Can you just walk around Mammoth Cave?


Can you just walk around Mammoth Cave? Many people visiting Mammoth Cave ask, “May we visit the cave without a guided tour?” The answer is yes! This self-guided tour requires a ticket, and proceeds into the Historic Entrance.


Can you swim in Mammoth Cave?

There is no designated swimming area in the park and no lifeguards on duty.


Are there bears in Mammoth Cave?

In doing so, Houchin has been credited with the discovery on Mammoth Cave. While this legend has been shared and reshared for decades, the first written account of the story happened nearly 20 years after the fact. American black bears, which were once commonly seen in the area, are now rarely found in the park.


Where is the bottomless pit in Mammoth Cave?

One of these features is the Bottomless Pit, situated just beyond the rockfall known as Giant's Coffin. This pit has a depth of about 105 feet. Directly above the pit is a dome-shaped circular well some 63 feet high.


How deep do you go in Mammoth Cave?

The cave is 379 feet (118 m) deep, and contains at least 5 levels of passages. The levels were formed in response to changes in the Ohio River during the late Tertiary and Quaternary Periods.


Does Mammoth Cave National Park have waterfalls?

The same geological properties responsible for creating the massive cave systems here have also adorned the park with an untold amount of natural arches, bridges, and waterfalls.


Are there sharks in Mammoth Cave?

In addition to this rich diversity of primitive sharks at Mammoth Cave, two partial cartilaginous skeletons of different species of sharks occur within Mammoth Cave. One specimen was discovered by a caver with the Cave Research Foundation and the other has been known by the park guides for years.