Mammoth Cave National Park (Free Cave Tour) & River Run, KY
September 6, 2026 - September 12, 2026
Trip Navigation
Explore the longest known cave system in the world! This trip includes a free cave tour!
Mammoth Cave National Park is a park on two levels – 52,830 acres of reclaimed hardwood forest and winding riverways, and below it, the longest known cave system in the world, surveyed at 426 miles to date. It’s also a designated World Heritage Site and a Dark Sky Park, perfect for stargazing!
Located within a day’s drive of major population centers, it offers camping, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, canoeing, picnicking, and cave tours.
Explore the internationally recognized biological and geologic features and processes associated with the longest known cave system in the world, the park’s diverse forested, karst landscape, the Green and Nolin rivers, and extensive evidence of human history.
Volunteers will work with Mammoth Cave National Park staff on backcountry trail maintenance along heavily used equestrian trails. Volunteers will assist park staff with the installation and/or repair of trail features designed to improve water drainage; build/repair trail surfaces to improve trail safety for the public; reduce soil erosion that will protect nearby waterways that drain into the river or cave environment; and relocate sections of downed trees (working with NPS Certified Chainsaw Operator) and remove encroaching vegetation to widen the trail corridor.
There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.
Avg. Temperature:
Typical weather for this area during this season has highs of roughly 80–85°F and lows of 60–65°F. Early September in south-central Kentucky is warm and muggy, with periodic showers and thunderstorms.
Sample Schedule:
Day 1: Arrival
Typically meet in the afternoon for check in, introductions, orientation, and camp setup. (Time/place TBD)
Day 2: Work Day
Enjoy a hearty breakfast, pack lunches, and be on the trail between 8 AM and 9 AM
Lunch and plenty of other breaks will be included.
Wrap up the work day in the late afternoon and head back to camp and enjoy a few hours of daylight for free time.
Reconvene at a chosen time for dinner.
After dinner has been cleaned up, evenings offer plenty of time to relax, sit around the campfire and get to know your fellow crew members, or enjoy more free time.
Day 3: Work Day
Day 4: Rest Day (Specific Day on Trip Will Be Confirmed By Host)
Your choice! Explore the area, take a recreational hike, tour local attractions, or hang out at camp. Group excursions can be planned or set-out on your own.
Day 5: Work Day
Day 6: Work Day
Day 7: Departure
Pack up and clean up, celebrate your accomplishments, wish each other a fond farewell, and depart. Please note: This schedule is subject to change due to weather or other circumstances. Any updates will be communicated to the group.
Land Acknowledgement:
AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Adena Culture, Cherokee East, Shawanwaki/Shawnee, and Yuchi people past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded these islands and mountain landscapes for countless generations, and those who continue this stewardship today. This acknowledgement is one step in our ongoing commitment to uplift Indigenous voices. We invite the American Hiking Society community to learn about, support, and stand in solidarity with the Indigenous peoples whose lands we live, work, and recreate on.
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