To see some of the more scenic parts of the cave, we decided to visit Diamond Caverns. This is not officially part of the park and there is no conclusive proof that it is connected to Mammoth Cave but it almost certainly is. Tours have been given here since 1859. The cavern features the deposits they call “draperies” and is full of stalactites and stalagmites. Even the lobby was fun, full of cave markers from all over the country including a few familiar ones.
Since Kismet could not go on the cave tours, we also went on multiple hikes. The Echo River Spring Trail, a connector and then part of the River Styx Spring Trail were first. The water at the spring came from a long underground voyage. Scientists, using dye have been able to trace the water from the Echo River spring back to the Echo and Roaring Rivers deep in Mammoth Cave. But the water has another source but no one is quite sure what it is. Divers have entered Echo Spring River but they left with more questions than they answered. The cave continues to mystify.
The River Styx spring is where the underground river emerges and joins the Green River. Kayakers are common on the Green River. There is also a small ferry that crosses the river connecting the two parts of the park.
Our last two hikes included part of the Mammoth Cave Bike and Hike Trail and Sloan’s Crossing Pond Walk. Although we have our bikes, we didn’t use them on the trail because it was mostly gravel and we don’t have the right tires. But it makes for a nice walk, built over what was once the RR tracks that brought visitors to Mammoth Park.
While visiting this area, we stayed at Singing Hills Campground which is about two miles outside the National Park. Because we book our reservations early, we often get the prime sites and this time it was no different. We had a site that was shady with no neighbor on the awning side.
Great pictures, I feel like I am traveling when I read your writing and see the pictures 😺🦮