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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Site Details
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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
James G
VerifiedDecember 7, 2022 • Stayed at: Collie Ridge, Loop: Collie Ridge
Nice campsite. The trail along the way was dry due to lack of rainfall the past several months. Signage at the turnoff from the Buffalo Trail was missing, so we walked past it. Also, the stretch of trail connecting the Buffalo Trail to Collie Ridge Trail had some trash on it. It could use a cleanup.
Allen P
VerifiedNovember 24, 2022 • Stayed at: Ferguson, Loop: Ferguson
The trails are well marked. The campsites are comfortable and clean. The trails I went on didn't have much for vistas or scenery. There is adequate water available. Some trail sections are heavilty eroded from horses using them.
John W
VerifiedNovember 19, 2022 • Stayed at: Collie Ridge, Loop: Collie Ridge
The trails are well marked. The camp sites I stayed at were nice. I was backpacking, but I observed that the area I was in seemed very well set up for horse back riding, and even had areas to tie your horses in the camp areas.
Justin T
VerifiedNovember 14, 2022 • Stayed at: Three Springs, Loop: Three Springs
I love the backcountry camp options this NP provides, unlimited exploration and challenges as well as the NPS that is available!
mike c
VerifiedNovember 13, 2022 • Stayed at: First Creek 1, Loop: First Creek 1
Well established campsite beautiful hike on trail.
Kennon B
VerifiedNovember 12, 2022 • Stayed at: Bluffs, Loop: Bluffs
Really nice. Bluffs campsite was amazing
Jim H
VerifiedNovember 5, 2022 • Stayed at: Riverside Camping, Loop: Riverside Camping
Spent two days and one night canoeing down the Green River the last weekend in October. The area is beautiful and wild - we saw bald eagles, golden eagles, deer and turkey, not to mention several species of fish that were caught. The backcountry/river opportunities are amazing to disconnect and get away from civilization. We will definitely be back.
Alex C
VerifiedOctober 24, 2022 • Stayed at: McCoy Hollow, Loop: McCoy Hollow
Great trip, beautiful scenery, but not without its hiccups. The trail is rugged and even quite flowy at points, but not without the occasional crossing of patches of horse hoofs with possible water at the bottom. Almost all of these patches have a side roundabout where you can avoid these altogether. The campsite was almost impossible to find, as it is located right before the 3.75 mile marker on the left. We couldn’t find the campsite the night of, so we were forced to camp in a spot we found. If you are careful, you can find the campsite about 10-15 paces before the 3.75 mile marker, and you’ll see some stones set as a seat and a stone fireplace covered in moss. Trees are down all around, so even if we had found it sooner we would not have been able to camp there. The proper trail authority should and ought to address this immediately. It’s hard to justify reserving a campsite that, for all intents and purposes, does not exist. There is so much space out there that rather than rent out a few select campsites, allow people to do legal backcountry camping off the trail and charge them for a permit. As it stands, the current system is forcing people to do this anyway when they get out there and can’t find the campsite. Super beautiful area and plenty of space to find a campsite, so this didn’t ruin our trip by any means. We ended up camping around mile 4.1; there is an open area right before you get to the mile 4.25 marker. If you walk through the brush to the left there is a bunch of flat open space that is ample for a few tents. It’s not far off the trail at all, and would highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for an easy hike out in the morning. Lastly, do yourself a favor and look to see if you’ll be required to take a ferry from the other section of mammoth cave park. Service is spotty for sure, and the ferry was not open in our case and lead to a 45 minute detour.
Stephanie T
VerifiedOctober 23, 2022 • Stayed at: Raymer Hollow, Loop: Raymer Hollow
The site had a nice, small tent pad, fire ring, and lantern hook. It was directly beside a creek. Thoroughly enjoyed our time there.
Doug H
VerifiedOctober 12, 2022 • Stayed at: Second Creek, Loop: Second Creek
Great location and connecting trails.
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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| General |
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.
