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
Brandon C.
09:07 08 Dec 24
Hidden River Cave is an absolute gem in Cave City, KY! Our tour guide, Maddox, made the experience unforgettable. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the cave’s history and features, answering every question from the group with patience and expertise. Maddox’s enthusiasm for the cave was contagious, and he took his time to ensure everyone had a thorough and enjoyable tour.One of the highlights of the tour was the swinging bridge--what an incredible experience! It adds an extra layer of adventure and offers a unique perspective of the cave. The cave itself is stunning, with breathtaking views and fascinating stories. If you're in the area, this is a must-visit, and I highly recommend asking for Maddox as your guide. He truly went above and beyond to make our visit exceptional!
Kathleen LaPorte
00:36 02 Dec 24
If you’re a cave enthusiast, or looking for a neat stop on your way through Kentucky, I highly recommend stopping here! We had a great time with our 4 and 7 year old kids, and were in a group with folks into their 70s. Our guide, Jay, was very knowledgeable about the geological formation, ecological restoration, conversation, wildlife, and historical background of the live system. He was also funny and great with any questions lobbed his way. All and all, it look us about 90 minutes from start to finish, but your guide adapts to the group they’re leading so everyone is comfortable.It is definitely worth your time!
Andrea Hill
21:51 01 Dec 24
We had a great time in the cave. The cave was really neat, learning the history of it was cool too. The fact that we could bring our dogs made it a full 5 stars. All of the workers were very friendly and our guide Max did a great job sharing the history and the current state of the cave. We would recommend this to anyone traveling through the area
Cathrine Deulloa
22:05 29 Nov 24
Must have experience while in Kentucky! My bf and I are here on vacation and the locals told us to check out the Hidden River Cave.. I’m glad we did, not only was it really cool, it was educational. Our tour guide Max is clearly really passionate about the cave and the work they are doing to restore it and explore it.. Absolute BLAST 💯!
Brandon Lowe
21:07 25 Nov 24
Very informative, enjoyed seeing the insides of the caves. Entertaining stories about the history of the caves and how they came to be through the years.
Layla Mansel
23:30 24 Nov 24
Maddox was a fantastic tour guide! I really enjoyed going through the caves and seeing all of the cool creatures and learning about the history of the cave. 10/10 would recommend.
Dan and Yi Ren
22:43 24 Nov 24
Max did great job to tour the cave. Definitely recommend it! Love the sunset dome
Miranda
21:16 19 Nov 24
Great tour, we got lots of info and he answered all of our many questions. All the young people working there at the time of our visit were helpful and informative. Bathrooms were clean and we were able to fill out water bottles. Also plenty of parking. The hike both ways was easy and the guide stopped and walked ahead so we could take more photos and view at our own pace, we were a small group of 3 and the last tour of the day. He also took several photos for us.It was a great stop, we were early so we got a chance to walk around the whole museum and gift area.
Colin Ross
17:23 17 Nov 24
Our tour guide was great, I wish I remembered her name… but if you can have the short girl with a nose piercing you’re in for a terrific tour. She knew the answers to all of the questions and really made sure everyone in the group got to spend as much time in any area they wanted. Seemed like there was a tour every hour or so, but I’d call before visiting to make sure you get there in time for a tour.Photos will not do the cave justice
Lutz Haberzettl
02:30 17 Nov 24
We had a great tour at Hidden River Cave. Since it was just the two of us on the tour, our guide Max took the time to make it a more personal tour which allowed us to have a nice talk about the work the American Cave Conservation Association does. We highly recommend to visit Hidden River Cave and support the work of the American Cave Conservation Association.
Lex Wolf
22:38 13 Nov 24
Took the first tour on a Sunday, it was rainy and I was the only one for that tour, so we got to stay longer and got a more through explanation of the cave, its features, species, and more. The tour guide Max answered all questions with thorough knowledge and details. Highly recommend taking the tour. The parking is super close, facilities are nice and clean and the museum has a lot of information to read. The store is also filled with unique trinkets and minerals of all sorts and colors.
Stephanie Wilocki
22:07 13 Nov 24
The tour at Hidden River Cave was awesome. Our tour guide, Max, was very informative and presented this beautiful cave, and its history, with enthusiasm. We all were so thrilled to have taken the time to explore Hidden Valley Cave and support the American Cave Conservation Association! Keep up the great work!
Hair Ball52
21:59 13 Nov 24
This is a place to see !!!Awesome is an understatement !!Mad was our guide and he nailed it.Put it in the list above the national park, go there second.Thanks for a great tour Max and Hidden River Cave !!!
Tucker Bearden
14:24 13 Nov 24
Was a great experience! Our tour guide was so excited about every little fact she was teaching us that it got all of us excited as well! She knew all the history and was clearly inspiring by the awe of it all. On top of that, she was finer than a frog hair split 4 ways... for you city folks, that means she was smoking hot. This tour is awesome and the last dome has some of the best sound echoing you will ever see. Would live to hear monks chanting in there. What a beautiful place.... and guide 😂🫡
Adam G-Mann
14:40 12 Nov 24
The Hidden River Cave & American Cave Museum is a fun place to visit for history and artifacts about American caves and also a fun cave tour. The Cave is pretty fun to explore and see. There are a lot of stairs to go up and down, so be prepared for lots of walking and some steep climbs.
Jason Binkowski
01:06 12 Nov 24
Our tour was awesome!!! We had max and he was very informative. We were able to walk in, get tickets and be down in the caves in under 30 minutes. We saw the other caves as well and fully recommend seeing these in addition to other caves, or by themselves.
Sarah Goettge
18:22 11 Nov 24
This was such an amazing cave tour. You have to stop here when you are in the area.
sugarben2010
00:21 11 Nov 24
This is really cool hidden gem. Lots of stairs but well worth it. Max was a great guide. We even got to see a little resident bat (don't worry it was way high on the ceiling and didn't move). Worth the little trip out!
CarGirl 79
21:53 10 Nov 24
Really nice staff, girl giving the tour, while she said she was newer did a great job. It was a small group, paced well and full of cool information!
Karin Webb
22:09 06 Nov 24
The Tour Guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The cave is definitely one of the hidden gems in Kentucky.
Donrey Smith
21:25 05 Nov 24
One pf the most beautiful natural entrances we've seen and the fact that it’s right in the middle of a town made it all the more special. Max, our guide, was super knowledgeable about the history and geology of the cave. It’s obvious he loves what he does. The cave contains three domes each larger than the last, the final is breathtakingly huge.Thank you Max and the folks doing all this great work to maIntain and explore the cave.
Hannah M
14:48 04 Nov 24
We visited back in May as we traveled down to Tennessee for a family wedding. I was surprised to find a cave right in the middle of town. It was a great choice as a smaller cave and not needing to buy tickets ahead of time, which we would have had to do with Mammoth Caves. Hidden River Cave also had a higher age for a free-child ticket, which meant we didn't have to pay for my 5 yr old.There is a small museum to wander while you wait for your tour time. Some of the exhibits were in need of repair, and I hope you're able to secure some funding for that soon. My kids and I loved seeing the fish.Because of the recent storms, the power had been knocked out, which we didn't realize at first. We were the first tour of the day and our tour guide initially thought the lights hadn't been turned on.I cannot remember our guide's name, she was an older teen and very knowledgeable! She persisted into the dark and gave us a wonderful tour. My daughter took an absolute shine to her, and I appreciate our guide's enthusiasm for answering all of my daughter's questions.Going back up those stairs at the end is not for the faint of heart though!I hope we can come back one day and see the cave lit up, but my family enjoyed the "authentic" experience.
Kelly B
20:00 03 Nov 24
Didn't feel safe. Tour guide giggling every 10 words, liked to get off path with only flashlight to show off. If she fell no more light. Narrow stairs not big enough to have a tour go down and up; but thats what they were doing with a tour going down at same time as tour going out on wet stairs.
Roberta Crandall
15:37 02 Nov 24
This was truly a hidden gem! Max was our tour guide and was very knowledgeable and eager to answer all of our questions. He was outstanding!! He was very informative and passionate about his work. The young man has a great future in front of him. This is truly a must see.
Jim Crandall
15:25 02 Nov 24
Absolutely a don't miss attraction. Max was our tour guide. He deserves 10 stars unbelievably knowledgeable, young man he really made the event!!
Misty Major
21:22 01 Nov 24
Max was our guide and he was wonderful! We really learned a lot about cave formation and evolution. Excited to go back soon!
J C
03:27 01 Nov 24
Cave is nothing but mud. We expected a river and the guide even talks about kayaking in the cave, but there isn’t even a river to kayak in. Just a small stream and one gush of water.
Consuela Hiawatha
22:46 31 Oct 24
Jay gave an awesome, lively tour. The cave is quite the experience! The tour lasts about an hour and takes you across the coolest suspension bridge. There are plenty of steps, but it's totally doable for most fitness levels.
Daniel Hobbs
02:35 30 Oct 24
Great experience! The Cave entrance (through the Museum) is on Main Street in town! Wonderful history, amazing sites and a great story told in a small tour group by an actual "Caver". In about an hour we covered the site easily in safely. There are several hundred steps that are easily taken at your own pace.
Jackie Horton
21:34 27 Oct 24
Very interesting Cave system that we hadn't seen before. The swinging bridge was amazing. Even got to see a cave cricket and solitary bat. Tour guide, Max, was very knowledgeable and a good voice for being a tour guide. Would recommend!
Amanda Daniel
14:15 27 Oct 24
Visiting Hidden River Cave was definitely my favorite stop on my trip to Kentucky this month! Max was a wonderful guide and offered a very thorough history of the area and cave blended perfectly with detailed explanations of the science of how it formed.
Taylor Tate
13:39 27 Oct 24
Max was our tour guide. He was amazing. He had a lot of information and explained everything to us. If you get a chance to visit this cave, it will be well worth it. Big open space. Cool history.
A Divine Canine
23:41 25 Oct 24
The only dog friendly cave I've ever come across. My dog did great too. Our tour guide was wonderful, informative and answered all of our questions. The cave has an interesting history and it's amazing to see how it's recovered from its turbulent and neglected past.The steps going down and within the cave were easy for me as were the ones coming back out, except for the ones right at the exit of the cave. They were hard for me but I have two artificial knees and a heart condition, yet I was able to plug right along and am glad I decided to take this tour. Sunset dome was one of my favorite highlights as well as the unique history of the cave.The museum had interactive displays and artifacts from the past and a nice gift shop.We were lucky enough to see a few of the caves inhabitants and the temperature inside the cage was perfect on a hot day.Take time out of your trip to stop in and explore this unique cave.
Bryan Boehmer
00:10 25 Oct 24
We had a great tour at hidden river. Max was an incredible tour guide filled with knowledge and history of the cave system. Safe for families, we had 3 kids 12 and under and they loved it. Nice gift shop and friendly staff. Would recommend to anyone looking for a neat cave system. The domes were awesome and huge.
Harrison Hong
17:54 24 Oct 24
Drove to this place from MD after visiting TN, this place seems great but.... i need to be healthier in order for me to walk down & back up lol
Sheridan B
15:25 24 Oct 24
Such a cool experience in the middle of town! The museum is set up so nicely to help us learn about the history of the cave, the science of caves, cave animals, and environmental impacts. The entrance to the cave is really amazing — incredible that the extensive system is right under the downtown area. Our guide Max was wonderful - very knowledgeable and able to answer all our questions. We loved that we could bring our pup along, but beware the suspension bridge has metal grates you can see through and has a little sway, so she didn’t enjoy that part of the experience. The domes underground are really something incredible. Caves are so fascinating and I’m grateful for groups like the American Cave Conservation Association for taking care of these important pieces of our ecosystem.
Tom Kelley
02:21 23 Oct 24
Was amazed on intention to detail our guide was. Also loved the town and go into the antique shop across the street.
Richard Cothern
20:45 22 Oct 24
Hidden River Cave is not your typical "Show Cave". This one was a living cave system and definitely felt "raw" and almost untouched. The tour guide Dylan, was knowledgeable and was really well educated on the cave.
Kristen Clark
04:07 22 Oct 24
I’ve visited Hidden River Cave three times over seven years, and it’s been a great experience each and every time. The opportunities to experience new parts of the cave have grown significantly in that time, and being able to see the sunset dome for the first time on my last visit was particularly special.Shoutout to Dylan for being an excellent guide who made the whole experience more enjoyable.
Benjamin Reichert
03:16 22 Oct 24
The guide Al was funny, informative, and told some pretty good stories. The cave is unique and very much worth seeing.
Michael Solinsky
23:42 21 Oct 24
Our tour guide Max was very educational, passionate and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the views and stories.
D Bayone
22:27 20 Oct 24
Very interesting cave tour and worth it. There are a lot of steps to descend down into it which means coming back out of it is a tough climb. But it's doable and the tour makes it worth it!. The staff and our guide were very pleasant and informative. It's interesting that the town of Horse Cave is built above it. The 3 domes are amazing and hearing the river rush under there is pretty neat There's a suspension bridge to cross which is somewhat scary but also very neat. The tour was about an hour and you won't regret taking it.
Lexi Gette
21:12 20 Oct 24
LOVED THE TOUR! Happened to be driving through and saw the sign off the highway and stopped for a spontaneous activity. We went 10/20/24, the 3:00 tour with Maddox. He was very informative and made the tour extra fun! Highly recommend!
Madison Wilson
14:00 19 Oct 24
The swinging bridge is so cool! We had a great tour guide. They talk about the formations and explain cave conservation and the necessity to keep conservation efforts alive.
Dot Marcum Choate
03:09 18 Oct 24
We had a great time here. Very interesting and informative tour through the caves. Tour guide Matt did a great job!
Casey Keith
15:13 17 Oct 24
Our tour guide, Al, was amazing. He made the tour relatable and personal. He truly is a light in a dark world(cave). The cave itself was actually really neat, and I truly stood in amazement. Thank you Al for your servant’s heart. 10/10 recommend.
Jocelyn G
01:29 16 Oct 24
This was amazing! Been driving by the billboard for few years and finally made the time to go to this cave! Absolutely worth it! Our guide Maddox, was great. Funny, knowledgeable and seemed to really enjoy his job! For sure a must see!!!
ORetha Beavers
17:49 15 Oct 24
Maddox was our tour guide and he really seemed to know a lot about the history and the cave itself and enjoyed sharing that knowledge with the group. Great sense of humor too! The dome rooms and bridge were very cool. The step count sounds more intimidating than it is because it is broken up throughout the tour and you can take your time (and that's coming from someone who's totally out of shape)
Davis Kiesel
16:04 15 Oct 24
Hidden River was awesome. So beautiful. Our guide Dylan was super knowledgeable and kind. Mammoth Cave was sold out so we went here and I am very glad we did!!
Stephanie Caucis
14:22 15 Oct 24
We had an awesome time on this cave tour! The guide did an amazing job engaging everyone in the group and we learned so much about caving. This team is passionate about what they do. Highly recommend this tour.
Megan
23:09 14 Oct 24
This place is literally a hidden gem. I’ve been to mammoth caves before and this was 1000x better. The bridge was super cool, all of the domes left us speechless. I couldn’t believe that all of that was hidden under a street light. Our tour guide Al made it even better. Having someone so passionate and knowledgeable take us through it was an incredible experience and I HIGHLY recommend anyone to check this out. 10000/10 stars. (He also is great photographer and took so many pictures for us to choose from😂)
Sarah Rusinko
20:58 14 Oct 24
Maddox was a great guide! Answered all of our questions and let us take our time getting down/up the stairs. This place is worth the stop if you’re in the area. There are a lot of steps but it’s not too bad.
Cierra Blythe
00:58 14 Oct 24
Awesome cave that’s close to home. My 4 year old son and I had a great time! We done the guided tour and loved it!
David Elkins
14:10 13 Oct 24
Max gave a very interesting tour! He is quite knowledgeable about caving!
Susan Swingholm
12:38 13 Oct 24
Max was a great tour guide. We love his passion for caving and the environment! Fascinating tour. Loved the suspension bridge. Lots of cool gifts in the store, too. And the museum was informative and interesting.
Darrell Adkins
23:25 12 Oct 24
An amazing place to take a guided cave tour under the city. Beautiful Domes and a river running under your feet. Jay the tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the cave and it's history.
Maddox Carroll
19:12 11 Oct 24
Dylan was my tour guide almost a year ago, he was such a great guide that he inspired me to work at hidden river cave and I’ve fallen in love with the place ever since, the most authentic and thoughtful guides out of any tour service I’ve ever been to!
C & S Pettingill
20:43 10 Oct 24
Hidden River Caves were great! Took my kids and visiting family. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and tour guide Max. Very informative and fun!
Mary Clites
01:11 10 Oct 24
This is a hidden gem! Definitely recommend this tour. Our tour guide Dylan did a wonderful job and was very informative. Beautiful cave with some amazing views.
Jessica Campbell
21:29 09 Oct 24
Excellent tour! The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining. Loved every second!
Amber Cole
14:39 09 Oct 24
My husband and I had a wonderful time at Hidden River Cave! If you want a real caving experience with knowledgeable guides, lots of local history, and to support a non-for-profit, this is it! Our guide Max was very knowledgeable about the local area and the environmental challenges that impact the cave and its system.
Deanna Bck
19:07 08 Oct 24
Hidden right under the town, you would never guess such a massive cave exists there. It was very interesting to see!
Abigail Godin
00:42 08 Oct 24
The place is an absolute Must see! It is definitely extraordinary, an inspiration for a good story I should say! The workers and guides were very nice. Max (I think that was his name…sorry if I remember incorrectly) our guide did a splendid job telling about the history of the place.It is worth seeing again.
Amber Williams
18:37 07 Oct 24
My family and I had a great time. Al was informative and funny. We definitely recommended him as a tour guide.
Ashley Toney
21:15 06 Oct 24
We have been to several caves across the nation’s SE, and this was our absolute favorite! The cave was very unique, and our tour guide, Al, can’t be beat! He provided lots of information and history, and he did a fantastic job connecting to all of us. He was funny, relatable, and made it feel as though we were true cavers exploring with him.
Jennifer Matthews
19:59 06 Oct 24
This cave tour and museum is a great attraction for families. Our tour guide Al was super knowledgeable, and he kept everyone engaged and entertained throughout the tour. The swinging bridge was definitely a highlight of the tour. We had looked at a couple of other cave tours in the area before choosing Hidden River, and we definitely made the right choice!
Sterling
19:20 06 Oct 24
This was a really cool cave with a really unique history I enjoyed it very much. Al was our tour guide he was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the cave. Highly recommend stopping by and seeing this cave if you are in the area. Also they appreciate vetrans as well.
Brent Emery
01:38 06 Oct 24
The Hidden River cave is spectacular. Our tour guide Beth was very informative and fun on our tour. She took her time with us and gave us a great tour. This is a highly recommended cave to visit!
Rachel Lysholm
18:10 05 Oct 24
Maddox was incredible! This is one of the best cave tours we’ve ever been on. Absolutely will be back.
David McGlynn
23:20 04 Oct 24
Truly a hidden wonder! We stopped by Hidden River Cave after doing some Mammoth Cave Tours in the area and we looking for a variety, and we found it!We took the 4pm tour, and our tour guide Max went over the history of the cave, its geology and the various wildlife that inhabit it. We actually saw some wildlife on our tour, learned about the giant dome formations and got to cross a giant underground suspension bridge! It was all quite an experience, and our tour guide Max was very personable and tailored the tour to our needs and really made the tour awesome!They had a pretty extensive museum as well that went over a lot of history of the different caves in the area. I really enjoyed seeing some of the artifacts and reading the old newspapers about the Floyd Collins story.The gift shop had some cool gifts to buy and the staff working there were extremely friendly!It was a totally different experience than Mammoth Caves and I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!
Debbie Schwind
02:41 01 Oct 24
Brooklyn was a very informative guide. We enjoyed our tour. This was a very cool experience and I would encourage anyone to do this.
Tae Dowdy
17:56 30 Sep 24
Had a flat tire and got it fixed over at Tri County Auto & Oil. Had some time to kill so we stumbled into Hidden River Cave, which was right across the street, and it was an awesome experience. The caves were astounding to look at but more importantly our tour guide Al was the highlight. He was personable, funny, and very knowledgeable. 10/10 all around!! Highly recommend it if you find yourself in the area.
Greg Arason
18:00 29 Sep 24
Nice cave tour. Enjoyed being able to bring my dog along. A bigger dog would be difficult because there are a lot of grated walking areas.
Shandi Moore
17:25 24 Sep 24
Great tour through the caves. Liam was very knowledgeable with a good sense of humor. Be prepared for steps, LOTS of steps.
tom mason
21:06 23 Sep 24
We weren't quite sure what to expect because this cave was in the middle of downtown Horse Cave. We were surprised to find out the Cave opening, which was huge, was right behind the museum entrance. Our tour guide was Al, and he gave us an interesting and historic and knowledgeable tour. Turns out he's actually a cave mapper. The cave itself is huge and beautiful. It's interesting to find out it actually does fill with water after a really wet season above ground. The first dome we looked at was almost an acre in size. The Swinging Bridge which is the only one in a cave, was awesome and, more importantly, very well-constructed. The important part of this lengthy review is that it was well worth the $25 fee. You should make this one of your bucket list items and also note that this is non-profit and the proceeds go toward preserving caves. Al and Liam in the pic. There were a dozen in our group. The next group only had 3.
PorBoy Projects
17:08 23 Sep 24
Loved it. Had to make it a point to stop thru and check it out. Anytime we go south we try to visit at least 1 cave system. Still trying to find a childhood memory 😆. Well Al which maybe your guide if you stop thru let me know which cave system it is I'm looking. Crystal Onyx will be next. Be ready for stairs as there are 750 steps according to Al and the swinging suspension bridge was a nice touch becarefull if your weak in the knees as it does bounce a little and sway side to side. Even our puppers enjoyed it. All they ask is make sure you and your pups are in good spirits as we had a out 5 dogs in our group and they all said hi and handled thier self's well. I would recommend some kind of walking shoes.
Jason Cox
01:59 23 Sep 24
Awesome experience! Cave did not disappoint, even after visiting Mammoth Cave the day before. It was also a lot less crowded, and felt like more of an adventure. Our tour guide, Max, was very knowledgeable of the cave, the towns history and the animals that call the cave home. We went on a Sunday afternoon and got a 1:1 tour!
