Reviews & Testimonials
The nonprofit American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA) operates Hidden River Cave and the American Cave Museum as part of our educational initiative to support the protection of caves, karstlands, and groundwater resources.
We are so very pleased to share reviews from many of our visitors who posted on Google and Tripadvisor. Hidden River Cave and the American Cave Museum also received the prestigious “Travelers’ Choice” Award from Tripadvisor in 2023. Please click to see our Tripadvisor reviews
The Beverly Harlows
22:38 03 Dec 23
This place shows you how amazing caves really are! It has a museum that you can visit during your wait to go through the mind blowing caves! Our tour guide was very friendly and comedic, but it ls definitely worth the money.
Elizabeth Lohse
12:19 03 Dec 23
Stopped in on a whim and so glad we did. Super friendly staff, informative tour, impressive dome rooms, and Nugget, the hibernating bat. Totally worth the detour on our drive!
Garret
18:31 26 Nov 23
Cool cave, tour guide Chris was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely check it out!
David C Holyoke
14:28 25 Nov 23
The cave tour was awesome. Koree was knowledgeable, friendly and very organized. She answered all types of questions from the adults and children. Our group was a little larger than a normal tour, but she handled every detail in a professional manner.The caves were modified with concrete walkways, lights from led ribbons on the edges of the paths to make it safe, and to get around, while not impacting the caves natural appearance.
Thomas Lewis
21:32 24 Nov 23
Had an absolute blast here. Our tour guide was very personable and informed as well as understanding of the smaller kids. Couldn't have asked for a better place to visit around Bowling Green.
Brandon Light
00:47 16 Nov 23
Chose to go here on Oct 14 2023, AL was our tour guide and made us feel like home! very funny and knowledgeable about the area. The lady at the cash register in musuem was very polite and sweet also. Glad to stumble across this place while exploring!
Jonathan Monzon
16:07 14 Nov 23
Coming from Los Angeles and saw this place on our way to Kentucky. I honestly loved it. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and left the cave with my questions answered. Would definitely recommend it.
Annie Garrett
20:06 13 Nov 23
We did a one hour tour at noon with Chris, who was an exceptional tour guide! You could tell he was very passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about the caverns, the local history, and the environment there. He answered any question we had and did a wonderful job of explaining scientific concepts to the lay-person. He pointed out and described any wildlife we saw. The caverns were beautiful and the walkways were very nice. The recent walkway upgrades were fantastic and the swinging bridge was incredible. From one tour guide to another, thank you Chris!
tammy lagowski
14:34 12 Nov 23
We took a spur of the moment detour to this cave. Looked different on line so thought. Why the hell not? Let me tell you.... amazing. Cole was our guide and he was funny and whitty. He answered all of our questions, even the silly ones. We got to see some bat's, crickets, a frog and so much other stuff! Pictures really don't do it justice. It is a must see, from the history to the museum its great. Cole, amazing too. The bridge underground so freaking sweet too! .... 10/10
Kathleena Sandoval
02:25 11 Nov 23
We had an absolutely amazing time with Jay! He is such a great guide! He knows all about the cave, and you can tell he enjoys everything about it! He said he’s underground more than above and that is completely accurate with the way he connects with the cave. Crazy to find out this destination is PET FRIENDLY! Would HIGHLY recommend this cave! Can’t wait to go again!! (traveled from Michigan to see!!)
Nikki Hamre
21:38 10 Nov 23
This was a great tour. Chris was excellent!! He gave a lot of historical information as he guided us through the cave. He told us what was above us I correlation with the town of Horse Cave. The sunset dome and the suspension were both highlights! If you are in the area, this is a tour you don’t want to miss!!
Abigail Daniels
05:38 10 Nov 23
We had a wonderful experience. Husband and I were the only two people on our tour, which was a bit spooky… but Dillon (our guide) did an amazing job of making us feel safe and comfortable. He was very good at his job and really enjoyed his job, and was so enthusiastic about the cave. It was very interesting !!
Jeremy Rauch
04:07 10 Nov 23
Jay was great. Extremely informative but also chill and patient with our young kids along the way. Made their first cave adventure very memorable.
Shasta Kuhlhorst
04:39 07 Nov 23
What an amazing experience! Our tour guide Jay was so passionate and knowledgeable. He also has a great eye for spotting the fascinating wildlife. 10/10 would recommend!
Ann Alexander
21:44 04 Nov 23
On 10/21/23 my husband and I stopped by this cave on a whim.?We were so impressed! Dylan was a great tour leader and did a superb job explaining the cave’s history and recent improvements and renovations. And store manager (Linda?) was so personable and had a warm and welcoming personality. You can tell she loves loves loves her job! Thank you for a great impromptu trip to Horse Cave KY!The Alexanders from Pennsylvania
Suzi Hayes
13:31 02 Nov 23
Great tour here. He was knowledgeable and adventurous. Cool suspension bridge. Had a great time on the wild cave tour!
Heather Borgmeier
21:11 01 Nov 23
We had a great time touring Hidden River cave , the guide was knowledgeable and helped the kids spot cave creatures . He patiently answered our many questions and made the tour fun. The museum and gift shop were nice as well, we took home several new rocks for their collections.
