Introduction
About Mammoth Cave National Park
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360º view of Second Creek Camp B |
Not to be overlooked, the surface area of Mammoth Cave has over 70 miles of trails through out the park. Rivers, bluffs, sinkholes, cave entrances and ridge tops cover the entire Mammoth Cave park system. Other features include wetlands and small sections of old growth forests.
The Nolin and Green rivers run through the parks providing excellent canoeing and fishing. The Green River is considered one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America.
Camping
There are 3 campgrounds in the Mammoth Cave area. Houchins Ferry Campground is available on a first come basis, reservations are suggested for Mammoth Cave Campground and reservations are required for Maple Springs Group Campground. All sights include toilets, grills, tables and water. No hook-ups are available.
For reservations call 270-758-2180 or Online at http://reservations.nps.gov
Backcountry Camping
Backcountry camping is permitted in 13 designated sites, on river banks and on islands by permit only. Free permits can be obtained at the visitors center.
Getting There
If you travel south from Lousiville, KY, the most direct route is I-65 south to Exit 53 at Cave City. Another 15 minutes of driving will bring you to the park visitor center.
If you travel north from Nashville, TN, the most direct route is I-65 north to Exit 48 at Park City, KY. Another 10 minutes of driving will bring you to the park visitor center. Nashville and the park are both in the Central Time Zone. Louisville is in the Eastern Time Zone, one hour ahead of the park. Map of Park
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Good Spring Loop Trail
Trail head: Good Spring Church 7.9 miles. Waterfalls and Rock houses can be seen along this trail. This is a good 2 day backpack or a long day hike.
0.0 Trail head begins at parking lot of Good Spring Church
0.5 Trail junction at left, Turnhole Bend Trail, continue to right
1.0 Spring crosses trail
1.2 Trail junction to right, leads to Waterfall Campsite 0.2. The falls are unimpressive, but makes a good place to camp if you are arriving late in the evening. Several good tent sites. *Update. This site has been closed
2.4 Trail junction at left, Sal Hollow Trail, continue to right.
2.7 Trail junction at left, Bluffs Campsite 0.2.
Bluffs Campsite is an excellent wet weather campsite. Many large rock houses to keep you dry after a long wet hike. Small waterfall is good source of water during wet season. It is a fairly strenuous decent to the camping area. A good leg burner on the way out.
3.0 Trail descends to left of bluffs
3.5 Trail crosses Dry Prong
3.9 Trail begins accent out of Dry Prong valley.
4.2 Trail junction at Four Points (Collie Campsite 0.2 to left, McCoy Hollow Trail to left descending, Collie Ridge Trail to right). Continue on Collie Trail/Good Spring Loop trail to the right Collie Campsite is small, and offers nothing special. A water source is present.
5.2 Trail Junction at right, Good Springs Loop Shortcut. This trail was closed when we were there 10/12/99. It is a rugged hard to follow trail and was marked only by orange ribbons tied to branches few and far between. Continue straight on Collie Ridge Trail.
6.0 Trail junction at right, Good Springs Loop Trail. Continue to the right.
6.4 Trail descends ridge.
6.8 Trail junction at right, Good Springs Loop Short Cut. Continue to left.
7.2 Trail crosses Dry Prong Creek and begins to climb out toward Good Spring Church.
7.8 Trail spur to left leads to Good Spring.
7.9 Good Spring Church
Drying out after a rainy October afternoon
Trail Head: Houchens Ferry Road at Temple Hill Cemetery 6.3 mile one way. This trail is strenuous and does not offer a lot to see. I was hoping to have some nice vistas of the Green river, but was disappointed. A good place to start if you plan to backpack over to Good Springs Church.
0.0 Trail head for McCoy Hollow Trail is reached by parking at Temple Hill and by following First Creek Lake Loop Trail at the trail junction to Temple Hill. From Temple Hill parking lot follow McCoy Hollow Trail head.
0.5 Trail descends under bluffs.
1.1 Trail junction at right, Three Springs Campsite 0.1. Continue left, crossing a small spring.
1.8 Trail crosses spring with small waterfall during wet season.
2.1 Trail makes steep ascent turns sharp to the right.
2.4 Trail begins descent into McCoy Hollow
3.0 Cross McCoy Hollow Creek
3.7 Trail proceeds above Green River
4.2 Trail climbs to junction at right, McCoy Hollow Campsite 0.2, continue left McCoy Hollow Campsite has no distinguishing features except for large boulders and a slight view of Green River below. We were disappointed with the anticipated view. No water.
4.9 Trail slowly descends, crossing two streams (closest water).
5.7 Trail reaches valley floor of dried Buffalo Creek. If you are coming from the opposite direction. This is a good place to rest before beginning the long climb out of the valley
6.0 Trail junction at left, Wet Prong Spur. Continue right up steep incline to Collie Ridge.
6.3 End of trail at Trail junction at Four Points (Collie Campsite 0.2 to right, Good Springs Loop Trail to right, Collie Ridge Trail to left).
First Creek Trail
Trail Head: First Creek Parking lot at Houchens Ferry Road. First Creek Trail begins at the rear of the First Creek Parking lot and proceeds toward the western boarder of the park. The trail follows along 2nd Creek and the Nolin River, ending at 1st Creek Lake. This trail is moderate and takes about 4-4.5 hours to complete depending on how often you stop. You can combine 1st Creek Trail, 1st Creek Loop Trail and the western portion McCoy Hollow Trail to make a great weekend backpacking trip. There are four designated campsites along the way.
First Creek Trail Loop
Trail Head: First Creek Loop Trail can be accessed from the west end of McCoy Hollow Trail or the east end of First Creek Trail. The loop travels around First Creek Lake.
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*Note, I do not have images of all the locations on the map.
