Uploaded July 2022 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Mammoth Cave National Park is located in South Central Kentucky, roughly 100 miles South of Louisville. It's the world longest cave system. More than 420 miles (626 km) of mapped passages, with the potential for another 600 miles (almost 1,000 km) - that's 1,000 miles of cave!
I was lucky enough to visit Mammoth Cave in early June 2022 and take the Grand Avenue Tour. There are plenty of others to choose from, like the Frozen Niagara Tour and the Domes and Dripstones Tour - all are good choices. But no matter the tour, if you're like me, you'll probably be wondering why the Cave is so. freaking. big. I am consistently amazed by the size and scope of Mammoth Cave's labyrinthine set of passageways and I wanted to find out how it got that way.
This video is the culmination of that journey. I hope you enjoy.
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Support National Park Diaries on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: @nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Twitter: @NPDiariesYT
If you're interested in learning more about the geology of the cave, I found this link very helpful: npshistory.com/publications/geology/state/ky/kgs-sp-7/contents.htm
For cave tours, go here: nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/cave-tours.htm
Mammoth Cave National Park is located in South Central Kentucky, roughly 100 miles South of Louisville. It's the world longest cave system. More than 420 miles (626 km) of mapped passages, with the potential for another 600 miles (almost 1,000 km) - that's 1,000 miles of cave!
I was lucky enough to visit Mammoth Cave in early June 2022 and take the Grand Avenue Tour. There are plenty of others to choose from, like the Frozen Niagara Tour and the Domes and Dripstones Tour - all are good choices. But no matter the tour, if you're like me, you'll probably be wondering why the Cave is so. freaking. big. I am consistently amazed by the size and scope of Mammoth Cave's labyrinthine set of passageways and I wanted to find out how it got that way.
This video is the culmination of that journey. I hope you enjoy.
-------------------------
Support National Park Diaries on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: @nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Twitter: @NPDiariesYT
If you're interested in learning more about the geology of the cave, I found this link very helpful: npshistory.com/publications/geology/state/ky/kgs-sp-7/contents.htm
For cave tours, go here: nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/cave-tours.htm