Daisy Sandoval
15:18 31 Oct 23
Had such a wonderful time! Our guide, Dylan, was very informative. Loved stopping here on a long drive. Very cool museum and shop. And it’s phenomenal that it’s dog friendly!
Kenneth McDaniel
18:32 30 Oct 23
This place is the only place in town that will let you use the bathroom. The town is kind of hateful in that all the businesses are opposed to letting people use the bathroom. My suggestion is to go to a place where the people are more hospitable. The people at the Cave center are very nice and a contrast from other businesses in town.
Aly Livingston
00:49 30 Oct 23
Was a very cool experience tour guide Dylan/Beetlejuice was informative and I learned a lot about caves
Angie Nickell
19:28 29 Oct 23
We visited this cave after doing a tour at Mammoth Cave a few days earlier. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. After being in a group of 113 people at Mammoth Cave, we thoroughly enjoyed only having 6 people in our group for this tour! Our tour guide was excellent and he had a knack for finding wildlife. We saw a cave salamander, a few crayfish, a bat and a frog during our tour. He also welcomed questions and didn't rush us through the tour. The dome rooms were really neat and the suspension bridge was so cool!!! The bridge is the reason we decided to visit this cave to begin with and we were not disappointed. The underground river was also neat and made for a peaceful environment during the tour. There are several stairs so be prepared and wear sturdy shoes b/c it was slippery in places. The museum has a lot of information for those who enjoy museums.
Danielle E
20:43 27 Oct 23
Jay was amazing! Knowledgeable, kind, patient, funny. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour (and the suspension bridge was a HOOT!). Highly recommend. Go. Now. Really.
Cheyenne Puerner
05:11 27 Oct 23
This cave tour was the best one I’ve ever been to. My tour guide Al really knew his caves! All the guides there when I visited (Sept.22nd 2023) were actually cave explorers and enthusiasts which made all the extra fun facts and side notes super cool.I could tell Al loved his job but more importantly loved the cave system itself. His side notes about seeing areas of the cave no one’s seen before, and about the pollution problem made the tour feel more in depth and personal than any other I’d been to.Call me crazy but I’ll definitely be returning to this place to touch the cave walls again!! Most tours that’s not allowed for the conservation of the cave, but the flooding in this one washes away all our icky oils so it’s safe and I loved that part lol.Al if you’re reading this the Cannibal corpse concert was awesome!! 😂
Michelle J
15:40 26 Oct 23
Awesome experience and guide!! Chris was extremely knowledgeable andhelpful! The conservative work they have done for the cave systems and community is amazing!!! God bless them all and their continued work! Thank you!
TheWesleyRicardo
12:06 24 Oct 23
This was a really informative tour of the underground river and cave. Linda was very hospitable and making our group feel right at home. Chris is a really good tour guide of the cave. I really recommend this attraction, especially if you are traveling and want to take an hour break from being on the road. Enjoy!
Dan Quirk Jr.
09:41 24 Oct 23
Al was our tour guide and he did a really nice job. He knew this history of the cave well and was entertaining too!
michele tutt
21:08 17 Oct 23
My family really enjoyed the trip. Some more lighting on bottom steps would be helpful. But otherwise it was stellar. Dylam was a great guide.
Pamela Baxley
02:44 15 Oct 23
We toured the cave today and we all loved it. Our tour guide was great. I took the grandkids there and they can’t quit talking about it and the gem mining they did there too. The swinging bridge added a little extra to the tour as well. The museum was very informative The whole experience was great. Staff were all great too. Fun time. Yay!
India Cox
01:10 15 Oct 23
Koree was the best guide. My family really enjoyed our tour of hidden river cave during fall break! Koree was funny and engaging. I particularly enjoyed hearing the train pass overhead while in the cave. Highly recommend this tour!
Kenneth Randles
00:56 15 Oct 23
Great cave experience! This cave was so neat to explore and offered really great pictures of the three seperate domes. The suspension bridge was a real experience being suspended high above the cave rocks. Our tour guide Coree was great and was very knowledgeable about all the cave details.
Violet Grimm
02:08 14 Oct 23
Really enjoyed it. The bridge definitely made it different then other caves I've been too.
Tiffany Wettergreen
21:51 13 Oct 23
What a spectacular experience! The staff and tour guides are all knowledgable and interesting! Make sure you wear good walking shoes that have traction, and expect to get dirty, if not muddy. Don't miss the mini museum downstairs, too! Great little gift shop. A perfect break on a roadtrip.
Gerry Vaerewyck
23:47 12 Oct 23
Did the adventure cave trip. That's the one with headlights back in the unlighted part of the cave. Justin was a great guide. I've done spelunking for 50 years and this was definitely a great trip by any standard. Highly recommend it. Just a caution, you do crawl through mud and water and a lot of stuff is muddy and slippery. But that's what this kind of cave is. If you do the normal 1 hour tour, you get a great trip, on walkways, without getting all muddy.
