Kentucky 2026 Trip Report (Days 6 and 7)

I told you I’d be back the next day, and I told you the lighting would be better. Please enjoy these pics of Natural Arch and friends, as seen around 10:40 AM on Day 6…

My next stop was Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This cave is full o’ water. So, the cave tour is actually a boat ride! It’s not a spectacular cave in regard to rock formations. But it was pretty cool nonetheless. The hike back up from the cave entrance, on the other hand, was hot and steep. On the way back up, I was struck suddenly by my old friend, Urinary Urgency. I knew there was no way I could make it all the way back to the public restrooms. Luckily, I spotted a side trail with no one on it, so I gained the needed relief.

Day 7:

Mammoth Cave National Park is home of the most extensive series of caves yet known on this planet. Accordingly, they have several cave tours to choose from. This is a great place to have the “America the Beautiful Access Pass” that I mentioned awhile back. They recommend that you purchase cave tickets before you arrive, then go to the customer service desk when you arrive at the visitor center. I did so and paid $30+ in advance for each tour. When I went to the customer service desk and showed my Access Pass, I got nearly 50 per cent of my money refunded!

As for the Mammoth Cave, there are no actual mammoths there (living or dead). It’s named for its size. It’s like walking through The Mall of America, but much less crowded. In fact, I think one of the tours is actually wheelchair accessible.

I stayed a couple of nights at a hotel in the nearby town of Horse Cave. I decided to see if their downtown was worth photographing. It was. A little. Take a look: