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.
What Visitors Are Saying About Hidden River Cave
See why visitors consistently rate Hidden River Cave and the American Cave Museum as one of the top attractions in Horse Cave, Kentucky. Read authentic reviews from guests who have experienced our guided cave tours, the American Cave Museum, and our Off-Trail Cave Adventure Tour. We’re also honored to have received Tripadvisor’s prestigious Travelers’ Choice Award in 2026. Please click to see our Tripadvisor reviews
to counter all the bad 1-2 star reviews, you are going to a cave and will experience the weather and nature. you will have to go down + up steps exposed to rain or snow or sun or whatever because you are quite literally visiting a cave … outside. these things can flood because they’re an underground structure. the water has to go somewhere and that’s something the guides will teach you about if you listen to them!! supporting small caves like this is important to help sustain these beautiful areas for future generations to hopefully enjoy. our tour was a little over an hour because we asked questions, let our guide talk and we all had a great conversation going on overall. we got to see some frogs and salamanders at this one which was really special but i know it’s not guaranteed to see wildlife at any cave. yes it is a smaller cave but just think about how you get to experience being underground and no two caves are the same. we got to visit 6 on our trip down here and each one has its own WOW factor.
if you can’t handle nature doing its thing then don’t cave at all. to complain about a cave flooding is ridiculous because that’s just mother nature. the guides can’t change that it flooded and to try to give this place a bad reputation for that is crazy. you’re going to have to take steps to the cave because how else would you get down 40ft? just think of all the people in history who walked down those steps and didn’t complain.
do not listen to those bad reviews about this place!!!!! just plan accordingly with the weather, know if it’s raining that it may flood. we got lucky that our whole trip we didn’t experience any rain. this cave is really special to my fiancé and i, we can’t recommend enough for people to go try it out and experience it. 2/6 of our cave tours were 2 hours and that was at mammoth cave. all the smaller cave areas will be an hour or less for the tour because there’s only so much they can show off.
One employee (I wish I knew her name..she had long dark hair and was working behind the counter with Jack when we arrived for the 1:00 PM tour) noticed our children, ages 2 and 4, admiring the penny press machine. I didn’t have any change on me to use it, so this wonderful employee generously gave us enough change for both of our kids to make their own pressed pennies. That simple act of kindness meant so much to us. Everyone we encountered was incredibly welcoming and kind to our children, which was extremely refreshing.
Now, on to Jack. Jack was our tour guide for the 1:00 PM tour, and he was absolutely amazing. He was knowledgeable, encouraged questions, and shared fascinating information throughout the entire experience. He also volunteers with the American Cave Conservation Association and participates in surveys of this very cave, which made his passion and expertise shine through. His knowledge of every little detail about the cave was unmatched, and he delivered it all in a way that was both funny and engaging.
From the incredible natural beauty of the cave to the outstanding staff who clearly care about both the cave and their visitors, this was an unforgettable experience. We left with great memories, a deeper appreciation for the history and science of the cave, and two very happy kids. We would highly recommend a visit and can’t wait to come back someday.
She had lots of information about the history of the cave. The suspension bridge was cool. Next time I want to do the off trail tour and wander. Because of the recent rains, they had a pretty cool waterfall inside. Loved that!
Downside: OMG stairs 😂 I was slow coming back up.
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.