Susan Morris
19:51 12 Oct 23
Our guide was very good , had lots of information and answered all our questions. Thanks for a great time.
Trisha Davis
22:19 10 Oct 23
Chris was a great tour guide. It was definitely a unique experience and all of the kids enjoyed!
Tammy Staley
03:20 10 Oct 23
Great cave, nice long tour, the guide was informative while being humorous to. Be aware there are quite a few steps but no tight spots or low ceilings.
Jenny Walden
19:02 08 Oct 23
Nice little cave. Our tour guide, Koree, was wonderful. Highly recommend! There is a lot of steps though so be prepared.
David Plotnick
12:35 08 Oct 23
I found Koree and Dylan to be excellent tour guides. Koree waited for us to start when I lost my wallet and was patient enough to let me ask the front desk if they saw it. Most guides don't let you get away with that. It was a fun delightful experience checking out the rushing river underground, walking the swinging bridge and they have the second largest cave dome in America at a whopping 285ft. Also you get to touch the cave walls for a change. The gift shop was cute too, definitely worth a trip!
Alan Carlson
02:59 08 Oct 23
Amazing!! More people need to know about this place. Awesome very well informed staff, cool items in the gift shop and a good sized museum for a small town. They also offer wild cave tours at certain times. I'll make sure to spread information about this site.
Mark Reagen
23:44 07 Oct 23
We have been to a number of caves and this is one of the best. Great tour. Can be a little slippery and hard to see the path so definitely always use the handrails and wear good shoes. Very cool cave and worth the visit. The museum is very well done too.
Gina Belle's Restaurant
20:04 07 Oct 23
Our tour guide Koree was AWESOME!! She needs a huge raise!! She turned out cave tour into a delightful adventure! THANK YOU KOREE!! The cave was outstandingl!!
Colton Casey
13:41 06 Oct 23
This cave has a interesting history and my kids had a blast with Dylan our guide. Both boys were right on his heels, asking thousands of questions and he had a great answer for almost everyone they threw at him. We also got to see a bat deep in the cave and a few frogs. All and all a great place. Visit and help support them to grow. The museam had lots of interesting hiatory and stuff to look at. Pics of the bat and frog also
Margo Stanford
11:36 03 Oct 23
Cole was our guide and did a great job taking us on our tour. He gave us a lot of history of the place and he has a great sense of humor. We enjoyed it and have shared with our family and friends.
drewthelionn
20:03 01 Oct 23
Hands down a 10/10 tour. Our guide Chris was very informative, personable, and very hospitable! Would definitely recommend anyone driving through to check out a tour at Hidden River Cave!
Michele Chinsky
17:44 01 Oct 23
Jay was an amazing guide who shared his obvious love of caves and preservation. So much to see and learn about. Don't skip this one. The museum is informative without being boring.
alex mosson
00:10 01 Oct 23
Well worth the price of admission, plus the walk up and down the stairs plus the walk on the suspension bridge.the guides are excellent and very knowledgeable.
Kyle Smith
23:43 30 Sep 23
Jay was our tour guide, it was very informative and a fun tour. We will definitely be back.
Nancy Brown
21:31 30 Sep 23
Our guide Jay was most awesome!! I love his sense of humor…. He was very knowledgeable about caves and the history of Hidden River Cave! When a guide is as passionate about their topic as Jay is about caves it really shows! Thank you again Jay!!
Connie Wise
01:07 30 Sep 23
Awesome cave! Al was a great guide! As a society we need to stop polluting our waters!
Linda C
18:22 29 Sep 23
Such an interesting place! Our guide, Al, was very knowledgeable and entertaining.
Cambray O'Brien
20:20 25 Sep 23
We did the Off-Trail Adventure Cave Tour this past weekend and it was awesome!! Our tour guide Dylan was great, he was super knowledgable and made everyone comfortable during our tour. The cave was beautiful and they took photos of each of us crawling through one of the passages. All of the staff were so friendly and clearly passionate about this place. I would love to go back and will be recommending to friends! Thanks Hidden River Cave for such a fun and memorable time 🙂
Lynda Gerhart
20:13 24 Sep 23
Linda invited us to tag along on her tour. What an awesome surprise cave! Defo worth the visit!
Robert Perry
21:51 23 Sep 23
Nice relaxing tour other than the stairs down and back up. Just take your time and enjoy the talk!
CHRISTOPHER KERNS
18:38 23 Sep 23
An incredible theme attraction in the heart of charming Horsecave Kentucky! Beautiful place, awesome gift shop! Reasonable prices!The cave is simply wonderful! The walk is a bit strenous! Make sure you take breaks and pace yourself! Over 600 steps! Well well worth the visit!Great friendly knowledgable staff makes it fun and educational! Treat yourself and learn some things as well! Plan an adventure soon!!
Matthew Howe
02:33 23 Sep 23
We stopped by here a few months ago as a way to avoid a highway accident. Cute little town with a SUPER COOL cave. So we came back on our way to Nashville. 100% worth the sidetrack. AL, our guide, was kind and funny. His knowledge and passion for this archeological treasure shined! The tour, cave, suspension bridge, the underground river.... This is an American treasure tucked away that's worth your time.