J B
03:09 20 Sep 24
Beautiful place right dead center in the middle of town ....not what you would expect ...
Carol Jordan
21:00 18 Sep 24
Our tour guide Max was great. Very knowledgeable. Small group (6 people). Enjoyed the tour Very much.
Sherrie Jones-Tomkins
20:09 15 Sep 24
Nox was our tour guide & she was wonderful! We were a small group and she was personable as if we were her family! She has a lot of knowledge about caves, especially the one she was guiding us through! We will surely return & do another tour she is guiding! The entire staff was very friendly from the moment we entered (asking 100 questions 😂) to the end in the gift shop! Thank you all!
Skyler purcell
21:31 14 Sep 24
We had Al as our tour guide he was amazing and very enthusiastic about the caves. He had plenty of interesting personal stories to share. I really enjoyed this and would do it again!
Mike Alderson
21:22 14 Sep 24
The kiddos had a blast. Lots of displays to learn about cave systems, cave critters, food chains, ground water filtration, water tables, ect. We didn't go down into the cave but the prices are reasonable for a guided tour (like $25 for an adult) and a trail to a nearby park (which the kids loved too)
Renae Baker
21:28 13 Sep 24
We had an awesome time and really enjoyed learning from our guide Liam! It turns out each guide is allowed to talk more about the things that interest them, so you could learn something new on multiple tours. This is not a long and arduous cave tour, thus great for beginners. Really neat that the cave is right in the middle of town, and even better to learn the town was purposefully built around the cave! The free museum is a nice added bonus. If you can, I would recommend going here and Mammoth Cave.
Edward Morton
17:30 10 Sep 24
My wife and I visited the museum and did the guided cave tour here on August 5th, 2024 in conjunction with a visit to nearby Mammoth Cave National Park. We did two cave tours at Mammoth during our stopover visit, which, while impressive, were also stiflingly crowded (nearly 100 persons in each tour group). While researching our itinerary during trip planning, I had seen a recommendation to also visit the Hidden River Cave in the nearby town of Horse Cave, so I booked the tour online before we arrived. The cave museum here in the little old town of Horse Cave is just as good, if not better than the one at the Mammoth Cave National Park........and its free. The Hidden River Cave tour was also VERY COOL and our tickets only cost $20 each..........as opposed to the $75 we paid at the National Park..........and our tour group only had about 8 people in it. Our guide was also a hometown gal who was very knowledgeable and friendly. The underground suspension bridge and rushing underground river is really an impressive site to see, and the large underground dome at the far end of the cave (the turnaround point) was spectacular here. It would be an awesome place to hold a small concert for an acoustic band or symphonic quartet. If you are going to visit Mammoth Cave, it's definitely worth driving 20 miles from the park visitor center over to the town of Horse Cave to do this cave and museum tour as well.
Krista Davis
05:40 08 Sep 24
I had a great experience at this cave. It's affordable and the staff are cartographers that explore the cave regularly. Loved hearing the stories about the history of the cave as well as the adventures of the tour guides that have explored all the passageways not open to the public.It's a really unique cave in that it occasionally floods, so it changes! I'd go again.I stopped on a whim and did not book online and had no issues joining a tour, but it was during school hours.Rappelling was incredible. They even helped film my descent so I could show my family what I did on my trip 🙂
Erin Brinkley
16:46 07 Sep 24
Amazing cave! This cave felt unique with the suspension bridge and the water rushing underneath. The tour guide, Max, was incredible nice and very knowledgeable. The tour is an hour long, making it perfect to fit into any schedule. I highly recommend spending some time in the museum, it was fun reading about the history of the area.
Karen Eggert
12:27 05 Sep 24
Terrific tour guide (Max). Provided a tremendous amount of historical information regarding the use of the cave through the centuries, as well basic, general cave information. Each staff member that I spoke with was well-informed regarding the importance of caring for cave systems, as well as friendly and courteous.
T Trent
23:31 04 Sep 24
Very enjoyable. Our guide, Al, was outstanding, relatable, funny, energetic, and full of knowledge.
Neha Sanghvi Mehta
02:35 04 Sep 24
Loved this cave experience, and it was awesome!! Will definitely recommend it to everyone! My 5 year old enjoyed it too! ❤️👍
Niku_sketches_ Foxes
00:43 04 Sep 24
our tour guide al was so freaking cool, he legit told us how many dollar generals would fit in the sunset dome (12.5) and told us his cool stories about going caving!!
Peg Schwing
14:32 03 Sep 24
We had a wonderful tour at Hidden River Cave last week! Many in our party were veterans, and they were admitted free of charge. You have no idea how much that meant to them. Al was an informative and professional tour guide. Hidden River Cave is unique, so even if you are visiting Mammoth Cave or Diamond Caverns, it's worth stopping in Horse Cave to see this hidden gem!
Wanda Pauls
15:21 02 Sep 24
Highly recommend touring this unique cave! Walking on the swinging bridge, 40+ feet above the river was incredible! And our guide, Jay, was not only very knowledgeable, but very passionate about caves. His stories of personal caving experiences added so much to the tour.
Jim Reid
03:33 01 Sep 24
The Tour Guide was very informative and knowledgeable. The cave was impressive, and the stairways and walkways are very well built! The hike back up the stairs will raise your heart rate! I suggest bringing a small but powerful flashlight.
CptBriggs
21:23 31 Aug 24
By far better than mammoth caverns better price, tour, and guide. Thank you AL for a great tour and good memories. Don't forget to hit hit up 2 Birds Cafe on Main Street for the best sandwichs I've had made from great folks who understand the atmosphere and a family type environment.
Daphne Hobbs
03:05 27 Aug 24
Max was our guide and was wonderful… full of knowledge and you could just tell how interested he was in his work. The cave was awesome. Love the whole experience !!
kathryn russell
22:36 24 Aug 24
This place is epic! Dylan the tour guide was amazing. He is very knowledgeable and made the trip a lot of fun. We have a 5 year old and a two year old. They both were able to walk the entire trip and it was the perfect length. Not too long for them to complain about walking and long enough to keep them interested. Please check this place out it was a very fun trip 10 out of 10!
Penny Papadopoulos
14:33 23 Aug 24
We had a very small group and Brook was our guide. We had so much fun! She was so knowledgeable about the history and physicality of the cave. I really liked the fact that her and her team actually explore the cave on their down time. She was able to give us more detailed information about that specific cave than I've ever heard from any other cave tours I've been on. They also offer exploration tours for you to physically climb the rocks too! She was funny and was able to explain things for my little one to understand. It was awesome seeing her face light up when she understood what caves are and why they look the way they do.
Erin Kaiser
13:47 23 Aug 24
Fantastic cave. We had a great time, our tour guide, Nox, was very knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend.
Cliff Parker
13:22 23 Aug 24
I enjoyed this tour. My poor Corgi, however, not so much.Pros:It was very informative. The history of this cave is fascinating. Max did a great job. It was cool in the cave, but not cold. I found it to be quite comfortable. We went at a good pace but were never rushed.Cons:Their web page does say pets are welcome, and they are. Be aware though that there are some very steep stairs and a lot of the path is a steel grid mesh. Thor did not like walking on the grid or the suspension bridge and some of the stairs were too steep for him so I carried him for a good bit of the tour (he didn't like that either).
Sara h
01:34 23 Aug 24
What an impressive cave. Take the time to come visit,you won't be disappointed.
