Visiting the Mammoth Cave National Park begins at the visitor center, which serves as an essential first stop. It’s both educational and informative, offering an introduction to the park’s history and natural features. The center also acts as the launching point for all tours. While you can make tour reservations there, it's best to book in advance to ensure availability. Be sure to explore the exhibits—they provide valuable context and help you prepare for your cave experience.

On the Historic Tour, our park ranger shared captivating stories about the cave’s early uses, from saltpeter mining during the War of 1812 to early exploration and candlelit tours. We walked through vast chambers such as the Rotunda and Gothic Avenue, where graffiti from centuries past still marks the walls. Over the course of two miles underground, we traveled deep into the cave system—hundreds of feet below the surface.

The Domes and Dripstones Tour showcased some of the cave’s most visually stunning features. We descended steep staircases into towering vertical shafts, known as domes, then moved into ornate passageways adorned with stalactites, stalagmites, and shimmering flowstone. A standout moment was the breathtaking Frozen Niagara formation. This tour offered a dramatic contrast to the drier, more historic sections of the cave.