Caving is one thing that I by no means thought I’d be capable to do as a wheelchair person. In spite of everything, how might I presumably get right into a cave with a 400 lb powered wheelchair? It appeared utterly inconceivable all through most of my life, however over the previous few years, I’ve been capable of go to a number of completely different wheelchair accessible caves. I’ve been to Cathedral Caverns in Alabama, Luray Caverns in Virginia, and even Harrison’s Collapse Barbados, however the cave that I’ve needed to discover essentially the most is Mammoth Collapse Kentucky. 

I like visiting nationwide parks within the U.S. and am all the time extremely impressed by them, so I used to be comfortable to find that Mammoth Cave is a nationwide park. “If it’s a nationwide park, it must be AMAZING”, I assumed. And it seems that I used to be right! 

Throughout my latest journey in Kentucky, I had the possibility to go to Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park and it surpassed all of my expectations. From begin to end, it was one of the vital wheelchair accessible caving experiences I’ve ever loved, however I additionally realized that there’s rather more to this nationwide park than simply the cave. It’s also possible to roll on accessible trails, tour museums, and dine on the park’s eating places to call a number of actions. 

In my weblog publish beneath, I’ll share my expertise with you and hopefully it is going to provide help to plan your individual journey to this particular place in Kentucky. If you’re planning to go to Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park as a wheelchair person, right here’s every little thing you might want to know –

Wheelchair Accessible Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park 

I began my journey in Kentucky by being primarily based within the metropolis of Louisville, so Mammoth Cave was solely about an hour and a half drive away. It was simple to get to from Louisville and the primary cease within the park for my mother and I used to be the massive Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park welcome signal. Every time I go to a brand new nationwide park, I attempt to get a photograph with that park’s signal. 

There have been accessible parking spots on the signal and a paved path led to the signal as nicely. I used to be capable of roll over to the signal for a fast photograph and afterwards, I seen {that a} wheelchair accessible boardwalk path began from this similar space. It was referred to as the Sand Cave Path and since we had a while to spare earlier than our Mammoth Cave tour started, we determined to strive it out. 

Sand Cave Path is a 0.2 mile out-and-back boardwalk path. It’s utterly wheelchair accessible and I liked how clean it was to roll on with my powered wheelchair. Whereas the path was comparatively quick, it was good to be in nature and I actually loved it. 

On the finish of Sand Cave Path, there’s an accessible lookout level and from this level, you may really see a gap to Sand Cave. This cave is standard as a result of again in 1925, a widely known American cave explorer named Floyd Collins acquired caught within the cave for 14 days and ultimately died. 

When you have time, Sand Cave Path is certainly value trying out, however there are a pair different wheelchair accessible trails in Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park as nicely. You might strive Echo River Spring Path, which is 0.6 miles lengthy and its trailhead is positioned within the Inexperienced River Ferry parking zone, or Sloan’s Crossing Pond Path, which is a 0.4 mile boardwalk path.

As a consequence of time constraints, I didn’t personally get an opportunity to benefit from the different accessible path choices, however I’ve heard nice issues about them, so hopefully they’ll work in your wants. If you happen to do check out Echo River Spring Path or Sloan’s Crossing Pond Path, please let me know your ideas. 

Subsequent, we drove a bit additional to the Mammoth Cave Customer Middle (positioned at 1 Mammoth Cave Pkwy). Loads of accessible parking spots have been out there on the Customer Middle, so we discovered a great spot, unloaded from the van, and headed inside to get the tickets for our Mammoth Cave tour. 

You need to get your tickets for the Accessible Tour upfront of your go to. You should buy tickets on-line proper right here and so they’re often out there to buy a pair months upfront. The accessible tour runs year-round and sometimes sells out, because it’s all the time a smaller group of not more than 14 individuals, so I’d definitely counsel getting your tickets nicely upfront of visiting. 

To say your tickets for the accessible tour, you might want to arrive on the Customer Middle at the least half-hour earlier than your tour begin time. The Customer Middle has a small museum that’s free to discover, a present store, and accessible restrooms, so that you’ll have lots to get pleasure from right here earlier than your tour begins. After all, I stocked up on Mammoth Cave souvenirs throughout my free time and purchased an excessive amount of, as common. 

