Warning
GeneralRoad construction near our facility may limit parking or cause traffic delays. Please consider these conditions when planning your travel.
Featured amenities
About Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping
Number of accommodations: 94
Campground Amenities
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Pet Friendly
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Hiking
Mountain Biking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Sites & Availability
94 Sites Available
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No available sites
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Site Details
Select a site to view details
94 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (129)
What Guests Are Saying
Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping offers clean and scenic campsites, with many having reliable water sources and beautiful views. Popular spots like Collie Ridge and the Bluffs provide a peaceful experience, although some trails can be muddy or overgrown, requiring careful navigation. While there are occasional challenges such as pests and downed trees, many visitors found the overall experience rewarding and enjoyable, making it a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
What Guests Are Saying
Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping offers clean and scenic campsites, with many having reliable water sources and beautiful views. Popular spots like Collie Ridge and the Bluffs provide a peaceful experience, although some trails can be muddy or overgrown, requiring careful navigation. While there are occasional challenges such as pests and downed trees, many visitors found the overall experience rewarding and enjoyable, making it a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Review Summary
Douglas A
VerifiedNovember 24, 2021 • Stayed at: Sal Hollow, Loop: Sal Hollow
This is a horse trail, it’s very muddy and lots of horse poop mixed in with it. Campsite trail is difficult to locate. We never did find it. Beautiful wooded scenery. Very peaceful and quiet. It would be a more enjoyable hike if you weren’t ankle deep in mud.
Derek M
VerifiedNovember 15, 2021 • Stayed at: Sal Hollow, Loop: Sal Hollow
Very nice!
Nathan R
VerifiedNovember 13, 2021 • Stayed at: Turnhole Bend, Loop: Turnhole Bend
Perfect amount of seclusion but still only a relatively short hike from the trail head. Mud in some places but nothing terrible. Definitely not a deal breaker. Trail is extremely well marked with lots of signs and mile markers. Overall very well kept and an awesome backcountry site.
If anyone is wondering, if you want to hike down to the river to get water, it’s about 20-30 minutes over rough terrain. Very possible to do, just keep that in mind if you’re going to need supplemental water
Sarah P
VerifiedNovember 3, 2021 • Stayed at: Homestead, Loop: Homestead
The site and trails were clean and well kept. Adequate space for setting up, and wonderfully remote.
Brandon O
VerifiedNovember 2, 2021 • Stayed at: Bluffs, Loop: Bluffs
Bluffs is a great campsite with plenty to explore around it. Peaceful and nicely isolated. May be difficult for multiple tents.
Jacob K
VerifiedOctober 30, 2021 • Stayed at: Homestead, Loop: Homestead
Backpacking at Mammoth is great. It's a nice break from the crowds, and the forest is interesting. It was one of the quietest places I've ever camped (aside from the owls).
Gregory S
VerifiedOctober 29, 2021 • Stayed at: McCoy Hollow, Loop: McCoy Hollow
Trees where down over our campsite, could tell they had been there for awhile, the spot where you sit up your tent was based ontop of rocks.., the tree was literally over the fire pit and couldn't find a good place to set up the tents with the trees down on the spots because it was too rocky, the horses have ruined a ton of the trails making them huge mud pits, was very disappointed with everything.
Melinda M
VerifiedOctober 25, 2021 • Stayed at: Bluffs, Loop: Bluffs
Probably the best backcountry campsites I've ever stayed at. Loved that there was a marked tent pad, metal fire ring, and food bag pole for hanging. The hike back out is steep but only for a short section.
Daniel R
VerifiedOctober 25, 2021 • Stayed at: Ferguson, Loop: Ferguson
The hiking trails were all deep mud from the horseback riders. i turned around 4 miles into my 8 mile hike and returned to my car. im never returning!
Kim M
VerifiedOctober 24, 2021 • Stayed at: Sal Hollow, Loop: Sal Hollow
Very well marked trail which was nice so I didn’t have to keep checking my phone to make sure I was staying on trail. There were a few signs down and a tree across the Sal Hollow trail close to the campsite turnoff which required some off trail navigating Other than the horse traffic and recent rain making it muddy and rough in places it was a great trail. The Buffalo trail back to the trailhead wasn’t as interesting and even more churned up with sometimes no way to walk beside the trail. Biggest negative was all the prickly vines growing up right next to the trail made me worry about my dog. Luckily her coat is dense enough they didn’t seem to bother her.
Location Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping
Address:
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave, KY, 42259
United States
- Please click the link for "Driving Directions" under the addition links tab on the right hand side of the page for detailed directions.
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
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| General |
***During the closed season December 1 through February 28 please go to the Visitor Center for all camping permits. All permits must be registered as walk-ups at the Visitor Center during this time.*** |
| General |
Permits Required. Mammoth Cave Backcountry permits are required for overnight camping at designated campsites and floodplain. Permits can be obtained online up to 6 months in advance or in person at the Mammoth Cave Campground kiosk or Visitor Center. |
| General |
Your Camping Permit must be downloaded and printed by accessing your Recreation.gov account up to 14 days prior to arrival. You can not modify your reservation after it is printed. If you cannot print your permit or save to your phone, you may visit Mammoth Cave Campground Kiosk during March 1st through November 30th. During the closed season December 1 through February 28 please go to the Visitor Center for all camping permits. |
| General |
Green River Ferry is subject to last minute closings. Please check the NPS website or call (270) 758-2166 for current Ferry Conditions. When the Ferry is down it can take 45 minutes to get from the Visitor Center to the Maple Springs Campground and Backcountry trail heads. |
| General |
WILDLIFEDo not disturb or kill any wildlife, including snakes. All plants and animals in Mammoth Cave National Park are protected. Collection of any portion of a plant is prohibited unless specifically authorized by regulation. Pets are permitted, but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under physical restraint at all times. Do not leave pets unattended.Ticks are common in the park and their bites can spread diseases. Learn steps to prevent tick-borne illness. |
| General |
CAMPING
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| General |
LEAVE NO TRACE
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| General |
TRAILS
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REGULATIONS
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Warnings & Advisories
Warning
GeneralRoad construction near our facility may limit parking or cause traffic delays. Please consider these conditions when planning your travel.
