Warning
GeneralRoad construction near our facility may limit parking or cause traffic delays. Please consider these conditions when planning your travel.
Featured amenities
Pet Friendly
About Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping
Number of accommodations: 94
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Mountain Biking
Year-round
Hiking
Mountain Biking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Open year round
This campground is open year round, providing flexibility for your stay.
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
94 Sites Available
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Site Details
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94 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (262)
What Guests Are Saying
Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping offers beautiful, private campsites with great views and reliable water sources. Many reviewers appreciated the scenic surroundings and the peaceful atmosphere, especially at sites like Collie Ridge and Bluff's campsite. However, some challenges include navigating overgrown trails, horse droppings, and occasional issues with ticks and mud; planning ahead and bringing sufficient water is advised.
What Guests Are Saying
Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping offers beautiful, private campsites with great views and reliable water sources. Many reviewers appreciated the scenic surroundings and the peaceful atmosphere, especially at sites like Collie Ridge and Bluff's campsite. However, some challenges include navigating overgrown trails, horse droppings, and occasional issues with ticks and mud; planning ahead and bringing sufficient water is advised.
Review Summary
Richard H
VerifiedJanuary 29, 2024 • Stayed at: Three Springs, Loop: Three Springs
Went backpacking over a weekend that was below 20 degrees, but the park was beautiful and serene. The snow on the ground made it gorgeous. 150% would do again if it is 15 degrees warmer!
Richard H
VerifiedJanuary 29, 2024 • Stayed at: Three Springs, Loop: Three Springs
Went backpacking over a weekend that was below 20 degrees, but the park was beautiful and serene. The snow on the ground made it gorgeous. 150% would do again if it is 15 degrees warmer!
Alex H
VerifiedNovember 9, 2023 • Stayed at: Second Creek, Loop: Second Creek
We hiked all the way there and the campsite was closed with no notice.
Alex H
VerifiedNovember 9, 2023 • Stayed at: Second Creek, Loop: Second Creek
We hiked all the way there and the campsite was closed with no notice.
Barbara S
VerifiedOctober 14, 2023 • Stayed at: First Creek 2, Loop: First Creek 2
The site was great, but hiking back up out of there in a thunderstorm was HARD, lol. Now, if you're like an elite athlete or a 20 year-old combat Marine, you might think climbing out of there back to the trailhead with all your gear on your back in a thunderstorm is super easy. Me, I'm not, and I didn't think that was easy at all. Lol.
There's a small spring near the area where the spur for the campsite heads off the main trail, and that's where I drew my water from, then filtered through a lifestraw. But just FYI, if you look on the map and think, "Hey, there's a lake there! I'll draw and filter my water from that, no problem!" ... well, there wasn't. At least not during the season I was there. It was dry.
Barbara S
VerifiedOctober 14, 2023 • Stayed at: First Creek 2, Loop: First Creek 2
The site was great, but hiking back up out of there in a thunderstorm was HARD, lol. Now, if you're like an elite athlete or a 20 year-old combat Marine, you might think climbing out of there back to the trailhead with all your gear on your back in a thunderstorm is super easy. Me, I'm not, and I didn't think that was easy at all. Lol.
There's a small spring near the area where the spur for the campsite heads off the main trail, and that's where I drew my water from, then filtered through a lifestraw. But just FYI, if you look on the map and think, "Hey, there's a lake there! I'll draw and filter my water from that, no problem!" ... well, there wasn't. At least not during the season I was there. It was dry.
Wesley H
VerifiedOctober 12, 2023 • Stayed at: Riverside Camping, Loop: Riverside Camping
We paddled on the Green River through Mammoth Cave. The scenery was beautiful and breathtaking! Keep an eye out for hawks and eagles. I am a hammock camper, and finding two trees at a good distance that are not 20 feet up past the bank is challenging. It is better to plan to camp on an island in a tent. Love this place and would go back.
Wesley H
VerifiedOctober 12, 2023 • Stayed at: Riverside Camping, Loop: Riverside Camping
We paddled on the Green River through Mammoth Cave. The scenery was beautiful and breathtaking! Keep an eye out for hawks and eagles. I am a hammock camper, and finding two trees at a good distance that are not 20 feet up past the bank is challenging. It is better to plan to camp on an island in a tent. Love this place and would go back.
