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


Glad we did it. Took my 5 year old and fiance.

- Short (based on my preferences)
Al was an AMAZING tour guide. A walking encyclopedia on caves with a great sense of humor.






Our tour guide Al was wonderful, he gave us some really cool history and details about the cave but also kept it really fun and entertaining. We took our two children (ages 5 and 8) and they both thought it was so cool and they definitely were able to handle the stairs, hiking and bridge. If you have an hour and a half I highly recommend you do this tour.



Highly recommend this experience!


This was the only photo I took because I wanted Just to enjoy the experience!





















this cave tour if your in the area!





















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!

It is definitely worth your time!











It was a great stop, we were early so we got a chance to walk around the whole museum and gift area.

Photos will not do the cave justice





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 !!!












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.














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.







Shoutout to Dylan for being an excellent guide who made the whole experience more enjoyable.



























It is worth seeing again.







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!
























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 🙂























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).



























Knowledgeable and personable
He made the experience that much more enjoyable



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.









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!!










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.

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!











Worth the trip though. Great little museum and town.










Al, our tour guide was amazing, very knowledgeable, and made it interesting not just for the adults, but the kids as well. Thank you!




























Cave is cool, full of a lot of historical trash, but the domes are big. I wish you better luck with a guide.



















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 - ⭐️⭐️





























Thank you, Al. My husband and I hope others read this review and ask for you as their tour guide to this amazing cave.


We did the tour, is short compared to others but the beauty of this cave is breath taking. Its a must if you in the area! Great tour guide too!







PS: I put no wait time, because the tour times are stated on the website. If you follow the times on the website, your wait time will depend on how early you show up!














very knowledgeable and the cave itself is
unbelievable. definitely recommend a stop
here if your in the area. you will be amazed
and transpired by this downtown cave and the
surrounding history.







The cave is large & beautiful. Lots of formations, especially domes. There is a river running through it, and the noise is so soothing.
There are lots of stairs down to start and lots if stairs up to end.
The cave entrance also has a small museum and education exhibit.






































Nifty to learn the history and to walk the world's largest suspension bridge on the way to the final dome, pictured here.







Koree was a great guide, her enthusiasm and knowledge of the cave made it a wonderful adventure.
I highly recommend putting it on your bucket list!












I would definitely suggest visiting if you are passing by or close by. Max was a great guide, very knowledgeable, friendly and was able to answer all our questions! Thank you Max 🙏🏻







Pictures inside the cave don’t do the beauty justice. I recommend going and seeing for yourself.
We went on a weekday when school was in session so there was no wait and we did not buy tickets ahead of time.












My family enjoyed this cave tour better than the Mammoth Cave.
Thank you guys again for the great tour
























The shops in Horse Cave?? They won't disappoint either!!
Try Junkin Gypsy the Edison lights and COOL old bikes!! Bib overall..!! Not cheepy thing at big box stores but authentic..Wow!! Every single shop ...I could just go on and on...
This little town has alot going on!

Amazing, friendly staff? Check. Cave tour? Check. Small museum? Check. Cave/cliff rapelling? Check. Ziplining? Check! The list goes on. This place is affordable, too! For my family of 6, everything included, PLUS 2 gem bags, minus rappelling, was under $200. FAMILY OF 6!






It gets really, really cold in this cave. Buckle up. Brace yourself.
The steps are steep and plentiful. Baby, if your body can't do the basics of exercise, then turn on around cause I died 2 times in this cave and 1 of my lungs fell out.
The coolest part of the cave is a man made steel bridge. It swings. It's long. It can make you a little dizzy while walking across. It's cool, though.
If you want to buy anything from the gift shop, have a credit card or cash. I didn't. I tried to use my Google Pay via my phone, and they are not equipped for it.










to explore the museum before going on our cave tour. Dylan was our tour guide and did a great job explaining the local history, environmental impacts on caves and features of this cave. It was a nice tour and perfect for a family adventure.
























We loved the suspension bridge over the river! That was a very unique experience that no other cave has given us. With your cave tickets you have access to the museum which is a plus! On our tour we were able to see cave crawfish, cave crickets, and tricolored bats!
We LOVED our tour guide Chris! His knowledge, experience, and humor made it an educational, captivating, and fun tour! We highly recommend going to this cave!

























Our tour guide was Koree. She was very knowledgeable and you could tell she genuinely loves the cave.
Strongly recommend if you like caves!









Free public parking was plentiful just across the street. The little shopnhad quite a few inexpensive gift options for all ages.
We opted for a tour which runs every hour. Our guide, Al, was amazing. He is a caver and had great stories throughout our tour. The cave was way longer and more grand than I had expected. We were all very pleasantly surprised. All in all, the tour took about an hour.
The path is clear (concrete or wood planks), there are handrails in most places and some lighting through most areas. There are several steps and some areas that could be slippery - use caution if you have a hard time walking. You don't need any cave gear or hiking boots, though.
The swinging bridge was quite the experience as well! We were all very pleased with our decision to stop here. It is just 2 miles off the highway exit and well worth it.























































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.



















The Alexanders from Pennsylvania











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!! 😂























































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!!
























































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.



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.





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.
The bridge was really great, too! And our guide, Logan, was knowledgeable and funny.
There are a lot of stairs!
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.
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
A National 501 (c) 3 Nonprofit Organization.