Mammoth Cave: One of the Most Beautiful in Our National Park System

Directly south of Louisville, just off Interstate 65 and not far from Cave City, Mammoth Cave National Park sits nestled in the rolling, wooded hills of west-central Kentucky. Cedar trees dominate the landscape around the park, broken only by grazing cattle, small tobacco fields, and immense limestone outcroppings.

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Limestone is what makes this area special--a 600-foot thick slab of the stuff. Looking at the many road-cuts along the highway, one can see the layers, each possessing its own characteristics and each named after the location where these characteristics were identified: St. Genevieve, St. Louis, Paoli, Aux Vases, Karnak. Each layer is incredibly older than its sibling just above. And limestone is where Kentucky caves are formed.

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Once inside the park, the scenery changes from touristy to natural beauty. Well-groomed roads with wide, grassy shoulders wind through deep forest. Whitetail deer browse the edges of ancient cemeteries and wild turkey are everywhere. Mammoth Cave is one of the most beautiful in our national park system. Sprawling over more than 52,000 acres (most of it dense hardwood forest) the park features a diverse community of plants and wildlife; from the smallest insects, to birds, to aquatic life, to cave life. It is home to dozens of endangered or threatened species.

In spite of hosting two million visitors a year, the roads through Mammoth Cave National Park are surprisingly free of traffic. But near the visitor center, there is a constant bustle of activity, where campers, picnickers, and cave tourists crowd through the visitor center and ticket office. Every few minutes, loudspeakers announce the beginning of the next tour and groups of strangers form lines to become fellow travelers through a section of the cave.

During the summer, the park offers tours into several different entrances and family groups huddle around descriptive signs planning this portion of their summer vacation. The most popular is the Historic Tour. Starting every 40 minutes, over a hundred people herd through the historic section of the cave. The Lantern Tour, Frozen Niagara, and Half-Day tours are sold out every day throughout the tourist season. Occasionally the park gives tours into Great Onyx Cave, but those arriving too late in the day, or those that choose not to go on a guided tour can opt for the Discovery tour -- a self guided walk through the historic section near the entrance.

Of the hundreds of caves that pock the hills and valleys of the park, many are worthy of the tourist dollar. Crystal Cave, Colossal, Bedquilt, Lee, White, and others--now, all gated. The park no longer shows these caves. And when hiking the 73 miles of surface trails in the park, one must be mindful to stay on the established trails. Poking around in one of the little caves along the way is strictly forbidden. There are plenty of tours to keep even the most adventurous of tourists busy.

Of all the parks protected by our national park system, Mammoth Cave is certainly one of the most beautiful and one of the most popular. A great vacation destination.

Mammoth Cave: One of the Most Beautiful in Our National Park System

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Exploring Russell Cave National Monument

Located about thirty miles north of Scottsboro is Alabama's only National Monument, Russell Cave. Archeologists have documented the cave's use as a shelter for prehistoric people as far back as 10,000 years. Russell Cave allows visitors the opportunity to learn about the life ways of these people as well as do a little cave exploration.

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Native Americans used Russell Cave to shelter them from the elements. The cave opening faces east, away from the cold winds of winter. The surrounding area provided plenty of game to hunt and a good nearby water source. The abundance of deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, and fish from nearby streams gave the inhabitants plenty to eat. Various styles of arrows and spear points found in the cave indicate it was used by different bands of people. Some groups of people may have used the cave for shelter for prolonged periods of time. Others may have used it as a seasonal hunting shelter. Archeologists have found 24 burial sites in the cave, ranging from infants to adults.

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Initial excavations in Russell Cave were done in 1953 by members of the Tennessee Archeological Society. A tract of land containing the cave was purchased from a private owner in 1956 by the National Geographic Society. They funded an excavation by the Smithsonian Institute from 1956-58. In 1958 the National Geographic Society donated the land to the American people, and in 1961 President Kennedy established Russell Cave National Monument.

The Visitor Center has a museum containing artifacts from the excavations. They include weapons, jewelry, pottery, and tools from the prehistoric people who used the cave as a shelter. The Visitor Center also shows videos about the park and its early inhabitants. Also showing currently is Ken Burns' new film The National Parks: America's Best Idea.

Tours of the cave are led by National Park Service Interpretive Rangers. They also offer special programs throughout the year. On September 18 they will present "Slithery Sliders", a program which teaches visitors to identify venomous and non-venomous snakes native to the area. A Native American festival is held at the park each spring.

Russell Cave National Monument is open year round from 8:30am to 4:30pm. There is no entrance fee. Picnic areas are available in the park. When visiting Scottsboro, Alabama, plan a day trip to nearby Russell Cave.

Exploring Russell Cave National Monument

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Kentucky - Mammoth Cave National Park

If you thought Carlsbad Caves were fascinating, you will find the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is truly awe inspiring. The Mammoth caves are the longest cave system in the world and needless to say are the most prominent feature of the park.

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The caves are known for their limestone and sandstone formations. The park service organizes several guided tours of different parts of the caves. Most of these tours are moderately challenging in nature, thanks to the rough terrain of the caves. The most popular tours are the ones that take visitors to the cave's most well known features- Fat man's misery and Frozen Niagara. In case you are in a more adventurous mood, you can take 'wild tours' to the caves' relatively unexplored areas.

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Apart from the caves, the park has several other attractions as well. These include-

The Big Woods- These woods offer a glimpse of the old Kentucky forests.

The Green River Bluffs- As the name suggests, the bluff promises amazing views of the Green River valley.

River Styx Spring-The spring flows from the cave and merges into the Green River.

Engine No.4- This is the workhouse of the old Mammoth Cave railroad.

The Cedar Sink- This is a stunning downhill trail adorned with vividly colored wildflowers (in springs), sparkling streams, that leads into a huge sinkhole.

The Green and Nolin Rivers that flow through the park, promise excellent recreation opportunities like kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swimming and riverside camping. The rivers' slow current, dramatic bluffs, lush green banks, sandbars, little islands and subsurface springs make canoeing and kayaking extremely pleasant. As you paddle lazily through these gorgeous rivers you may even be able to catch glimpses of the park's varied wildlife. To fish within the park's premises you do not need a state fishing license. Apart from the two rivers you can also go fishing at the Sloan's Crossing Pond and the First Creek Lake.

If you want to camp on the flood plains you will need to obtain a free back-country use permit. The park also offers a designated camping area along with the river bank-Houchins Ferry Campground. This ground is fairly well equipped and works on a first come first sever basis only. Apart from Houchins Ferry Campground the park has two more well equipped designated camping areas-The Mammoth Cave and The Maple Springs campgrounds.

With so much on offer, you will definitely make some wonderful memories on your Mammoth cave vacation!

Kentucky - Mammoth Cave National Park

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