Liz Knote
23:15 21 Sep 23
We had Jay as our tour guide, he was very knowledgeable on the history and wildlife in the cave. We went on Wednesday and had a private tour because no one else was there and it was so wonderful to have more of a conversation with our guide then we could in the national Park. They even let our dog join us on the walk. I would 1000% recommend this to anyone. The museum and gift shop were very nice and had wonderful staff.
Jacob Holmes
23:03 21 Sep 23
My girlfriend and I had an awesome time! The Hidden River Cave is beyond interesting and our guide Jay knew all the cool facts about anything I could think to ask him. Would absolutely recommend Jay over any of the National park guides.
Joe Young
18:44 21 Sep 23
We really enjoyed this cave tour. The sound of the flowing river through out the cave made this tour stand out from other cave tours.Our tour guide Al did a great job explaining the history of the cave. He also pointed out many features.
Kylie Jordan
01:14 21 Sep 23
Chris is a very experienced and knowledgeable tour guide. He has a personal connection with the cave and was professional with our group. He made our experience enjoyable and fun!
jaime adrian villarreal
20:29 19 Sep 23
Nice tour, off season and on a Tuesday. Not very far walking down, then up, good amount of steps. The two of us were in our sixties, and were able to take our time. Al, our guide was great. Highly recommended!
symphony evans
23:43 18 Sep 23
This was such a great experience! Jay was an extraordinary guide, very knowledgeable, personable & considerate. Myself & my family had the best time! Even my 4 year old found it fascinating & hasn’t stopped talking about our day.
Francine Freeman
22:50 17 Sep 23
The experience was fabulous. The one employee Al made the experience very wonderful. He explained a lot of things showed us a lot and we just had a wonderful time. It is a beautiful cave. The lady at the counter was very personable. Very nice lady, very informative. Great personality, thank you for bringing those kinds of people to us. Our cave experience was fantastic. Will come back again and do it again. And we definitely will recommend going to that cave to our friends and family.
Amma Lewis
22:56 16 Sep 23
Very detailed museum. Well thought out. Our tour guide Al was amazing. Great storytelling. Very informative. Zip line was super fun! Loved the gift shop. Definitely a place to go!
Nicolas Grams
16:25 16 Sep 23
This is where I grew up so I'm partial. Haven't been back in over ten years and all the updates and expansions are amazing. Staff was super friendly and helpful. I really enjoyed the interactive museum portion. What a great addition to such a small tourist town. You'd never know how big it was now from the street inside. My grandmother as well as other members of the town have memorial plaques on the sidewalks out front!
Susan McCappin
08:08 16 Sep 23
We traveled to Mammoth Cave National Park this year for Spring Break and toured several caves in the area. Hidden River Cave was, by far, our family favorite! The attached museum that you can walk thru prior to the tour was really cool - a very unique history of the town and the cave. The cave tour size was small enough that we could ask questions and didn’t feel rushed thru the tour. Our guide, Dylan, was awesome - very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor! The underground river and suspension bridge was beautiful! We met Nugget, the bat 🙂 A very unique experience! We definitely recommend checking out Hidden River Cave if you're in the area!
Muriel Fogarty
20:51 11 Sep 23
The off-trail cave tour was an incredible experience - getting to crawl and climb into otherwise mysteriously inaccessible areas and see cave wildlife, beautiful formations, and strange, ambient spaces was my absolute favorite cave experience while visiting Kentucky. Our guide Jay was passionate, knowledgeable, accommodating and encouraging - it almost felt like getting a private tour of some favorite secret cave hideaways from a good friend. Just a really amazing time!!
Tonia Holt
20:32 10 Sep 23
We were a party of 13 including small children, and our tour guide was amazing. She told us all about the cave and answered all of our questions. The owner or manager, was an amazing person, she made us feel very welcome and like we were family.. Definitely recommend this Hidden River Cave, in my opinion, much better than mammoth cave!
Janice Litz
18:49 10 Sep 23
We went to check out the Cave Museum. We wanted to go on the cave tour, but there are 650 steps round trip (which we didn't know before we got there). But the museum was very interesting. Plus you could take a elevator down to near the cave opening. It was beautiful & cool down there! Tours leave every hour on the hour too.
Wanda Thompson
14:21 10 Sep 23
Cave tour was really interesting. Our guide was very helpful and full of knowledge about the entire cave and site.
Retired & Loving It!
17:00 09 Sep 23
Jay was an absolutely phenomenal tour guide. He knew so much history and shared so much on the tour. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour!
Zarina Steward
15:02 08 Sep 23
The museum was very interesting, and we enjoyed walking through it while waiting for our cave tour. Our cave tour was great, our tour guide was fantastic! One of our favorites for the week!
Alex Horden
17:08 06 Sep 23
This was a fun little tour. Chris was a real good guide! My wife and I really enjoyed it. Would recommend if you are in the area!
Jennel Davis
02:02 04 Sep 23
The museum was informative and covered the history of almost all of the local caves.
