Mammoth Cave is world-famous for its underground caverns and trails, but did you know that the adventures extend aboveground, too? Mammoth Cave National Park is home to over 70 miles of surface front-country and back-country trails, many of which are ADA accessible as well as beginner-friendly. Even better, there is no entry fee to Kentucky’s one and only national park, making the aboveground trails at Mammoth Cave, like the following hike, some of the best-kept secrets in the state.
Mammoth Cave National Park is best-known for its subterranean adventures, but there’s a world of wonder aboveground, too!
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The aboveground hiking at Mammoth Cave is stellar; with some of the best trails in Kentucky hiding in plain sight.
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Home to over 130 species of wildlife and almost every type of cave formation, Mammoth Cave is the world’s most diverse series of caverns – with some truly fascinating flora and fauna to be discovered aboveground, too.
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For example, the honey locust (Gleditsia tricanthos) is a thorny star along the park’s Heritage Trail – few trees sport thorns that are several inches in length!
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The lushly forested park above the caves boasts 70+ miles of hiking and equestrian trails, plus canoeing, kayaking, and some pretty amazing waterfall chasing. In terms of “best of the best” treks, the Green River Bluff, Echo River Springs, Sinkhole and Heritage Trail has it all.
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This 4.5 mile loop trail ventures past hidden caves and captivating rock formations, through tunnels and thick foliage, and even past trickling streams and waterfalls!
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This trail even extends below ground, too, making it an all-around all-star adventure at Kentucky’s acclaimed national park.
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Of course, the beauty of Mammoth Cave’s aboveground trails is that many can be combined into larger or shorter adventures, though you’ll be so dazzled by the geographical and scenic diversity of your surroundings, you won’t mind the mileage.
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Have you hiked the Green River Bluff, Echo River Springs, Sinkhole and Heritage Trail at Mammoth Cave before? Did you know about the various aboveground hikes at this national park in Kentucky? What’s your favorite aboveground hike at Mammoth Cave? Share it with us in the comments below!
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Mark C Stevens/Moment Collection via Getty Images
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Ready to explore more of this national park? Here are some additional aboveground adventures for your Mammoth Cave bucket list!
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Address: Mammoth Cave, KY 42259, USA
