Top Ten U.S. Caves

This One's for the Record Books: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

By Sheila Resari

Go with the flow (NPS)

Stretching 350 miles long and 379 feet deep, Mammoth Cave is the longest cave in the world. To help preserve the cave system—as well as the 50 species of cave creatures it contains—the area was designated a national park in 1941, and a World Heritage Site in 1981.

Exploration of Mammoth Cave dates back some 4,000 years; archaeologists found ancient Adena Indian artifacts nearly a mile inside the cave. One of the most accomplished explorers of Mammoth Cave, Stephen Bishop, was a slave owned by the cave's 19th-century owner, Frank Gorin. During his explorations, Bishop discovered Mammoth Cave's Echo River and the translucent blindfish within, Mammoth Dome, and the Snowball Room. Bishop made one of the first accurate maps of Mammoth Cave and led many tours through its passageways. He also used the cave to hide other slaves heading north to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

Just the Facts

Open: All year

Cave temperature: 54: Fahrenheit year-round

Location: South-central Kentucky

For more information: Call Mammoth

Cave National Park at (270) 758-2328 or visit www.nps.gov/maca

Explore Mammoth Cave National Park

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Last Updated: 15 Sep 2010
Published: 28 Apr 2002
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.

1 comments...

Sunshine January 19, 2012 |

Flag this user

These caves are great, but you forgot one of the best (I think THE best) cavern systems in the U.S.: Blanchard Springs Caverns, located in the Ozark National Forest of northern Arkansas. The caverns, only discovered a few decades ago, are huge rooms of spectacular flowing curtains and stalactites, a flowing river at the bottom, and several levels to explore. Beautiful trails and tours carefully protect the natural environment. Lovely trails and camping outside too. www.blanchardsprings.org