Addison Duncan
00:14 04 Sep 23
Great time exploring the cave. Chris was an awesome and very knowledgeable guide.
gary manning
17:17 03 Sep 23
We did not do the cave tour, just the free museum. The museum is very good. There are several displays and they are very informative. It focuses a lot on the area caves and also caves around the world, not just their cave. We enjoyed the stay. If you read everything they offer you'll be there a good bit of time (probably upwards of 1.5 - 2 hours). We read a little here and there and it took about 45 minutes to one hour to go through the two level museum. There are a few stairs to get up and down to experience both levels so if you have mobility issues you'll only be able to see the top floor which is about 1/3 of the experience.
Jennifer Di Luccia
02:02 02 Sep 23
Great stop on our caving tour. Love that this experience supports the college/
Lisa Isaksen
14:37 30 Aug 23
The tour was great, so much history and perfect I tro to the caves in the area. The cave "wildlife" an added bonus!
J Ustincase
18:08 29 Aug 23
Really really cool place. We have been to a few over caves and caverns and this one is quite unique. The running flowing river adds quite a different experience than any other cave we have ever been in. Dylan our tour guide was really great. His knowledge and passion really shined through when he answered questions and through his delivery of the cave. The walkway through the cave is well done. Paved so your secure but not overly done to take away from the raw feel of being in a cave. Overall the best most “raw” experience I have ever had in a cave. I can’t wait to go back and try the longer off trail exploration. 10/10
Kyle Dittner
13:34 29 Aug 23
Great tour. The lighting on path could use a little work but it's a cave...
Peggy H
21:32 25 Aug 23
Very good tour. Great oration of the caves history. Cool cave. Highly recommend!!
Jordan Haley
00:27 25 Aug 23
This cave was AMAZING! Tour guide Al made the experience fun and personal. Beautiful tour with interesting history, definitely see this if you’re in the area!!
Brian Eng
03:21 22 Aug 23
A great spot for kids and adults alike to learn and experience. Shout out to Dylan, our local guide, for providing some interesting history and facts about the caves. Wear sturdy shoes and be ready for the stairs! Highly recommended!
Miranda Lessard
14:51 17 Aug 23
This place was amazing!! Such a great hidden gem. Our tour guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable! I was fascinated by the history of the cave and town. Swinging bridge is very fun! Very different from any of the other caves I've toured. Well worth it!! There are a lot of steps coming out; you've been warned!!!!
Lauren Kirchberger
16:27 16 Aug 23
We stumbled upon this cave on accident and it was the best accident ever! It has the coolest (and stunning) cave entry hidden below the town’s Main Street. It has a lot of stairs, but totally worth the views inside, especially the ending sunset dome. Dylan was a passionate and well educated tour guide. I highly recommend!
Karena Taylor
20:40 31 Jul 23
Had such a great time on the tour! Our guide was Al, he definitely enriched our experience with knowledge and a few jokes. He kept us engaged while being entertained. Couldn't ask for a better way to spend a few hours. Plan to arrive early so you can walk through the 2 level museum. Staff was super friendly also!
Lacey Gordon
02:47 31 Jul 23
We had the most amazing time on this tour. We loved having Al as our tour guide. He was not only very knowledgeable, but he was hilarious. He joked around with our two little girls from time to time while we waited for the others to catch up since we were in the front.We had such a wonderful time. But! Word to the wise, it is slippery so I recommend wearing shoes, not sandles. Also, there are quite a few stairs, so be prepared for a lot of walking up and down stairs.This is definitely a must-see place.
Kerri Milligan
19:02 24 Jul 23
Our family visited here as a last destination before leaving from our trip and so glad we did! Cole was our tour guide and he really enhances the experience! Lots of laughs and he is very knowledgeable about the cave! He made our families experience and we will definitely be back again! So thankful to be able to have seen the beauty of nature! Thank you a great ending adventure!
Brandon and Melody Herring
14:05 24 Jul 23
Hidden River was a great place to add to our cave exploring trip. We didn’t realize how different it was going to be from Mammoth Cave (I.e. 100+ tourists vs 20, dry cave vs wet, no pets vs lovely dogs to watch explore!) Hidden River also has a cool underground suspension bridge that was fun to cross and very friendly, knowledgeable tour guides (and occasionally an overly knowledgeable tourist.) I would definitely recommend this tour and checking out the interesting information to read before/after the tour in the museum area!!
Rebecca D
19:05 23 Jul 23
This was the best Cave tour we took while visiting.Jay was a phenomenal tour guide and you can tell the history of the area and the cave are both things he’s very passionate about. It really shines through and I feel like this was the most comprehensive tour we had our entire trip. It also was on the longer side, which I loved. A full hour and a half and it was the perfect amount of time to really see everything.The steps though are no joke. It’s not bad on the way down, but what goes down must come up. Luckily they have landings were you can kind of stop to catch your breath. That was undoubtedly the hardest part. There were definitely people of all ages and abilities doing it, so it’s definitely doable. Secondly if you have a fear of bridges and heights, the suspension bridge is rough. Our tour guide did let people go at the very end, or by themselves to offset swinging and help with that fear.My only critique is that ITS SO DARK. If you’re in the middle, it’s difficult to see . Up front you have the guide and in the back they also get a flashlight, but in the middle it’s tough. You almost need on more flashlight to help light the path in the middle. Also to see the formations you do need a flashlight to see them.
