When you think of Mammoth Cave National Park, of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the cave. It IS the feature of the park and rightfully so. It’s amazing! There is so much more to this beautiful national park than just being home to the longest cave in the world. Let’s look at some views you shouldn’t miss at the park and if you’re looking for cave tour info (because the caves have some seriously great views) check out our CAVE TOUR suggestions.
Turnhole Bend Nature Trail
You can find this nature trail southwest of the Visitor Center. Head south on Mammoth Cave Parkway and then take a right on Brownsville Road. Look for the Turnhole Bend Nature Trail sign on the north side of the road. You can’t miss it. Check out this MAP for extra detail.
Like most parks, Mammoth Cave has a nature trail. They’re always can’t miss views because they usually have the best of what the park has to offer (as far as nature goes). This is a moderate, 0.5 mile trail with 2 scenic views. The first is a sinkhole. These are common sightings in the park as these are tell-tell signs that a cave is below. The other is the Turnhole Spring. It’s one of the largest in the area and you’ll get a bird’s eye view of it from the overlook.
Churches
Not all the views at Mammoth are nature views. This area is rich with history and you can visit one of 3 churches that showcase life here.
Sloans Crossing Pond Walk
This short, all abilities trail is one for wildlife sightings. That shouldn’t come as a big surprise as the trail travels around a pond which attracts all types of animals. It is just south of the Visitor Center on Mammoth Cave Parkway.
Green River Bluffs Trail
There are several great trails right around the Visitor Center which makes it easy to hop on one before or after you’ve toured the cave. The first is Green River Bluffs Trail. This is a moderate, 1.3 mile hike that begins just north of the Visitor Center near the picnic area. It has beautiful views of the Green River and sinkholes. Check out this up close MAP of the Visitor Center area to find the trail.
River Styx Spring Trail
This trail is a MUST SEE! It is just a short 0.4 miles from the Historic Entrance of Mammoth Cave. On this hike, you’ll visit the River Styx Spring. Currently, there is an underground river exiting at this point which has created a waterfall. Make sure you go down to where the spring and the river meet and see the completely different water colors mixing.
Dixon Cave Trail
If you’re interested in seeing where the bats live at Mammoth Cave, you’ll want to head to Dixon Cave. It’s a moderate 0.5 mile hike from the picnic area to the cave entrance, but be advised that there are a lot of stairs involved. You can’t go into the cave in order to protect the bats, but it’s still a cool place to see.
Sunset Point
End your day at Sunset Point. You can find this area on the Heritage Trail. It’s an easy, 0.5 mile hike from the Visitor Center. We were at this National Park at the tail-end of winter so none of the beautiful foliage had come back yet. We still enjoyed the view though.
If you’re really hoping to see all the sights around the Visitor Center, I would encourage you to make a loop out of several trails. Start on the Green River Bluffs Trail, make your way to the River Styx Spring Trail, and finish up on Dixon Cave Trail. It’s a little over 2 miles when you combine them all, but it’s nice to experience it all at once. Hopefully, you’ll get to see some beautiful things while at this park. Whether it’s inside the cave or out on the trail, this park is worth the trip.
Consider the Wonders is a travel blog intended for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV, travel, or hiking experts and are not making recommendations. These are our opinions and you should do your own research and make your own decisions.
Consider the Wonders is not affiliated with Mammoth Cave National Park or the National Park Service.
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