As soon as it was time for our tour, we acquired again into our private car and our group adopted one another to the place the tour started. It was solely a few 5 minute drive from the Customer Middle to the start spot of the accessible tour, so it was a very simple drive. 

The wheelchair accessible Mammoth Cave tour began on the elevator constructing, which homes the elevator that may take wheelchair customers down into the cave. The elevator can solely be operated by a Park Ranger, in order that’s why you need to join the accessible tour if you wish to enter Mammoth Cave as a wheelchair person. 

Our tour group consisted of about twelve individuals and our Park Ranger/tour information was Jackie. He was enthusiastic and his ardour for educating us about Mammoth Cave was evident. He additionally did a improbable job of retaining our group collectively all through the whole tour, which lasted two hours. 

The elevator took us 26 tales underground in only a couple minutes, and as soon as the elevator doorways opened, I used to be able to discover the world’s longest cave. I had dreamed of visiting Mammoth Cave so lengthy that I couldn’t even imagine I used to be really there, however I used to be immensely excited to start our accessible tour. 

The tour lasted about two hours and over the course of these two hours, we walked/rolled roughly half a mile. There have been seats out there for members of our group that wanted a break, and I used to be additionally shocked to see restrooms within the cave, however a wheelchair accessible restroom stall wasn’t out there within the cave, sadly.

The paved path in Mammoth Cave was actually clean to roll on and comparatively flat for the whole method. In different caves that I’ve visited, sections of the accessible paths are often fairly steep and slippery, and could be a bit difficult to traverse, however the paved path in Mammoth Cave was by far the simplest cave path I’ve ever rolled on. I used to be extremely impressed by how wheelchair accessible it was! 

Through the tour, we noticed the long-lasting Snowball Room space, wandered via Cleaveland Avenue and noticed mineral formations & gypsum, and we realized a lot in regards to the cave’s historical past and early explorers. It was fascinating to listen to our information, Jackie, discuss in regards to the first people who found Mammoth Cave a few years in the past whereas admiring the pure magnificence inside the cave. 

We additionally had loads of time to really benefit from the cave and take images. Jackie by no means rushed our group and even inspired us to totally get pleasure from Mammoth Cave, as an alternative of dashing via it, which was good. After wanting to go to for therefore lengthy, I actually appreciated the truth that we might admire Mammoth Cave to the fullest extent. 

After a pair hours, we acquired again on the elevator and headed to the highest the place our van was parked. By this level, we have been getting hungry for some lunch, so we drove about 5 minutes to The Lodge at Mammoth Cave. Inside The Lodge, there are present retailers, a espresso store, and a pair completely different eateries. 

We selected to eat at Inexperienced River Grill, which options quite a lot of dishes ready with native and regional farm-fresh meals. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and whether or not you’re within the temper for a sandwich, salad, southern fried hen, or one thing else, you’re certain to seek out it at Inexperienced River Grill. 

Now that we had skilled a few of Mammoth Cave’s wheelchair accessible choices, it was time to exit the park and drive again towards Louisville. I had excessive expectations for Mammoth Cave, and I’m comfortable to say that it undoubtedly lived as much as them. As a wheelchair person, I liked that I might simply get pleasure from so many various features of Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park and I’d extremely encourage you to go to for your self! 

To shut out this weblog publish, I wish to share some ultimate suggestions/reminders with you to make your wheelchair accessible Mammoth Cave expertise a clean one:

• Ebook your tickets for the accessible tour upfront of your go to. You are able to do that right here. 

• Plan at the least a half day (or full day) to get pleasure from Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park. With the cave tour (2 hours) and a number of accessible trails, there’s a lot to see, it doesn’t matter what your skills are. 

• Accessible restrooms are positioned within the Customer Middle and in The Lodge at Mammoth Cave. 

• Put on lengthy sleeves or a lightweight jacket in your tour, because it’s roughly 54° yr spherical contained in the cave. I wore a skinny hoodie and was comfy all through the tour, however I used to be undoubtedly glad I had lengthy sleeves. 

• If you happen to’re in search of a wheelchair accessible rental van within the Louisville space, take a look at Superior Van & Mobility’s web site by clicking right here.

Watch my quick video about my expertise in Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park beneath –

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*Thanks to Kentucky Tourism for working with me on this journey and displaying me the perfect of wheelchair accessible Mammoth Cave! Whereas my experiences have been complimentary, all opinions expressed are genuine and my very own.

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