Deborah Everson
14:18 18 Jul 23
Wow! This place was amazing. Our tour guide did a great job with sharing the history and details of the cave. Crossing the bridge made us feel like we were Indiana Jones. Be ready for some stairs, too. Great tour.
Amanda Baldwin
17:18 15 Jul 23
We took this cave tour with our two small children (ages 5 and 2) and we all had a blast! We weren’t sure what to expect at first until we got to the entrance of the cave and our expectations were exceeded! Chris was our tour guide, he was very knowledgeable about both the history of the cave as well as the creatures that live within. We would highly recommend for people of all ages!
VaNisha Aguilar
19:14 10 Jul 23
I have been to many cave in my years and this is so worth the trip. Dylan did a great good and was very knowledgeable (funny too). Everyone working there was friendly and helpful. Great military discount. And we went home with a cool megalodon tooth.
Jackson Moss
16:11 05 Jul 23
Such a great experience! The only cave tour in the state that allows dogs, so we had to jump on that opportunity and take our two golden retrievers. Dylan was such a great guide, knowledgeable and funny, just a really great time! Super nice and accommodating with our pups, allowing us to use a water hose outside to hose them down before heading home! Would recommend!
Matthew Braverman
23:57 02 Jul 23
This place was great! Such a huge difference from Mammoth Cave (which was also a really neat tour). This cave was wet unlike Mammoth. Tour group much smaller. Underground suspension bridge really neat. Our tour guide very friendly and knowledgeable. It is a lot of stairs but seems like we had a good range of age groups on our tour with no issues. Tour went for about 1.5 hours so definitely feel like we got our money's worth. Would highly recommend this tour (especially amongst all the other show caves in the area).
Spencer Evans
14:19 01 Jul 23
Our guide Al was awesome had a great time. The cave is really interesting stairs can be steep and dark so wear good shoes. The cave has a long history with some funny stories. All the guides are cavers and are very passionate about what they do
Dena Benroth
03:05 26 Jun 23
My family took our family vacation to the Mammoth Cave area this year. Hidden River Cave was definitely a highlight of our vacation. We took the guided tour of the cave which lasted about an hour. Cole was our guide and was pretty humorous. The suspension bridge in the cave was awesome to cross over the underground river. This is a must see while in the Mammoth Cave area.
Andrew Underwood
19:23 24 Jun 23
Went on the adventure tour with our guide Jay and had a great time. All the real tight crawls are optional so don't be scared of that. I'm broad shouldered about 220 lbs and was able to fit through the tightest crawl with a bit of wriggling. Cute museum and gift shop literally right above the cave, pretty cool set up.
Nicole Wade
21:39 21 Jun 23
Museum is free. Your was $25/per, and it took 1 hr. Suspension bridge was a lot of fun! The path is paved or boardwalk. A lot of steps, not accessible if mobility limited. Family friendly. Guide told good history. Could have more geology.
Bridget Dore
20:50 21 Jun 23
We had Jay as a tour guide. He was extremely informative and fun. He did his best to try to find cave creatures. We saw The Red cave salamander, blue crawfish, centipedes, and he was able to point out some cave crickets as well. We loved our cave tour, and would go again!
Tanya Pitkin
23:25 30 Mar 23
Great tour guide and so fun! Adults and kids (ages 9 &11) loved the tour. The gemstone bags were a huge hit and totally worth adding on to your tour tickets. Employees were all incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. The museum was also well worth spending some time either before or after your tour. Excited to return and see how the cave changes and expands.
Beth
01:41 30 Mar 23
Awesome experience totally different than the huge option nearby. We went on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed reading through the museum while we waited for the tour to begin. Our favorite parts were the bridge and walking through running water. Thinking about the cave being flooded was wild! What a cool world wonder!
Amanda Perry
19:27 29 Mar 23
We had a last minute spring break change so we decided to go to Mammoth Cave area. After trying to book a Mammoth cave tour with no luck I found Hidden River and I couldn't be happier. Way less people than the park and our tour was great. Our guide was funny and informative. The Cave itself is amazing and the history of the town is really cool.We got there super early just to check the location and ended up exploring the area. We went to Kentucky Stone Henge and Battle for the Bridge preserve which are both less than 20 minutes away.I would recommend this tour to anyone and look forward to coming back.
Courtenay Howell
13:04 17 Mar 23
We were there 20 min before our group tour began and from the time we got out of the car until the time we got into the car to leave it was two hours. You could explore the entrance area further if you wanted to spend more time. It was also a great experience for us as locals. The American Cave museum is free and VERY informative - whether you buy a ticket to your the cave or not it’s a great place to stretch your legs on a long road trip. Very much recommend to anyone. Tour guide, Dylan, was very good with the group as well as informational. Such a neat landmark in the center of town. Very cool.