Brad Fash
03:21 19 Aug 24
Of all the caves in Kentucky, this one was particularly interesting, being the entrance is in the middle of downtown! They are very military friendly as our tickets were free! The staff was super nice and very informative when it came to questions about the cave.
Allan Buccola
12:45 17 Aug 24
Another unique cave tour! This one starting in a metropolitan area, entrance hidden by tall buildings. Cool spot to visit, especially a hot day.
Christy McGill
20:44 16 Aug 24
We took the tour today with our 2 kids (8, 11) and we had Al as our guide. Highly recommend this place, tour was great, sights were beautiful, and great information. I'm terrified of heights but was able to make it through everything.
Laura johnson
18:54 15 Aug 24
We had Brooklyn for a guide and I highly recommend her. She is very knowledgable and passionate about her job. I loved learning about the history of the cave.
Andrew Knight
21:25 14 Aug 24
Very educational tour. Knox (hope I’m spelling that right) was very knowledgeable and personable which does a lot for the whole experience, and the whole staff was extremely friendly. Great place to visit!
Lori McNeelan
14:08 14 Aug 24
The guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The cave was amazing! Would definitely recommend this tour
Brian Drach
11:07 14 Aug 24
Fun & interesting lil tour, the dome rooms were quite impressive but there are a ton of steps to go down into the cave which is fine until you need to come back up, its a lot. Doable, but a lot, yet it wouldnt stop me from visiting again.
Rosie M
20:20 11 Aug 24
Was better than I thought. Though there's like 700 stairs!! Going down the stairs... not so bad... coming back up the stairs.. now that was a task! Loved the underground suspension bridge! Very cool. Our tour guild was AL. Highly recommend. Very informative!
Karen Postl
20:33 10 Aug 24
We had an amazing time. Knox was a great tourgiude. Funny, personable and really informative! Highly recommend!
Let Freedom Ping
18:20 09 Aug 24
Favorite cave I’ve been to. And I’ve been to many. It’s very untampered with compared to most. Very little lighting and construction.
Grace Byers
02:46 09 Aug 24
Our tour guide was Brook and she was wonderful! Would definitely request her if I ever visit again. We were the only tour group so it was a much more intimate tour where I felt comfortable asking as many questions as I wanted. I definitely recommend coming on a week day when it’s less crowded for that experience.
Olivia Poudrier
02:07 09 Aug 24
Al, Becca, and Knox gave us the most amazing tour. Becca has such an amiable, welcoming personality that we were easily convinced to join them on a guided tour - even tho we originally planned to just run through the museum. I could not be more content with our decision and the hospitality of these tour guides. Throughout our walk, Al recited funny and engaging stories about his adventures traversing the deepest, darkest depths of the mud laden holes. Knox came in absolutely struggling from the stairs of the tour she just gave, but apparently was eager to struggle again. I could not recommend these tour guides more, and definitely recommend requesting one of them on your trip out here. You can tell they are all very passionate about the health of the cave and about educating people on its history and the ever-changing landscape. They are such a tight-knit work family that bring such positive energy. And of course the cave was absolutely breath taking.
David Best
22:43 08 Aug 24
This is most likely my favorite first stop when touring my first time to Kentucky guests. The staff are well trained and wonderful people.
Rob Salas
21:21 08 Aug 24
Max is a very experienced and knowledgeable young man. Best underground cave tour EVER!!! Highly recommend it.
Ryan King
14:19 08 Aug 24
Our tour guide was fantasticKnowledgeable and personableHe made the experience that much more enjoyable
Christian Giggy
00:11 08 Aug 24
Great tour with a lot of really cool information. Nox was a fantastic tour guide who was able to answer all my questions and had great energy. Definitely recommend checking this tour out
Christopher Ryan Poll
01:36 06 Aug 24
This afternoon we had the bestest tour of the Horse Caves aka the Hidden River Caves. Al, our guide, was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, fun, and overall great. The stories he told, the knowledge he shared, and the all overall vibe he portrayed was outstanding. The caves and underground domes were super cool, and the suspension bridge was an added treat...and I don't even like heights. Win win. 10 out of 10, I would do it again. Thanks Al, you're my hero.
Kenny Anton
13:59 04 Aug 24
We were in town visiting Mammoth caves National park. During one of our down days, a time when our kids were at the hotel resting for a bit, my wife and I ventured out to the city of Horse Cave just to have a look around the historic district.We really didn’t see much of interest to us in the shops and restaurants/sweet shops downtown but we weren’t ready to go back to the hotel just yet. On our way back to the car, one of the guides for the cave in the town (Hidden River Cave) saw me looking at the amazing entrance and suggested we check it out. We went in just to ask about the price (service members get in free by the way), and almost immediately were signed up and ready to go on the tour.I won’t expound on the details of the tour (you should take it, it’s amazing!). I WILL tell you about the tour guide we had. His name is Al. He has a passion like no other for giving these tours because cave exploration is also his love. He was the perfect blend of hilarious and informative.I would highly recommend taking this off the beaten path cave tour.
Jennifer White
13:33 04 Aug 24
My husband and I did the cave tour on Friday and loved it! Brooklyn was our tour guide and she was awesome!
Savana Weitkuhn
12:59 04 Aug 24
This was a great, informative tour! We just walked in, didn’t buy tickets before hand, and they had room on the next tour that was leaving 5 minutes after we bought the tickets, it was very convenient for us, no waiting. Our tour guild Jay was full of a lot of fun facts and did a great job. It’s very nice that pretty much the entire tour is paved.
tj fisher
03:03 04 Aug 24
Amazing tour. AL was awesome. Very cool history. Very nice staff. They sweeped us right into the group.
Garon Hylian
00:29 04 Aug 24
Ontrail tour was amazing! Nox was super informative and so helpful with everyones questions!
Tami Jean
14:29 03 Aug 24
I’m sorry, I’m horrible at names. But our tour guide said if he was horrible to leave a review, well, he was just the opposite!! I do remember he just started, had longer hair, and was 18. My boyfriend and I were thoroughly impressed with his knowledge and shared joy of the caves. It was amazing!!! So glad we found this hidden gem.
Nathan Bassutti
14:59 02 Aug 24
We had a great tour at Hidden River Cave! Our tour guide Maddox was very knowledgeable and good sense of humour! I would recommend going this cave hike we did it with our 5 and 6 year olds who really enjoyed it!
Sam M
03:36 01 Aug 24
Thinking about stopping?? DO IT!! WILL MOT REGRET! Dog friendly too! My Husky LOVED it!! Especially on a hot day she stayed cool!Definitely the cave system you want to experience if you have to pick hands down!! ((Also museum & crystal shop!!)) Staff were very friendly and our guide was phenomenal!! Max is very well educated and super informative!! I learned lots of fascinating facts about these beautiful cave structures. Along with asked many questions that he was able to answer! I really enjoyed the beauty and unique structure. I learned that there are 121 different species living in the caves. We got to see a couple which was pretty cool!! Just WOW how magnificent the structure of the ceilings of the caves are. DEFINITELY one to experience and you’ll be glad you did! Also, prices were very reasonable. Quite a few hidden gems in the gift shop! Also appreciated that the staff knew the different types of crystals! One of my biggest takeaways I would say would definitely be remembering to be mindful of what you’re putting on the Earth. As in dumping out soda on the ground because it seeps underground, and that can affect the rock sediment / structure of our underground. There were a few spots of the cave that were black that encountered so much pollution. So that was interesting to become aware of. All in all an exquisite, beautiful, scenic journey that was also informative & super fun!!
