50th Anniversary Connection Tour

Mammoth Cave National Park Tours

This special tour is being offered for two-days only during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the connection of the Flint Ridge Cave System and Mammoth Cave System which created the world's longest cave: Mammoth Cave. The trip will concentrate on the history of the exploration of the Mammoth Cave System and will culminate in seeing where the Cave Research Foundation (CRF) team made the historic connection on September 9, 1972. Several CRF cavers will assist on the tour and will share stories of exploration and the connection effort.  

The tour is a somewhat strenuous 4-hour tour along old tour trail and is not accessible. The trail is dirt and rock that is uneven and slick in many places. There are a few areas where you must travel over small loose rocks. The total hike is 3 miles and includes many short hills to climb and muddy areas which make it physically demanding. There will be no crawling, but you must be able to move quickly and constantly throughout the trip. The tour will stop to discuss different areas of the cave, but there are no official breaks. Most of the tour trail will not have electrical lighting.

Tickets are limited to two tickets per Recreation.gov transaction and/or email address. Tour participants must be at least 16 years of age.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• All tours begin at the Visitor Center. Tickets must be picked up 30 minutes prior to tour time. No refunds for no shows or late arrivals.

• Requirements

  Tickets are limited to two tickets per Recreation.gov transaction OR Tickets are limited to two tickets per email address.

  • Tour participants be at least 16 years of age. An adult must accompany visitors under age 18. 
  • Sturdy, lace-up hiking boots that cover the ankle are required. Boots with zippers will not be admitted on the tour. Boots must have good aggressive tread. No slick-soled footwear is permitted. No tennis shoes allowed. You will not be allowed to participate in the tour if you are not wearing proper footwear–no exceptions.
  • Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt are recommended with an additional long sleeved shirt for comfort.
  • The park will provide helmets with a helmet mounted light for each visitor to use during the trip.
  • There will be no food service in the Snowball Room. Visitors will need to bring their own water or snacks.
  • There is a restroom at the Snowball Room that will be available. However, you will pass this restroom 15 minutes into the tour and 15 minutes before the end of the tour.
  • This tour requires a short bus ride to and from the visitor center to the cave entrance.

• Safety

  If you have a fear of heights or suffer from claustrophobia, this tour is not the best choice for you. Please read tour descriptions carefully when making your selection. Visitors with known heart or respiratory conditions, poor circulation or difficulty walking long distances and negotiating stairs, should not take this tour. Evacuation from the cave to a hospital for medical attention could take several hours.

• Ticket Age

  MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YRS. OF AGE TO PARTICIPATE ON THIS TOUR.
  
  
  Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
  
  Interagency Senior and Interagency Access ticket pricing applies to Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Pass holders only.
  
  The Interagency Annual Pass is NOT accepted for tours or camping.
  

• Time Zone

  Mammoth Cave National Park is located in the central time zone and observes daylight savings time.

• Directions

  Note: Do not rely exclusively on your mobile GPS, Google Maps, or similar automated navigation systems to get to the park Visitor Center in time for your cave tour. Routes can be misleading and incorrect.
  Directions from the North: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 53 (Cave City Exit). Turn right onto KY-70. Follow 70/255 as it becomes the Mammoth Cave Parkway in the park. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center.
  
  Directions from the South: Take Interstate 65 to Exit 48 (Park City Exit). Turn left onto KY-255 and follow 255 as it becomes the Park City Road into the park. Follow Park City Road until it joins the Mammoth Cave Parkway; turn left. Follow the Mammoth Cave Parkway to the Visitor Center.
  

• Availability

  This will only be available for September 9 & 10, 2022 only.

• White Nose Syndrome

  In order to minimize the spread of White Nose Syndrome, a bat disease caused by an invasive fungus, Mammoth Cave National Park has instituted strict cleaning procedures for all off-trail crawling tours. All equipment (coveralls, helmets, knee pads and head lamps) are provided by the park. Visitors must provide their own footwear. No personal caving equipment allowed. No exceptions. Shorts and a t-shirt recommended for wear under required coveralls.

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