Mammoth Picnic Shelters

Open — Open year-round for day use only. Shelters are available for reservation through Recreation.gov. Overnight camping is not permitted.

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About

Mammoth Picnic Shelters provides two reservable picnic shelters within Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world's longest cave system extending over 400 miles. Shelter G-1 is an enclosed shelter requiring visitors to pick up the key at the Mammoth Cave Campground Kiosk on the day of reservation. Shelter G-2 is an open shelter. Both facilities are situated in the Mammoth Cave Picnic Area, surrounded by oak, elm, and maple trees in the scenic Green River Valley. The picnic area serves as a perfect base for exploring the park's natural features. Trailheads for the Green River Bluffs Trail and Dixon Cave Trail, both approximately one mile long, are accessible from the site. The park sits above a labyrinth of underground caves formed over millions of years by acidic groundwater dissolving limestone beds. Native cave inhabitants include bats, spiders, and blindfish. Visitors can enjoy picnicking in a forested setting while exploring the park's 52,800 acres through hiking trails and scenic drives. The nearby Green River offers opportunities for fishing and kayaking. Overnight camping is not permitted at the picnic shelters; this is a day-use facility only. Bear-proof containers are required for all food storage when not in immediate use.

Directions

From the North: Take I-65 to Exit 53 (Cave City). Turn right onto KY-70, follow 70/255 as it becomes Mammoth Cave Parkway. Continue to Visitor Center, then turn right into Picnic Area. From the South: Take I-65 to Exit 48 (Park City). Turn left onto KY-255, follow into park as it becomes Park City Road. Turn left onto Mammoth Cave Parkway at junction, continue to Visitor Center, then turn right into Picnic Area.