Mammoth Cave State Park

“Hi Yall..I was hoping to pick your knowledgable brains and see what you could tell me about Mammoth Cave State Park. I think that is going to be the destination of this years family vacation.

I printed off all the different cave tours from the sp web site but am unsure which would be the best bang for the buck. We will arrive approx 2 on the 28th and depart the 30th. I have narrowed it down to the Frozen Niagra Falls tour and was thinking of one other.

If there is anything else in the area that is a must see let me know!

Thanks muchly...CG”

“The Frozen Niagara tour is VERY worthwhile. You get to go in Morrison\'s \"New\" Entrance, which is itself very interesting, and Crystal Lake and the Chinese Temple (and Frozen Niagara, of course) are all very pretty. But don\'t ignore the surface trails...the one that goes past the River Styx rise and the Mammoth Dome sink are of particular interest. Have fun!”

“Thanks TTE!!

I need all the help I can get. I've been put in charge of the planning (grrrr)”

“If you have time check out the Green River. There are two ferry-boat crossings and canoe rentals for a float down the Green. A few decent trails in the area too.”

“uhm,,,,it is a NP.”

“Thanks Chilli..I knew I could count on you! :-)

IJ..that looks pretty cool!

Keep the ideas coming!!!”

“http://www.nps.gov/maca/Tours.html#Historic

My daughter and I met there a few weeks ago, because she lives in Ohio and it is almost half way....

we went on the Grand Avenue tour on Sat and the Historic on Sunday....we all agreed that the Historic was much better.....

There are some good places to eat in Glasgow ....we ate at a small but wonderful Mexican place...almost everything you can think of....and a Walmart ( in case you forget your clothes like I did) It is also in a dry area, so bring your own stuff to drink...( Bowling Green is wet tho)”

“Take the longest tour. I will look at the website and see if I can remember which one this is.”

“Grand Avenue tour.

Note: Get your tickets well in advance. They do sell out.”

“Grand Avenue is the longest I think.......we LOVED fat man's misery...LOL.it was fun.......it is an area where you have to go thru sideways ....and there was a bat flying around us....if you have kids they will love it!!!”

“Wow, that sounds like a great place for...





















...CAR CAMPING!”

“i've been there once, but that's the park my sis started vomiting...so we didn't "walk" but 1/2 mile or so. No tours either for me. :(”

“OMG...Bit is obsessed...or POsessed.........”

“I went on the longest cave tour they had and was bored out of my mind for about 3/4 of it. I hear the trails on the NP property are pretty good though.”

“Stikky..I agree...we were wore our...and they went so fast...LOL..I had to run to catch up at times.....not a whole lot to see...the end of the Historic tour was breathtaking.....some places where you had to crouch down and turn side ways...it was fun......”

“Yeah my wife, apparently before I knew her, liked to go caving, and she wants to go back and do the tour where you crawl along on hands and knees with headlamps. At least she says there's one similar to that. But you're right, they didn't stay still very much. I suppose that would have only prolonged the agony though.”

“the wild tour....Not for me!!.......I don't know if I could handle that!!!”

“I have always heard that the ticks on the north shore (where all the long trails are) are particularly bad. Two things I failed to mention though...the Historic Tour features a neat climb up Mammoth Dome on a tower, very cool, especially so if you've been on the trail that goes into the surface sink above.

Also, if you have the time and inclination, the Cedar Sink trail is VERY interesting and pretty much a geology lesson in itself. It's a short walk, a two mile round trip if I recall, and you can go down into the sink (actually a gulf) itself and have a look around at a major drainage system. Very neat.

Two good references: Trails Illustrated puts out a map of the park, which is of their usual quality, and there is also a book, "Surface Trails of Mammorth Cave National Park" by Stan Sides, a Past President of the Cave Research Foundation. Both, I'm sure, are available at the Visitor's Center.”

“Thanks everyone..that is great info...!!

I am calling this weekend for ticket reservations...I'll use your suggestions when making the choice.”

“float the green river. You will go nowhere REAL FAST!. If you enjoy paddling, vs. floating, then by all means paddle away...it is a pretty river, but has no current and any gust of head wind will set you back 100 yards. If you don't paddle, then you go backwards...

I've now cave toured and paddled and hiked the park, it is always fun, no matter what activity you choose.”