Heritage Trail Rehabilitation Projected Planned at Mammoth Cave National Park

The Heritage Trail provides a popular place for hiking in Mammoth Cave National Park. NPS Photo.

MAMMOTH CAVE, KY –The Heritage Trail, Old Guides Trail, and visitor center pedestrian bridge at Mammoth Cave National Park will be closed for nine months starting Monday, Jan 6. The closure is necessary to complete the Heritage Trail Rehabilitation Project which will improve the trail’s visual profile, enhance the visitor experience, and maintain wheelchair accessibility while reducing the park’s annual maintenance requirements.
 
The Heritage Trail is a 0.5-mile-long trail that starts just behind the back entry of the main lodge building near the visitor center pedestrian bridge. It is a popular trail that provides access to the Old Guides Cemetery, an overlook of the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave, and Sunset Point where visitors enjoy a panoramic view of the Green River Valley. The current trail is made of a series of raised, wooden boardwalks and cement pathways. The boardwalk sections are greatly impacted by environmental elements such as rain and freezing conditions and requires frequent maintenance to keep it safe for visitor use.
 
The rehabilitation project will replace much of the boardwalk with a more sustainable hardened cement surface that will eliminate the need for most of the visually obtrusive wooden structures. In addition, the area directly behind the main hotel building will be redesigned to create a large level area that should make it easier for visitors to find the starting point of the Heritage Trail. The project will also add a small 15–20 person amphitheater along the trail to provide a space for ranger-led interpretive programs. Currently, there is no formal area for ranger-led programs within the visitor center area.
 
The visitor services at the Lodge at Mammoth Cave will remain open throughout construction. The main hotel parking lot will not be impacted by this project and a short foot path that runs from the visitor center to the lodge has been installed to maintain access between the two buildings.
 
The Heritage Trail Rehabilitation project is expected be completed in September 2025.