Shannon Burgio
02:07 01 Aug 24
Such an amazing experience! Loved the tour of the cave as well as the history of the city! A must see!
Francer
16:32 30 Jul 24
Really cool cave with an amazing museum. There were some of the cave fish featured in the lower level of the museum.
Ashley Hostetter
23:25 29 Jul 24
Beth, our guide, was so friendly, knowledgable, and even above-and-beyond helpful when one of our tour members dropped some items (stepping onto the more dangerous areas of the cave to help retrieve those items for her). This cave is so aptly named as it is a truly hidden gem and I strongly suggest that anyone who likes caves check it out! Not only does it just seem to come out of nowhere considering how much the town was built up around it, but also because it doesn't disappoint on it's views - and that suspension bridge was a very unique and fun experience! Try whistling in the Sunset Dome at the end - the echo is awesome!!
Doreen Scherbring
16:42 29 Jul 24
Dylan was our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the cave system and the ongoing efforts to keep the cave clean of outside pollution. Very cool cave in the center of town.
Sara Kurth
16:48 28 Jul 24
Al was a great tour guide! Very knowledgeable and entertaining. Would highly recommend this tour! The swinging bridge was a bit of an adrenaline rush for me, but overall fun.
Tim Durbin
15:51 28 Jul 24
Had a great guide, Al. He was knowledgeable, thorough and funny. Took our grandchildren (ages 9,12) and they loved it. My only concern was there was no mention of how strenuous it was. While most of tour was fairly tame ( watch step, watch head) there was a lot ( not sure how many but maybe 100) steps down, since was an out and back journey, 100 steps out. Very strenuous for 68 year old! Did it, glad I did but I feel I am in good shape so be aware if steps are issue.
Ilona Laky
04:24 28 Jul 24
You should absolutely check this place out!We stumbled onto this cave while exploring around Cave City and we both agreed it was the best part of our trip - even cooler than Mammoth cave and that was super cool. Not only is the entrance like walking into the tropics with lush greenery everywhere, you can actually touch the cave! The museum and shop are also very interesting and have a wide variety of souvenirs.But we also agreed that the best part was our tour guide, Al. He brought so much personality to the tour. It didn't feel canned like the same exact speeches he gives everyone and he taught us so much about the cave. 10/10 would recommend.
Leslie Hall
01:06 28 Jul 24
We arrived without reservations today (a Saturday) and were warmly greeted upon entering gift shop. We were able to buy tickets for the next tour starting in 20 minutes - and were pleasantly surprised by military discount!Our guide was Dylan, very knowledgeable and laid back, he didn’t rush anyone and encouraged questions which he easily answered.The cave and river were just beautiful and awe inspiring to a newbie. Be sure to wear good shoes that you won’t mind getting dirty, the steps can get slippery. Also, the climb out is no joke, but you are never rushed so rest as needed. This was a 10/10 experience for us, followed by the burger voted ‘the best in Kentucky’ at 5 Broke Girls just down Main Street!
jason herrmann
00:57 28 Jul 24
I loved the smaller, more personal experience. Al was great, front staff was great. 5 Broke Girls was also great!
Lalo Castillo
23:41 27 Jul 24
Nice cave tour in Kentucky. The staff was SUPER friendly with great tour guides and very informative. I’d would recommend stopping by if you’re in the area.
Christopher S.
21:32 27 Jul 24
Great cave, not many formations, but an amazing decent and great rooms. It's one of the better ones in the area. It also has an interesting museum as part of the admission.
Carol Christmas
03:21 26 Jul 24
We came to the area on a lark and stumbled upon a massive cave just sitting in the middle of town! We took a guided tour of the cave with Al who was a fantastic ambassador for the area. We had so much fun on the tour with him. I’ve read about underground rivers in books and now I got to see one! 10/10 donuts for Al and Hidden River cave. If you’re in the area you’ve got to check it out.
Octavia Mendez
22:04 25 Jul 24
Al, Brooklyn, and Jay were amazing! Not only was this tour very informative it was very fun for all ages! Al was our tour guide and it was amazing to learn a little about his life and the town that sits right on top of the cave system. This was on our bucket list and so worth it!! Must go!!
Teresa Queen
22:08 24 Jul 24
Very interesting cave, tour guide was nice but tend to talk about everything but the cave. They allow guests to touch and disturb cave items which isn't good.Worth the trip though. Great little museum and town.
Donayle Watson
18:54 24 Jul 24
Dillon did a great job on our tour. Extremely knowledgeable and didn't rush to get the tour done.
carli ramage
01:21 24 Jul 24
Legit better than Mammoth cave! Brooklyn was our tour guide and she was awesome. This was a much more intimate tour so we were able to ask questions the whole time, stop to take pictures whenever and not feel like we were being rushed. 10/10 would recommend!!!
Emma Adams
21:18 23 Jul 24
Maddox (max) was the best guide very informative and never failed to answer any questions you could come up with ! Knows a lot of the history and science of the caves. 10/10 would go and see again the entrance alone is worth it !
Kayla Esterley
01:37 23 Jul 24
For a last minute decision to stop by for my birthday, I am glad we did(even if it made me realize how out of shape I am🤣) .Al, our tour guide was amazing, very knowledgeable, and made it interesting not just for the adults, but the kids as well. Thank you!
leilani bowersock
12:59 22 Jul 24
Hidden River Cave is spectacular- been there twice. The domes in itself make this cave unique! The history and restoration of this cave is to be commended! Excellent destination!
Mike Lewis
20:21 21 Jul 24
Great cave tour! Beth was our tour guide and did a fantastic job. The cave was very interesting!
Doug Crosbie
23:36 19 Jul 24
First time ever in a cave! Did NOT disappoint! Max was an absolutely awesome tour guide. Would come back for sure. Highly recommend
Jon Hendricks
21:07 19 Jul 24
First off even the store front is beautiful! Max was our guide and he did a great job. He touched on some great historical facts about the location and everything about the cave. Will definitely be back!
Kim Simpson
21:01 19 Jul 24
Liam was an excellent guide. The stairs are with the sights and experiences you get in the cave. The last dome will take your breath away. Do wear good shoes and take your time climbing the stairs. The museum is perfectly paired with the science and history of tte cave. We loved it so much we want to bring our students back.
Jacque Smith
13:00 19 Jul 24
This was one of many cave tours that we took while in Kentucky. I would also rate it in my top 5. Al our tour guide was awesome and energetic, he definitely made the tour the best it could be. It was cool to see the domes and hear about the history. Amazing that this cave is right under the town only 45-65 feet from the roads! We waited 45 minutes for our tour to start but occupied our time in the museum.
Patty Wincek
22:37 18 Jul 24
My husband, our two dogs and I went to Hidden River Cave this morning for a tour. Tours run every hour, on the hour. There is a wonderful gift shop and the American Cave Museum to help pass the time until the tour begins. The cave experience was very interesting and our guide, Cole, was great. Our dogs didn't want to cross the suspension bridge, so we were able to backtrack our route and end our tour. The rest of our tour group was able to continue on. The people who work there are kind and informative. I recommend Hidden River Cave. Be certain you are physically fit as there are a lot of stairs, slick pathways, and the sound of rushing water. If you are claustrophobic you may get a bit jittery at times. I say, GO!
Wendy Aragon
17:10 18 Jul 24
Nox was INCREDIBLE!!! I have a special needs adult din that can sometimes be a bit to handle, she was friendly and patient and fun to be around!
