Near Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail
Visitors enjoy the narrow passage of Thanksgiving Hall in Mammoth Cave. Photo credit: NPS Photo.
Near Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail
Stalactites and stalagmites make the Frozen Niagara tour a beautiful experience. Photo credit: NPS Photo.
Near Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail
Mammoth Cave National Park
Near Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail
Mammoth Cave National Park
Near Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail
Locomotive No. 4 is the only remaining engine from the Mammoth Cave Railroad. | Copyright James St. John (goo.gl/71SzIw) under CC BY-2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) Photo was unchanged.

Looking for more photos?

View All Photos
Driving Directions
Hike Trail

Mammoth Cave Railroad Trail

4.0 (2 Ratings)
A trail that is hidden in plain sight.
8.5
mi
Distance
376
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
Fall ColorsFamily FriendlyLess CrowdedWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
8.47mi
Distance
376ft
Elevation Gain
454ft
Elevation Loss
20%
Max Grade
900ft
High Point
656ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
This hidden gem gets overlooked by many park visitors because it is a bit longer (at just over 8 miles one way) and there just isn't a good way to loop it. That aside, it has some great hills as well as some wonderful flats to rest the quads. It works out perfect starting in Cave City and hiking up to the Mammoth Cave National Park Visitor Center where you can refill a water bottle, catch your breath from all that uphill, and then turn and hike back to your car. Or you can be lazy and hitch a ride back to Cave City with one of the many park visitors. (Although, I wouldn't condone hitchhiking in this day and age). This is also a logical place to have a friend come pick you up.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

Nearby Hike Routes

Mammoth Cave Visitor Center Loop

Hike Route

Mammoth Cave Visitor Center Loop

Birding
moderate
6.27 mi
+722 ft
Green River Bluffs Trail Loop

Hike Route

Green River Bluffs Trail Loop

Views
easy
3.6 mi
+495 ft
Buffalo Creek - Collie Ridge - Mill Branch Trails

Hike Route

Buffalo Creek - Collie Ridge - Mill Branch Trails

Birding
strenuous
8.95 mi
+881 ft
Sal Hollow & Buffalo Creek Loop

Hike Route

Sal Hollow & Buffalo Creek Loop

Birding
moderate
10.66 mi
+739 ft
Turnhole Bend Nature Trail

Hike Route

Turnhole Bend Nature Trail

Birding
moderate
0.54 mi
+96 ft
Cedar Sink Trail

Hike Route

Cedar Sink Trail

Fall Colors
moderate
1.81 mi
+312 ft
Contributors
Anonymous User