Historic).  We would have taken a third tour (Latern Tour) but couldn t because they were all booked.  
 The rangers were a real disappointment.  I don t know if they had just been downgraded, given a pay cut or what but they were rude and not willing to help at all.  Several programs were offered at night but no one we talked to seem to know anything about them and didn t care.  One that was advertised did not take place at all.  When we asked about hiking trails in the area we were met with blank stares and given the park magazine and told to look them up.  OK, we did read about them but had questions as to the length and difficulty of some of them.  This is the first time we have encountered such poor attitudes among an entire group of rangers.
 Even so the park was worth a visit and we hope to go back to catch the parts of the cave we missed.  The Wild Cave Tour would be a great one to take if you are physically able and thin enough.  There are lots of trails in the park from 0.1 miles to 16 or more.

[Unregistered]

I grew up just a few miles from Mammoth Cave and went there for most of my school's class trips.  A few facts most people don't know about Mammoth Cave:

It is one of the most visited national parks every year...often ranking #1 or #2 in terms of total visitors...many from around the world.

Also, many of the workers at the park, particularly at the visitor center, are either volunteers, former school teachers, or as was pointed out, not very well paid rangers who may lack proper training due to the high number of visitors and it only being truly operational during the peak months of the year.

Regardless of when you tour the cave, it is always a constant 56 degrees inside, so don't let the outside weather deter you.  It's well worth the visit.  Also, check out some of the local outfitters for canoe trips down the Green River and/or Nolin River.  These rivers are often used for geological training by universities and one can often spot rock climbers scaling some of the beautiful rock formations, particularly around Nolin Dam.

[aw738]

There is another tour you did not mention. It is Frozen Niagra.

[Unregistered]

I stayed a couple of nights at a small campground in the park - "Hodk.... Landing" - very quiet, very nice, right on the river.  Portapotties left a lot to be desired - very wet, dirty, no paper.

But I would go again.  The park is wonderful!

Liz - from Detroit

[Unregistered]

The Wild Cave Tour would be a great one to take if you are physically able and thin enough.QUOTE]

It was over 10 years ago, but I took my wife on the Wild Cave Tour for her birthday one year and it was a blast!  Definitely worth the money.  You don't have to be a world class athlete, but there is a lot of climbing and crawling involved.  The NPS website for Mammoth Cave recommends you be 42 inches or smaller in waist or chest measurement to take the tour.  I was a 42 inch chest at the time and there were a few tight places, but for most of the tight places there is a way around in case it is a bit too tight for you.  I definitely don't recommend it for anyone with severe claustrophobia (being borderline claustrophobic myself), but most of the tour is in fairly open areas.
The groups are small and you have to be over 16 to take the tour.  
This tour would be good for one of those corporate "team building" get togethers.

My $.02
Marty

[OutdoorzDude]

I live near Mammoth Cave, or MACA (it's NPS code).  The NPS has lots of problems.  Many of the older rangers make substantially less than the newer ones due to a change in pay grades a few years ago.  Plus, many of the new interp people are hired as guides and not rangers.  One of the biggest problems is that a substantial number of the summer staff are seasonal staff.  A friend works there and often comments on what un-knowledgable jerks many of the seasonal rangers are.  I've very sorry you had to experience their bad side.  MACA is a great park and we in south central Kentucky try our best to be very friendly and helpful to tourists.  I would strongly suggest that you put your feelings in writing and send a copy t the superintendent of Mammoth Cave as well as sending a copy to the Washington office.  Steve in Bowling Green.

[outdoorzdude]

I thinkt he campground you are referring to is Houchin Ferry.  You go to Brownsville and around the back of the high school and down a windy road and the campground is on your left, just before the Green River.  If you cross the ferry, you go up the north side to the back country and up to the job corps center, and eventually to high 728.

I stayed a couple of nights at a small campground in the park - "Hodk.... Landing" - very quiet, very nice, right on the river.  Portapotties left a lot to be desired - very wet, dirty, no paper.

But I would go again.  The park is wonderful!

Liz - from Detroit

[outdoorzdude]

I live near Mammoth Cave, or MACA (it's NPS code).  The NPS has lots of problems.  Many of the older rangers make substantially less than the newer ones due to a change in pay grades a few years ago.  Plus, many of the new interp people are hired as guides and not rangers.  One of the biggest problems is that a substantial number of the summer staff are seasonal staff.  A friend works there and often comments on what un-knowledgable jerks many of the seasonal rangers are.  I've very sorry you had to experience their bad side.  MACA is a great park and we in south central Kentucky try our best to be very friendly and helpful to tourists.  I would strongly suggest that you put your feelings in writing and send a copy t the superintendent of Mammoth Cave as well as sending a copy to the Washington office.  Steve in Bowling Green.

ALSO...

Send a letter to congressman Ron Lewis.  That's his district and he'll ream them a new one!