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There are many cave tours available at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, but we decided on the Domes and Dripstones tour. Why? First of all, it was available two days before our visit. Secondly, it includes the entire routes for the Frozen Niagara and Focus on Frozen Niagara tours.
Details
Domes and Dripstones lasts two hours and covers a distance of ¾ miles of the UNESCO World Heritage listed cave. There are about 500 stairs going either up or down, and it’s listed as moderately difficult. The tour is not offered year-round, and it’s highly recommended to book your cave tour in advance. You can check prices and book online here.
No flash photography is allowed on the tour, and only a bottle of water can be taken with you along with a small backpack. A light jacket is recommended because the temperatures deep inside the cave is 54°F (12°C). You should also wear good shoes and be careful walking because the cave surface can be slippery at times.
The Tour Begins
Our tour began in the visitor center area where we boarded one of three buses headed to the Frozen Niagara entrance, which was discovered in the 1920s.
Once everyone was off the buses, the ranger gave a short description of the tour and explained all the rules.
Entering the Cave
We then entered through a metal door and concrete shaft and descended 280 steps to the first “hall”. There, the ranger talked about how the cave was formed and answered several questions.
Next, we followed the ranger through other passages and halls until we stopped briefly for another quick lecture and question and answer session.
Cave Formations
Near the end of the tour, we finally got to see some cave formations. We followed the ranger down an optional stairway to get up close to some of the formations.
At the end, we got to look down at a natural pool collecting water dripping from stalactites hanging above.
End of the Tour
Finally, we exited through another metal door and boarded a bus that took us back to the visitor center area. It dropped us off in front of the Lodge at Mammoth Cave, where we cleaned off our shoes on a bio-security mat designed to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome.
Conclusion
Overall, it was an interesting tour but with three full busloads of people it was tough to enjoy at times. Also, if you’re expecting to see spectacular cave formations throughout the entire cave, such as in Timpanogos Cave or Carlsbad Caverns, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re keen to see a very small part of the world’s longest cave and learn about how it was formed, then it’ll be a great experience.
