Sinkhole Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Wildlife

Mostly crushed gravel surface with dirt portions. Typical roots and rocks. Of note are the steps along the whole trail. The wood tends to be slick.

From the Mammoth Cave Hotel, the trail begins as a spur off of the paved Heritage Trail. The wide singletrack is mostly crushed gravel with several areas of natural dirt surface. Also notable are many steps on the trail for accessibility and erosion control. From this direction, the trail is downhill nearly the whole way, which makes for a fast, fun outing.

Watch your footing, however, as the wood beams that form the top of the steps tend to be slick when it's wet... which with Kentucky humidity is all the time. Points of interest include the Mammoth Dome Sink, a large sinkhole that forms the roof of one of the best known features in the cave below. Just beyond the sink, the trail intersects with the River Valley Trail.

Continuing down the slope, the trail intersects with the White Caves Trail to return to the Mammoth Cave Campground and Hotel. The Sinkhole Trail terminates near the Echo River Springs Trail and namesake water feature. Turning left on the Echo River Springs Trail will lead you to the Green River Ferry parking lot and a porta potty.

Kentucky old growth forest. Good chance to see deer and turkey.