Frances Davis
02:23 18 Jul 24
Maddox was an excellent tour guide! He was very knowledgeable, friendly, made everyone feel safe, and was extremely hospitable. He gave a detailed account of historic facts and events that impacted the cave and its ecology. He was very adept at our answering questions. Would highly recommend.
Ren Bay
02:22 18 Jul 24
Great tour and friendly staff! Our tour guide Maddox was really knowledgeable and enthusiastic about cave conservation.
Kathy Spies
01:42 18 Jul 24
I was extremely pleased with this whole experience. I thought it would just be a little cave and maybe a "tourist trap" and it ended up being absolutely great. Our guide Al was fantastic! I can't say enough good things about him! He was personable, knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Went above and beyond, even showing my granddaughter and her friend some fossils and giving them a couple of rocks as a gift! Excellent!
Lynn Carroll
00:01 18 Jul 24
We took the 3pm tour with Maddox. He was knowledgeable about the history of the cave and answered our many questions. We loved it!
Bobbi Jo Holtz
01:27 17 Jul 24
We didn't get a chance to tour the cave but the museum & store were nice.
Purified Poison
19:52 16 Jul 24
My fiancé and I explored the cave today. It was so beautiful, and the sound of the river underneath us was so loud. My favorite part was the bridge. What a surreal experience. I would 10000% do it again!
Brandon New
19:20 16 Jul 24
A great adventure! A lot of steps but VERY worth it. A very relaxed touring experience. Nox, our guide, was knowledgeable and witty in the cave.
Shelsea Vera
18:09 16 Jul 24
I loved the tour, Justin Wilson was an awesome tour guide, successfully answered all of our questions and was amazing at explaining, very funny and cute also :3 definitely coming back here
Julie Irvine
01:33 16 Jul 24
Max was a great guide. He is knowledgeable, friendly and overall we thoroughly enjoyed our tour with him. Hidden River cave is now my favorite of the caves I’ve been in. We definitely recommend visiting!
Aimee Rosser
23:06 15 Jul 24
Beautiful cave and wonderful experience! I LOVED that I was able to bring my pup on this tour with me! Everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable.
Annie Godbey
21:00 15 Jul 24
Our guide Al was so knowledgeable and had great stories. This was such a nice little stop.
sweet dumpling
15:56 15 Jul 24
my fiancé and i decided to take a road trip to lexington kentucky for the 4th of july weekend. we ended up at horse cave since mammoth cave was all booked up. our tourist, Al, did an amazing job explaining all of the history behind the caves features. he made the tour fun and a trip to remember. there were quite a few slippery stairs so be mindful and bring some shoes u don't mind getting a little dirty. unfortunately the tour only lasted about 30-40 min. u have to walk back the same way u came in. but besides that, the only biggest complaint we had were all the people! it was an insane amount. i'm assuming anywhere from 15-20 people in this group. it was so crowded u were bumping into everyone. i wouldn't recommend bringing ur dog here since their paws get stepped on from all the people and there are some slippery stairs. whenever we landed on the wooden platforms, not everyone could fit on it, so this meant lack of seeing some of the cave features our tour guide would explain the history of. the people in our group smelt horrible! nothing but body odor. besides the people lol, the cave was a quick but fun tour if ur in a time pinch or last minute type.
MrObeast44
02:38 15 Jul 24
decided to stop in saw the sign on the way to Nashville had to wait about 15 to 20 minutes (tours go out on the hour btw) in the mean time they have a lovely mueasum and giftshop once the tour started i was greeted by a young man named Cole he lead us down into the cave ( its crazy how its in the middle of town) but overall the tour was enjoayble the cave was beautiful the domes where crazy and the tour guide answered all the questions even the weird ones i asked i HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TOUR tho fair warning there are 650!!!!!!! stairs !!!!!!!!!!!
Alina Pontynen Luce
01:18 15 Jul 24
Short tour, rude guide. He was too young to be so salty and old enough to know better than to be that unprofessional. Half the talk was about how he ran everything at the place, and the other half trash talked the city of Horse Cave, the National Park Service, historic residents, and pretty much any other entity he could think of. Not to mention swearing repeatedly in front of a whole group of 10+ small children, a few of which he made cry by amping up their fears of heights/dark/rockfall. All of this was after he could drag himself away from the aggressive PDA with his partner behind the counter at the check in counter. (Ginger, long hair)Cave is cool, full of a lot of historical trash, but the domes are big. I wish you better luck with a guide.
Patrick Benasutti
17:48 13 Jul 24
Staff was great; cave entrance is steep and our 10 year old was freaked out. They were very compassionate and refunded us. They have good AC and a nice museum and store. Will go again when the kid can handle it.
Christine Hanshaw
16:52 13 Jul 24
We’ve been to lots of cave tours in the area and they are all unique. We enjoyed the Hidden River Cave very much. We had a great guide who gave us a lot of history of the cave and the town. I definitely recommend this tour, but be advised there are a LOT of steps!
Conan Dallman
02:15 13 Jul 24
We had a great time and learned a lot of the history of this cave system. Our tour guide, Al, did an awesome job. Being a caver himself, you could hear the passion and enthusiasm in his voice during the tour. We even went across the street afterwards to eat a sandwich named after him. LOL. We'll be back explore the left side of the cave (the one without a path) with Al soon.
Marsha Pierce
22:25 12 Jul 24
Excellent Off-Trail Adventure tour! Knee pads are a must and gloves recommended. Must be reasonably physically fit for 3-4 hours of crawling, army crawling, sliding, and climbing through beautiful parts of Hidden River Caves. It is challenging and all of us fell at least once, me more while traversing the cave. It was my favorite adventure of our BSA troop’s activities this week. Brooke was our tour guide and was fabulous! Would 💯% recommend.
Diane Deleo
00:47 11 Jul 24
The was the best tour ever! We showed up at the end of the day frustrated with the overwhelming national park reservations and saw online this place didn't need reservations. We ended up being the only people on the tour..we felt like ROYALTY! Our tour guide Max was super knowledgeable and engaging. He catered to our every question and showed us some amazing things! This is a super cool cave with a hanging bridge and gorgeous sunset dome. So much to see and super cool history. Thanks to Max for making it the best tour ever. He really catered to my 10 year old too and listened intently...even gave him some cool gems a the end and showed us fossils!
Jesse Shuttler
08:45 10 Jul 24
Had a great time here. Awesome staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. Best cave tour around.
John Z.
02:41 10 Jul 24
We found Hidden Cave after learning that we were unable to visit Mammoth Cave National Park due to tours being sold out. Hidden Cave’s reviews were all positive so we checked it out and it did not disappoint. The staff was all extremely friendly and fun and the cave was incredible! I highly recommend visiting Hidden Cave for the “hidden treasure” it is.
Robin K
01:19 10 Jul 24
We had a fantastic time on our tour. Dylan, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and was able to answer anything he was asked, even found witty answers to silly questions from the kids. The river, swinging bridge, and sunset dome was all really cool features of this cave.
Hannah Garrett
01:11 10 Jul 24
Definitely an experience. You wouldn't expect to see a cave in town like this but it's "hidden" First time here. The establishment was clean and staff very friendly and polite. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the cave. There is a lot of steps but was worth it. The dome was beautiful and the walking bridge was so neat, the water sounds beautiful inside this cave. The history is cool and the museum shoed lots of history too. We did not purchase tickets online, we came inside to purchase and the tours were every hour. We had just missed one so had about a 50 minute wait but it went by quickly walking around the museum.
Jess Kolp
21:50 09 Jul 24
We had Dillion as our tour guide and he was phenomenal! He made the whole tour very personalized and made sure everyone on the tour understood and saw everything in the cave! Highly recommend, fun for all ages!
