Mammoth Cave tour suggestions?

[NZcaver]

Short notice, but... we'll be passing through the Mammoth Cave area Friday/Saturday and thinking of doing a couple of cave tours or whatever. First time in Mammoth! We've been looking on line at the options, but some expert advice from the peanut gallery would sure be appreciated. Anybody?

[Chads93GT]

no idea.........only ever been in with CRF, lol. My wife did the historic tour with our son while i was surveying though, I think thats the one where you get to see the frozen niagra anyway..............it was huge.

[NZcaver]

Thanks. My wife says Trip Adviser reviews weren't too favorable about the historic tour. Not sure why, but that's the non-caving public for you.

Frozen Niagara is a different tour, and it sounds like that might be worth a go. At least until I come back to do some real caving.

[Chads93GT]

Thanks. My wife says Trip Adviser reviews weren't too favorable about the historic tour. Not sure why, but that's the non-caving public for you.

Frozen Niagara is a different tour, and it sounds like that might be worth a go. At least until I come back to do some real caving.

ok maybe it wasnt the historic tour. dangete i forget. post that same question on facebook tomorrow and I will see that she see's it an answers it. she took the tour that all the crf people said was the good one.

[NZcaver]

Thanks. I'll throw out something on FB too.

[wendy]

there is a lantern tour aka historic tour. I couldn't do anything other than the self guided tour because all the tours were booked. Make sure as soon as you know what you want that you book it.

Also check with the rangers, they did a floyd collins talk over looking sand cave and then we went over to see his home and the entrance to floyd collins crystal cave, . It was very cool seeing such historic places.

[Lava]

If you've *never* been, just do the historic tour. If you only go to Mammoth once on a guided tour, you must see the Rotunda lit up. If you've got more time, then also do Frozen Niagara tour. Then do a few CRF trips and you'll be well rounded.

[graveleye]

the Frozen Niagara tour is really cool. I especially like the big stainless staircase down from the entrance.
Very impressive.

[DeanWiseman]

I did the New Entrance Tour last year with some Architecture students from the University of Michigan, and I thought it was fantastic.

The Violet City Lantern Tour or the Star Chamber Tours are one's I've wanted to do. I think it's important that you really can't go wrong with any of the tours they put on... they really do a decent job.

Good luck!

-Dean

[KeyserSoze]

I did the new entrance recently and loved it. The stairs and walkway in the pit/canyon at the beginning was very impressive. If your only going to do one tour though you should do the historic tour, it's the classic Mammoth trip. I haven't done the historic tour since I was a little kid but I plan to do it again actually.

[boogercaver71]

Labor Day weekend is going to be crowded. Try for a Lantern Tour (in Historic out Violet City), Historic is always good, or a In the New Entrance out Frozen Niagara. I would call direct to see what tours they have left. or I forgot my favorite, is the Half Day (in the Carmichael and out Frozen Niagara.)

[NZcaver]

Thanks for the advice, folks. We booked the Violet City Lantern tour and the New Entrance tour online for tomorrow. Then we'll see what else we want to do. Might drop into the CRF hut Saturday to see if anybody is around. "Real caving" at Mammoth will have to be another time. I'm a long way from my last CRF project, but I've been told the local cavers here stay fairly busy too.

And hey, I can always take a trip down the road to Horse Cave to check out that Hidden River Cave and American Caving Museum I've heard soooooooooo much about...

[Extremeophile]

Thanks for the advice, folks. We booked the Violet City Lantern tour and the New Entrance tour online for tomorrow. Then we'll see what else we want to do. Might drop into the CRF hut Saturday to see if anybody is around. "Real caving" at Mammoth will have to be another time. I'm a long way from my last CRF project, but I've been told the local cavers here stay fairly busy too.

And hey, I can always take a trip down the road to Horse Cave to check out that Hidden River Cave and American Caving Museum I've heard soooooooooo much about...

There is a CRF expedition this weekend led by Bob Osburn. You should definitely stop by Hamilton Valley, but I would suggest going before 10am if you want to catch more than a couple people above ground.

I also like the half day tour - you get to see a lot of cave; and as others have said, the Historic tour is classic. It's not the best decorated, but you get to see the Rotunda, Mammoth Dome, River Hall, Fat Mans Misery, Bottomless Pit, Main Cave, etc. Lots of history and some impressive passage. Every passage you see branching off the tour path goes for miles!

[graveleye]

You'll be impressed with the sinkhole at Horse Cave. It blows my mind every time I see it.

[Jeff Bartlett]

Jansen, I was late to the party here but the Violet City Lantern Tour is the one I'd have wholeheartedly recommended -- hope you liked it! It's a whole different cave once your eyes adjust to sparsely-distributed, flickering kerosene lanterns in those big, gloomy passages... and of course any cave tour involving two entrances get a bonus point or three.