Mammoth Cave National Park

With 426 known miles of underground chambers and tunnels, Mammoth Cave National Park is a subterranean marvel and a draw for tourists and explorers. But it owes much of its growth as a tourist destination to the courage and labor of enslaved individuals in the 19th century. Young enslaved men like Stephen Bishop, Mat and Nick Bransford, and Alfred Croghan were early cave explorers, mapping out routes and serving as cave guides to the visiting crowds.

Today, you can tour the narrow tunnels and immense chambers of the cave, spot prehistoric artifacts, and even travel the pathways by lantern light—just like those early explorers. Above ground, nearly 53,000 acres of hardwood forests and beautiful rivers are available for hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and camping.

Accessibility: Cave tours may require guests to climb or descend stairs, cross inclines/declines, and pass through narrow passages. A wheelchair accessible tour is available.