Old Guide's Cemetery Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Historical Significance

The nearest restrooms and services are at the visitor center. There are no services at the trail.

The trail starts from the parking lot by the Sunset Terraces lodges in Mammoth Cave National Park.The trail leaves the end of the parking lot and follows a paved path out to the old cemetery. It can also be reached by running out the Heritage Trail to the junction with this trail. The trail is paved all the way out to the cemetery, so it is easy running. The trail is shaded by the surrounding forest.

The Old Guide's Cemetery is at the end of the trail and there is signage that tells the story of the cemetery and some of the families that served as cave tour guides for over 100 years. The cemetery is gated, so you can't enter the cemetery, but it serves as a nice history lesson about how ex-slaves were involved with the cave.

Stephen Bishop is the only known tour guide buried here, but other visitors and slaves are buried here as well. When you get done taking in the sites, you can retrace your steps to the Heritage Trail and explore more of the area, or go back to your car.