Stuart Hamilton
22:57 08 Jul 24
We really enjoyed our visit here! Our tour guide, Max, was wonderful. The tour was just long enough for younger kids without being overwhelming (although the steps back up to the top were challenging for us parents!) This is definitely a good cave for people who tend to feel claustrophobic as there are mostly wide open spaces. Our oldest children did the repelling which was so much fun over the mouth of the cave! The instructors were patient and kind with the boys, so they had a great time! I cannot say enough about the staff. The gift shop also had extremely reasonably priced keepsakes which made purchasing a little something for each kid attainable. I certainly recommend this to others as it seems like a great mini adventure for families or a group of friends.
Nicole C
22:54 08 Jul 24
This cave tour was awesome! Jay was extremely knowledgeable about the cave & his personality was perfect for leading a group! We saw “pet friendly” and were skeptical but our 3 dogs did fantastic - only 1 refused to walk across the suspension bridge & needed to be carried. The free entrance for active duty military is much appreciated.We were stoked to see they offered rappelling because it wasn’t on their website so drove back to our VRBO to put the dogs in a safe place before returning: although the repelling spot was really awesome, it wasn’t worth the trip back as it was literally only 1 rappel. Cave tour was awesome though! Cave tour - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rappelling - ⭐️⭐️
John Vitas
13:34 07 Jul 24
Very friendly staff!! Cave was flooded but they compensated with free tours to the entrance, loved the little museum too!
Aidan Buie
19:34 06 Jul 24
I went here on a spur of the moment decison with my family and it was really awesome! We got there pretty early since the tours are every house, but the wait wasn't too bad since they have a cool gift shop plus the museum that you can look around in before and/or after the tour. As for the tour itself, it was really cool, our tour guide Maddox was fun, knew what he was talking about, and was clearly very passionate about the cave and conserving it. The cave has a rushing river going through the bottom of it, and is very spacious so it is safe for claustrophobic people. My disabled (not wheelchair bound) mother was even able to do the tour, it is about 650 steps total but most are at the entrance and there are frequent breaks between them as to make it pretty manageable. The cave was a really cool site and not like any other cave tour you'll be on, since this place is much more focused on keeping the cave as natural as possible instead of commercializing it. Overall, I definitely recommend to anyone in the area, especially tourists visiting the mammoth cave area, as this is definitely something unique and you don't want to miss it!
Melody Purnell
19:31 06 Jul 24
We had an emergency come up, hurricane Beryl, and we live where it’s coming so had to cut our trip short including missing this tour. The lady I spoke with was so nice and let us have a credit or refund when she didn’t have to. We will be back to go here and thank you for having a nice business manner. We weren’t so lucky on our camp site leaving a day early. They said maybe if they were able to rent it. Prob won’t go back there.
Shelly Cornelius
15:14 06 Jul 24
The tour guide, Maddox, was excellent. A+. Interesting cave with a unique history.
Joanne Jants (Floridana)
01:52 06 Jul 24
We discovered this cave because Mammoth Cave was booked up and no reservations could be made. We were glad Hidden River Cave was available and thoroughly enjoyed the tour, especially crossing the swinging bridge-it survived our 11 year old Grandson! The geology was interesting but the hydrologic evidence of water flow and silt deposition patterns during floods was most fascinating. The guide was informative and had a good sense of humor. But one essential question remains unresolved: Was the Dr. James Crow who studied potassium nitrate mining in Kentucky caves the same Dr James Crow who developed Old Crow Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey?
Shan Devis
22:27 05 Jul 24
The cave was slick, we had to walk through standing water, the steps were slick very dangerous. The tour does not specify the level of intensity of this tour. The tour guide did not care if you kept up and just let us leave the group and make our way out alone. Think twice before you take this tour.
Sommer Palmer
16:09 04 Jul 24
Amazing views and friendly staff. If you are scared of heights, this place is not for you. The suspension bridge is cool but if you don't like heights, you will not enjoy that part. There are over 600 steps to get through the tour so not perfect for anyone that has troubles with that. I did not see a single person (young or old) that wasn't exhausted by the time they made it back up. Overall fun place but be aware of the things that might be difficult before you go.
Leah Willis
02:13 04 Jul 24
This place is a hidden gem, very interesting history. Dylan was our tour guide, he was great! Encouraged us to ask questions, which we did and was very knowledges about the cave and the town ect. Definetly worth your time, the ceilings and open cave rooms are awesome, not to mention that 100 ft suspension bridge! Fair warning, it is somewhat strenuous so far as the stairs are concerned,( there are literally hundreds), but he allowed us to take our time coming and going, and i never felt rushed.
I Cappelle
11:37 03 Jul 24
Dylan was informative and friendly making this tour everything we wanted! Hidden River Cave is a hidden GEM! If you haven't done caves yet or have little ones that you're unsure how they'll react to being under ground, this is the cave for you!
Jessi Shipley
21:09 02 Jul 24
The off the trail tour was incredible! Our tour guide was funny and considerate to everyone’s pace needs. Its absolutely worth doing if you can!
Justin Sharp
15:04 01 Jul 24
Awesome little cave. Our tour guide, Dylan, did an amazing job. I loved his demeanor and how he presented information. He wasn't overly excited like some tour guides tend to be, just informative and chill. The stairs in and out of the cave were a steep climb, but it was worth it.
Danielle Flara
14:03 01 Jul 24
My daughters and I absolutely loved the tour. It was an incredible experience. Their jaws dropped as soon as they saw the entrance to the cave. It was very educational and fun!
Julie Wallace
14:41 30 Jun 24
We've been here twice. Great place to explore history of the local caves before you head out to the cave tour. Cave your is awesome. You cross a long suspension bridge and hear about historical impact of the cave on the town.
Sheri Barber-Valentine
21:51 29 Jun 24
This was an amazing tour. Our guide, Korey, was so knowledgeable, engaging, patient and enthusiastic! We highly recommend this tour and Korey as your guide.
Jennifer Sutton
17:03 29 Jun 24
Our tour guide, Dylan, was knowledgeable and answered everyone's questions. The rest of the staff was also very helpful and kind. The cave itself is beautiful, especially Sunset Dome. Thank you so much for an enjoyable experience!
Heather Eldridge
02:03 29 Jun 24
Went to Hidden River Cave today and it was a fun experience! Some of the stairs were a bit steep so caution definitely advised to those having trouble with stairs. Otherwise it was a very interesting cave to be shown through. Our tour guide, Maddox, was very informative and made the tour fun! Everyone working was very friendly and helpful. Would recommend to any cave enthusiast.
Evan Kelsey
15:52 28 Jun 24
The tour was a lot of fun and really interesting. The tour guide Brooklyn told us all about the history of the cave and how the tours started. I would highly recommend this tour.
Stephanie Stockman
13:35 27 Jun 24
Nox was our guide and the sweetest person ever!!! I am terrified of heights and she was my biggest cheerleader the whole way. The little jokes she told and knowledge of the cave made the whole experience fun.
Angel Holt
01:38 27 Jun 24
Our guide was great. He was knowledgeable and really knew the history of the cave. We all enjoyed the tour( ages 9, 20, and 40s). Even saw a cave salamander.
Debbie Reno
00:32 27 Jun 24
The cave itself was amazing, but our tour guide made the experience educational and entertaining. We have toured other caves, but we can’t remember any of our tour guides. But we will not forget Al. He was meant for this job!!Thank you, Al. My husband and I hope others read this review and ask for you as their tour guide to this amazing cave.