Katharine Wall
17:19 19 Aug 22
What an awesome cave and museum!!! We have done caves all over and this one was unique, large and cavernous due to the running water. Brooklyn was our tour guide and she did an amazing job, sharing so much history as well as keeping a close eye out for cave critters. Annie was also a joy to interact with!!’ The cave museum was fun to walk through and I loved seeing the blind cave fish. We are so glad we decided to stop in Horse Cave and would definitely recommend this for anyone coming through the area
Jenny P
00:09 14 Aug 22
Today was our first time visiting Hidden Rive Cave. Our guide was Dylan and he was amazing! Answered all our questions and was very informative! The cave was amazing! Great place to visit we would highly recommend it. We enjoyed the free walk through museum, lot to see and explore!
Keith Ruff
01:19 31 Jul 22
This place loves veterans. Has to be one of the best military discounts I have ever seen. All we did was the cave tour but it was great. Our guild Rachel was very knowledgeable and friendly. It's crazy how all of these cave down here are different in their own way. These pictures don't do the cave justice.
Matthew Powers
14:18 22 Jul 22
It was our first tour on our trip to the Mammoth Cave area. My wife and I absolutely enjoyed the tour. It was a small group of folks. Everyone was friendly. Staff was super friendly. The guide was great never was rushed and he also helped take pictures for families. I think his name was Keith. The sights were very interesting. Loved the fact that the river was running through all the way just a really nice cave. I. would recommend for sure. I liked it better than the National Park cave.
Ellisa Kobylak
05:37 12 Jul 22
We really enjoyed this cave tour. Compared to the National Park tour, this group seemed to give more time for photos and questions. It was a slower pace and that made it more enjoyable. There was also less harsh lighting, so you really get a soft glow of the cave.The bridge was really great, too! And our guide, Logan, was knowledgeable and funny.There are a lot of stairs!
Cheyenne Trammell
03:38 11 Jul 22
Cool museum, very cool cave and history. A little pricey but worth it. Staff was nice. Unfortunately the poorest lit cave I’ve ever been in and has a lot of potential for better showing. Was in a big group and also unable to hear the soft-spoken tour guide, but she was not short any enthusiasm about the cave or her job. Certainly still recommend
Michael Huffman
21:14 08 Jul 22
Great place to visit. Friendly staff. The cave was pretty cool with the addition of the bridge. It is easy to walk. Gift shop was really nice and reasonably priced. The museum was pretty basic but nice. I would certainly recommend you go see this cave. I enjoyed it more than mammoth cave.
The Pewter Palace
12:42 18 Jun 22
Super place! Museum is FREE and we'll done. Some interactive exhibits great for kids and adults. Some exhibits need a little TLC and we suspect the downturn in visitors due to pandemic did not help their finances to make needed repairs. All in all a great museum that showcases the early founding of the cave, the town around it and the good years and bad years. It is a story of trimpumph to reclaim a cave the citizens polluted at one time. Now you can happily tour it again! We did not go on the tour ($) due to a sore knee but we were encouraged by the front desk staff to take the elevator down to the walkway and cave entrance. It's like an enchanted garden and nice and cool from the cave air was icing on the cake. We highly recommend visiting this site and pop in all the antique shops and other stores in the downtown just across the street!
Luisa Sherman
03:39 17 Jun 22
Nice gem in downtown. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Exhibits in museum were very well done. Some interactive ones even kids would like. Some showed signs of need for repair but as a small non profit we are sure the pandemic really presented visitation challenges since the museum relies on donations (and yes, we donated today). The gift shop was nicely stocked and we also made a purchase there. Due to an achy knee we did not go on the actual cave tour while visiting. There is a fee for cave tours but the museum is free. The gal at the desk encouraged us to take the elevator to go down to the cave entrance walkway thru the back lawn. It was wonderful being able to get close to the entrance and feel the cool air and mist especially since it was 97 degrees! The temp must have dropped by at least 20 degrees near the cave! The cave and the town has an amazing story and Bravo to all who reclaimed the cave after it had been missed as essentially a dumping ground for decades. It's quite a success story. Definitely go visit when in the area!
Kerstin Brucki
22:38 16 Jun 22
We stopped at Hidden River unexpectedly on a road trip. We walked right in on a Thursday afternoon and was able to get on the next tour. The front staff was nice and welcoming. The museum was a nice intro to the history and wildlife of the cave. Aaron was our tour guide and he was super knowledgeable. He was also patient and willing to let us stop to take photos and answer any questions we had. My husband and I have been to a few other caves in the past, and we thought Hidden River was great. It was worth the stop.
Leeann Mitchell
23:53 17 Apr 22
This cave is a true conservative victory! I did not know this cave even existed until we found it in trip advisor! Linda was a great tour guide who is from the area! It was great to have a local do the tour and she was very informative and interesting! I highly recommend this tour! The museum and gift shop are really great too!
Ethell Yarbrough
23:28 08 Apr 22
Thank you so much to the amazing tour guides on this special tour of the cave 65 miles under the town of Horse Cave! This is incredible of how it could have become a sink hole. Just amazing attention to detail to the history of the town and how the cave came to be. My three year old was all about it! He liked hearing his own echo too, would definitely recommend as a first stop to the beautiful caves Kentucky has to offer. So glad to find this “hidden” gem!
