Mammoth Cave National Park is an American national park in west-central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world.
Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the worlds longest known cave system. Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
It’s a little over a three-hour drive from Indianapolis, and the park has a number of attractions suitable for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, as well as accessible lodging.
At first glance Mammoth Cave National Park doesn’t appear to be an optimal choice for wheelchair-users and slow walkers; however upon closer examination a number of recent access upgrades are revealed. Not only can people with mobility issues enjoy a few more accessible trails today, but wheelchair-users and slow walkers can now also explore the subterranean wonders of this Southwestern Kentucky national park.
The Wonder Down Under
The elevator building
The new wheelchair-accessible cave tours top the access upgrade list at Mammoth Cave. Previously there was elevator access to a portion of the cave, but service was discontinued in 2002 due to safety issues. Thanks to a recent $2.2 million repair project, the elevator is once again in service, and now everyone can tour the caverns.
The two-hour Accessible Cave Tour begins at the visitor center, where participants then drive their own vehicles to the elevator on Cave City Road. There’s accessible parking in the lot, and barrier-free access over to the elevator. The tour of this gypsum cave travels over level cement pathways and visits the Snowball Room; and includes portions of the Cleveland Avenue Tour and the Grand Avenue Tour. This accessible tour is an extremely manageable half-mile in length, and it can also accommodate large power wheelchairs and scooters.
Another access improvement transformed a once rutted gravel footpath into a truly accessible trail. The newly refurbished Echo River Spring Trail was unveiled in 2018 at the culmination of a $1.1 million project, coordinated by the National Park Service as part of their diversity program. This nationwide effort, which was launched in 2015, aims to increase access to the parks for disabled visitors.
The trailhead is located near the end of Green River Road, just a short drive from the visitor center. Accessible parking is available near the trailhead, and there’s also an accessible porta-potty and an accessible picnic table near the parking lot. This one-mile trail begins as a wide cement walkway, before it transitions to a short boardwalk through the forest. At the .4-mile point it becomes a fairly level hard-packed dirt trail, before it ends at River Styx Spring.
It’s a pleasant stroll, and there are several overlooks with benches to sit back and enjoy the peaceful forest. It’s also worth mentioning that since the upgrades are so recent, the trail isn’t marked as accessible on the park map yet. As an added bonus, this trail is located is one of the least crowded areas of the park.
The Heritage Trail begins near The Lodge at Mammoth — just take a left as you exit the back door of the hotel, and you’ll be good to go. This three-quarter-mile trail begins as a wide level path, before it transitions to a newly redone boardwalk section that loops through the forest and offers good views of the park. Sunset Point, which is located mid-way along the trail, also offers some nice views.
Cave Tours:
The Accessible Tour was expressly created for visitors with mobility devices such as motorized wheelchairs or walkers. There are no stairs on this tour and there is the availability of some benches along the ½ mile route.
The Frozen Niagara Tour is a relatively easy tour which travels ¼ mile through some smaller narrow sections and includes 14 mandatory stairs. It is a good option for guests who may have difficulty walking long distances or negotiating long sets of stairs
Ranger Talks and Guided Walks:
Several ranger talks and guided walks are fully accessible to people with physical and mobility disabilities.
Campgrounds:
Both the Mammoth Cave Campground and Maple Springs Campground have RV campsites. Mammoth Cave Campground sites number 37 and 38 are fully accessible with paved access to accessible restrooms.
Amphitheater:
Evening Programs take place next to the Mammoth Cave Campground at the Amphitheater. The walking path to the nearby amphitheater is uneven and not suitable for people with mobility difficulties, there is an accessible path from the Caver’s Camp Store which has accessible parking. The Amphitheater has some benches with backrests and designated spaces for wheelchairs.
Visitor Center:
The visitor center is fully accessible with entrance doors operable by buttons, lowered information and ticket desks, and accessible restroom stalls. The exhibits include interactive elements which can be reached from a wheelchair. The park film is closed captioned and located within the exhibit area.
Other Facilities:
The Caver's Camp Store features supplies, groceries, picnic foods, restrooms, and a self-service laundry facility with an adjacent full-service U.S. Post Office. These facilities are all accessible.
Trails:
The Heritage Trail, Echo River Spring Trail, Sand Cave Trail, and the Sloan’s Crossing Pond Trail are all wheelchair accessible.