Kaylee S
VerifiedOctober 1, 2023 • Stayed at: First Creek 2, Loop: First Creek 2
This campsite was well-established and easy to find once we got to the correct trailhead. Getting to the right trailhead was a different story. The GPS kept wanting to take us over the river as many times as we opted differently. We thankfully had printed directions that allowed us to find the correct road. Again, GPS didn't want to take us any further than the Lincoln Trailhead, whenever we needed the Tunnel Trailhead for our group. AllTrails came through and led us down the road that we needed. We never located the water source near the campsite, either.
Overall, this campsite was clean, well-established, had a nice fire ring and logs for sitting around a campfire. We enjoyed it a lot and had a great time backcountry camping!
Kaylee S
VerifiedOctober 1, 2023 • Stayed at: First Creek 2, Loop: First Creek 2
This campsite was well-established and easy to find once we got to the correct trailhead. Getting to the right trailhead was a different story. The GPS kept wanting to take us over the river as many times as we opted differently. We thankfully had printed directions that allowed us to find the correct road. Again, GPS didn't want to take us any further than the Lincoln Trailhead, whenever we needed the Tunnel Trailhead for our group. AllTrails came through and led us down the road that we needed. We never located the water source near the campsite, either.
Overall, this campsite was clean, well-established, had a nice fire ring and logs for sitting around a campfire. We enjoyed it a lot and had a great time backcountry camping!
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.
Mammoth Cave Backcountry Camping is located near Interstate 65, which is approximately 20 miles to the east, providing major access to the area.
Policies & Rules
General
- 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.
- 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.
- Your Camping Permit must be downloaded and printed by accessing your Recreation.gov account. 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 please go to the Visitor Center for all camping permits.
- 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.
- 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.
- CAMPING Designated Campsites. Overnight camping is permitted at designated campsites (*must be 50 feet from river edge). Stay on designated trails. Backcountry trails are marked with blue blazes and spur trails to the campsites are marked with oranges blazes; the numbers on the blazes are not for mile markers, only reference points. The exception is Riverside camping (*must be 100 feet from Ferry) Riverside Camping - is only accessible by boat. Maximum Group Size. Maximum group size is limited to 8 people per campsite. Camping may not exceed 14 consecutive days. Be prepared for emergencies. Take a first aid kit, flashlight, matches and appropriate clothing for inclement weather possibilities. Carry a map or guide, a compass and water, know where you are. Lock your car. When leaving your car, always lock the doors and store all items out of sight. No potable water is available. Boil and treat water before drinking, or carry in your own drinking water.
- LEAVE NO TRACE Fires are permitted in designated campsites. Keep campfires small, and build fires only in established metal rings. When camping on the floodplain or river islands, you may start a fire in any safe location. Use only dead wood that is down. Never leave a fire that is unattended and be sure fire is completely out before leaving the area. Dispose of human waste at least 3" deep. Dispose of wash water at least 100 feet away from water source, trails and campsites. Carry all trash out of the backcountry and properly dispose of it. "Pack it in, pack it out". Never bury trash.
- TRAILS Sharing Multi-Use trails: Horses have the right-of-way, and must remain on designated trails. Hikers yeild to bicyclists. Mountain Biking: Permitted in the backcountry on Big Hollow Trail, Maple Springs Trail and White Oak Trails only. Excessive speed is prohibited. Do not exceed 15 mph. Downhill riders yield to cyclists riding up hill.
- REGULATIONS Caves: Entering any cave within the park without a permit is prohibited. Archeological Resources: Possessing, destroying, removing, digging, or disturbing archeological resources is prohibited. Firearms: In accordance with 36 CFR 2.4 and Kentucky Law, visitors may openly carry firearms on trails, in campgrounds, or any other area in which carrying is not specifically prohibited. Weapons of any kind are prohibited in all federal facilities, on all cave tours, on the park's tour busses, and in the facilities of the park concessionaire. Boating: All boat passengers must wear a USCG approved PFD at all times while in boat. River use is prohibited when river levels are at or exceed 20 feet (6m) on the park''s water level gages. Alcohol: is prohibited on all waterways within the park.
Warnings & Advisories
Warning
GeneralRoad construction near our facility may limit parking or cause traffic delays. Please consider these conditions when planning your travel.
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Last updated: July 10, 2026