Ethell Yarbrough
23:24 08 Apr 22
Thank you so much to the amazing tour guides on this special tour of the cave 65 miles under the town of Horse Cave! This is incredible of how it could have become a sink hole. Just amazing attention to detail to the history of the town and how the cave came to be. My three year old was all about it! He liked hearing his own echo too, would definitely recommend as a first stop to the beautiful caves Kentucky has to offer. So glad to find this “hidden” gem!
C Williams
21:21 05 Apr 22
We had a great time on our tour today. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Unfortunately I don't remember his name, but he really did a great job. This was at the 10am tour on 4/5/22.I am out of shape and the steps going back up to exit the cave were a little challenging for me, but I would say that an average person should be fine. The views were well worth it. Really enjoyed visiting the museum beforehand.
J Mazola
02:40 31 Mar 22
Me and my daughter went in 2019 and had an absolutely amazing guide. The whole experience from start to finish was captivating and to my family at least was life changing. The adventure wasn't difficult but was challenging but that was what made it so memorable. I highly recommend it to all my friends if they can make it up that way.
Mila Bahuto
12:31 27 Mar 22
Very convenient location near the highway. The tour lasts about an hour. You will not see any stalactites or stalagmites, but the underground river and three domes underneath are worth visiting too! Our guide, Justin, made the tour funny and informative.
Mike Quesnel
15:51 18 Mar 22
Overall the most organized cave experience we went to during our stay. We had the luck of having the director, cave Dave, lead our tour. He was amazing and full of information during the tour. This cave will surprise you! It is a must see. We personally enjoyed the sights and tour over any other cave we visited. Would give more stars if possible!!!! As of right now you can probably walk in and get tickets for a tour, however as it becomes more discovered this will certainly be a huge attraction and destination!! So be prepared to book ahead in the future!!!!
minuscule studio
06:04 04 Mar 22
Absolutely fantastic! Our group of 4 did the off-trail cave tour and it was incredible- but be ready for a challenge! We waded through cave streams, met local wildlife, climbed, slid, and crawled through an ever-changing maze of chambers. Our guide, Chris, was wonderful- very knowledgeable, made us feel very safe, and took us on an unforgettable adventure. See photos for before/after shots.
Mathew Boals
23:48 03 Mar 22
This Cave is SO cool. The staff was amazing and made me feel as if I was one of them. I visited on a Thursday afternoon and was surprised to find that I was the only one there. Despite being the only one on the tour, Logan (tour guide) was awesome. He took time to listen to my adventures (i had been cave and cavern touring the country this week) and tell me all the cool and interesting details about the cave. Goes to show a 54 year old can learn something new every day (even from a 20ish year old). Definitely visit if you are in the area. I preferred this adventure better than Mammoth cave.
Join the American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA)!
Hidden River Cave and the American Cave Museum are operated by the nonprofit American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA). Donations and membership dues help support our educational programs and operations at the American Cave Museum and also allow us to sponsor conservation efforts that directly protect and preserve caves and groundwater resources nationally.
Annual and monthly memberships are available for your convenience.
Clicking the join or donate buttons below will take you to our secure membership portal.
Membership Benefits
ACCA members are part of a special group working to preserve one of the most unusual environments on Earth. Your support truly makes a difference.
*Regular Membership ($25) Benefits Include:
- FREE admission to the American Cave Museum
- 20% discount on Hidden River Cave tours and Gift Shop items for Member & Guests
- Discounted rates for special exhibitions or events through our affiliation with the Southeastern Museums Conference - for more information, please visit: https://www.semcdirect.net/SERM-Participants
- Reciprocal admission to over 60 museums in the Southeast USA
- Subscription to our quarterly newsletter ACCA News
- voting privileges for election of ACCA Board of Directors
- Opportunities to participate in volunteer projects and educational workshops hosted by the ACCA
- More importantly, you will receive the opportunity to help conserve the fragile and irreplaceable natural caverns and karst areas located throughout America.
*Supporter Membership ($50)
All Regular Membership benefits plus FREE Hidden River Cave tour admission for 1 Member
*Sustainer Membership ($100)
All Regular Membership benefits plus FREE Hidden River Cave tour admission for 1 Member and 1 Guest
*Guarantor Membership ($250), Benefactor Membership ($500), Patron Membership ($1,000), Life Membership
All Regular Membership benefits plus FREE Hidden River Cave tour admission for 1 Member and up to 4 Guests
*Our reservation system does not currently provide a way to include member discounts for tour reservations. If you are a member, please call us at (270) 786-1466 to book your tour. Alternately, you can present your membership card when you arrive.
Please visit the American Cave Conservation Association website for additional donation options and gift membership information.
You can also mail a check or money order (U.S. Funds only) payable to:
American Cave Conservation Association • P.O. Box 409 • Horse Cave, KY 42749
Hidden River Cave & The American Cave Museum are operated by the American Cave Conservation Association,
A National 501 (c) 3 Nonprofit Organization.