Mammoth Cave National Park Service, Kentucky

The Trip

Mammoth Cave National Park was established in 1941, became a World Heritage site in 1981, and obtained recognition as an international Biosphere Reserve in 1990. Located in south-central Kentucky, its 52,830 acres are home to the largest known cave system in the world. Below the earth’s crust are more than 400 miles of mapped subterranean rooms, passages, and rivers representing a geological history that began at least ten million years ago. Legendary Stephen Bishop, a slave who became a cave guide and explorer at Mammoth in 1838, described it as a "grand, gloomy, and peculiar place." 

Above ground, the Park is just as spectacular. In spring, the area is alive with blooming wildflowers on rolling hills. Hidden birds can be heard singing in the canopy of a mixed deciduous forest. Wild male turkeys can sometimes be seen in grassy areas in their full gala or with a flock of hens. Other wildlife, such as squirrels and white-tail deer, abound. Because of its geological foundation, the landscape is scattered with various-sized sinkholes, springs and, in places, outcroppings of rock.

Enjoy beautiful Mammoth Cave National Park while making important improvements to the site. As one of the participants in the 2022 trip said, “I enjoyed the group atmosphere, the location was wonderful, I felt like I was making a difference, I had sufficient free time on the day off, the food was delicious, and the Outings leaders and our park ranger liaison are amazing folks.”

The Project

Working with a park ranger, our primary focus will be removal of the invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) weed that releases chemicals that hinder the growth of other plants, including trees, and kills butterfly larvae. During our time seeking and removing this plant from the landscape, the accompanying park ranger/naturalist will provide additional information about its hazards to the surrounding ecosystem.

A secondary project most likely will occur within the cave. In years past, foreign material, like cement and cable, have been removed. Not only will we have the rare opportunity to help return the cave to its natural state, but we'll also be able to learn more about its environment. Dependent upon the Park’s needs, we may be engaged in other projects, such as trail building or clearing.

Day 1: We will meet at the Maple Springs Research Center located inside Mammoth Cave National Park. Please plan to arrive no later than 5:00 p.m. We will enjoy our first happy hour and dinner, become acquainted, and discuss our plans for the week.

Days 2-6: We will work on our service projects. Favorable weather permitting, we will take one day off (preferably mid-week) to enjoy the Park. Within its boundaries, there are several hiking and bicycle trails, and private outfitters for canoe/kayak rentals on the Green River (fee not included in the trip cost). One lunch will be extended to allow viewing of the Park’s visitor center, which includes an educational section about the cave system.

Day 7: After breakfast and clean-up, at 9:00 a.m, we'll pat each other on the back for a job well done and say our farewells.

Getting There

If arriving by car, directions will be provided prior to the trip. Ride-sharing is encouraged. The trip leaders will send a list of all participants (with their emails and city/state) via email to help facilitate potential arrangements.

If traveling by air, the nearest airports are Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN. Car rentals are available from both airports.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying inside the Park at the Maple Springs (MS) Research Center, (also known as the MS housing facility), located on the north side of the Park across the Green River. We will access our lodging by the Green River Ferry. The MS housing facility is listed on the National Register of Historical Places as the Maple Springs Ranger Station. According to historical records, two of the four buildings -- residence and office -- made up the ranger station and were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1942. In the 1960s, the Job Corps constructed a garage (which was later converted to a kitchen and meeting area), and a barn. We will be using three of the four buildings.

The residence/house has four bedrooms and the bunkhouse is divided into two main spaces set up as bedrooms. Both buildings primarily have twin-sized beds. The house has two bathrooms inside and two attached outside (for use by the bunkhouse). 

There is ample field space for those who would like to pitch a tent and one RV pad with water and electric hook-ups. The leader must be notified in advance to make arrangements for the pad’s use.

We will use the garage kitchen for our group meal preparation/cooking and eat/hold meetings in its common area. Vegetarians, but not vegans, can be accommodated. Other dietary restrictions will be considered. Because the Park recycles plastics (only #1 and #2 items), metal, glass and paper/cardboard, recycling bins will be set up.

Trip Difficulty

This is an active trip that will involve hiking one to five miles each day, often over uneven or hilly terrain. It will include bending, lifting, digging, and hauling. You will have a better time and prevent injuries if you are in good shape before the trip starts.

Equipment and Clothing

The weather at Mammoth Cave National Park in April averages from a low of 47 degrees Fahrenheit to a high of 71 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature may be lower or higher. The average precipitation for the month is 4.41 inches. Be prepared for various weather conditions.

The temperature in the cave is approximately 54 degrees Fahrenheit. The cave temperatures can fluctuate as much as 6 degrees either way in the passageways close to the surface. Entrances may be very cold. The lower passageways are more constant.

An equipment list will be sent to trip participants prior to the trip.

References

Books:

• Molly, Johnny, A Falcon Guide to Mammoth Cave National Park: A Guide to Exploring the Caves, Trails, Roads, and Rivers (Exploring Series).
• Klass, Raymond and Ronald R. Switzer, Mammoth Cave National Park Reflections.

Conservation

Indigenous peoples including Shawnee, Cherokee, Chickasaw and Osage tribes, have always lived on the land that is now called Kentucky, and continue to live here today. Archaeological evidence documents knowledge and exploration of Mammoth Cave by indigenous cultures.

In a January 1810 article, a man described Mammoth Cave to include one of its occupants:

“…We progressed a little way before we discovered innumerable quantities of bats…they were suspended from all parts of the rocks by their claws, with their heads down, and crowded, so close, that they resembled a continued black cloud…”

In the past, Mammoth Cave was formerly one of the largest havens in the world for wintering bats. It was estimated that there were at least 9 to 12 million in what is known as the historic section of the cave. In 1941, when Mammoth Cave became a national park, few bats could be found in the park’s caves. In 1947, their population was estimated at 50,000. Today, the Indiana (Myotis sodalist) and Gray (Myotis grisescens) bats are on the Endangered Species list. Because of interventions beginning in the early 1990s forward, a 2019 survey estimated they had a winter population of 300,000 bats. Let’s take some time during our week to discuss the importance of bats to the Cave’s ecosystem and beyond, what to date has impacted their numbers, and the ongoing interventions by the Park and its partners to increase their numbers.

Since its founding in 1892, Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place. They’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.