and in the mood for an underground adventure, you are in luck—the Bluegrass State is home to more than 130 caves, many of which are open to be explored.

Kentucky may be known for fine bourbon, tales of Appalachia, the Kentucky Derby, and a frothymint julep, but it's also home to some of America’s most amazing caves and caverns! Most of these underground treasures were created due to the erosion of porous limestone, a process of geological change dating back millions of years.

So, if you’re looking for the best subterranean thrills you can find in the Bluegrass State, the

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Mammoth Cave National Park

Address: 1 Visitor Center Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259-0007

Phone: (270) 758-2180

Just 90 minutes south of Louisville,

Mammoth Cave National Park

is the world’s largest known cave system, featuring 412 miles of mapped, monstrous caves, with an estimated 600 additional miles still to be explored!

There’s plenty to do within this UNESCO Heritage site, such as spelunking, ziplining, touring, fossil-spotting, and going on guided walks.

While these cave formations are millions of years old, they offer many lessons and clues about 4,000 years of human history, and why we have sought shelter, meaning, and fun deep inside the earth.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Address: 91 Bartlett Park Road, Middlesboro, KY 40965

Phone: (606) 248-2817

Sitting about an hour and a half north of

Knoxville

, TN,

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

is both a geological and historical treasure. The caves inside Cumberland Gap are estimated to be between 3 to 5 million years old, and the natural water erosion occurring inside these caves means they are still in the process of forming today!

This National Historical Gap is part of the Cumberland Mountain Pass, which is a Civil War Landmark. During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate armies occupied the caves in this area, seeking shelter from danger.

The Union Army eventually took over the caves for good in 1863—you can visit Soldier’s Cave, which is believed to be an area of the cave that was used as a makeshift hospital. In fact, you’ll be able to see the names of some of the 300 soldiers who signed the walls and ceilings by candlelight.

Of course, you won’t want to miss towering underground waterfalls and amazing rock formations. Just 14 miles of caves in the Cumberland Gap have been explored.

Lost River Cave

Address: 2818 Nashville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101

Phone: (270) 393-0077

In the 7-mile

Lost River Cave

system, just south of

Bowling Green

, you’ll find Kentucky’s only natural, underground cave boat tour. This tour will take you to a set of spooky, cavernous caverns that were used by Native populations, Civil War soldiers, and even Jesse James,way back when.

If boating isn’t your thing, you can do a walking tour along the river’s edge to see these amazing underground formations. You’ll be comfortable too, as the temperature remains a balmy 57 degrees in the cave.

There are also plenty of trails aboveground to enjoy, as well as ziplining, an education center, and a seasonal butterfly habitat.

Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum

Address: 119 East Main Street, Horse Cave, KY 42749

Phone: (270) 786-1466

The

Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum

features 10 miles of caves to explore. This set of underground caverns is very close to the famous Mammoth Cave National Park—in fact, experts say the two cave systems could meet at some point, as new paths are discovered frequently.

Besides the cave paths you can explore, there’s plenty else to do at Hidden River, including visiting the museum, its education system, and a 100-foot swinging suspension bridge, which has the distinction of being the longest such bridge inside a cave system in the world.

The story of the Hidden River Cave is an interesting one. It was originally a source of drinking water for the community of Hidden River, but was shut down due to pollution in 1943. It wasn’t until the 1980s that work began to rehabilitate the cave, and now the American Cave Conservation Association has its headquarters in Hidden River.

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Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo & Mammoth Onyx Cave

Address: 3700 L & N Turnpike Road, Horse Cave, KY 42749

Phone: (270) 786-1466

The golden-colored cave system that’s part of the

Kentucky Down Under & Mammoth Onyx Cave

is truly a sight to see. This cave was discovered in 1789, but it wasn’t opened to the public in 1922. Now, it's part of an Australian theme park where you can also visit a bird garden and a gem mining station, not to mention interacting with, petting, and feeding the park’s 30 kangaroos.

The Onyx Cave features three massive, Gothic-like caverns, with walls glowing with gold, rose, burgundy, and yellow tones. This cave is just 1/8 of a mile long, so this 30-minute walk is a perfect stroll for almost anyone.

Diamond Caverns

Address: 1900 Mammoth Cave Pkwy, Park City, KY 42160

Phone: (270) 749-2233

Discovered in 1859, these stunning calcite formations actually resemble diamonds, hence these caverns’ name. These caverns are the 4th oldest cave system in the U.S. and offer cathedral-esque chambers along with a 1/2 mile of lit pathways to explore. You’ll be able to gawk at the calcite formations, deposits that look like drapery, and the colorful calcite rainbows covering the caverns’ interior.

In 1999, a new column was discovered, proving that there are still plenty of unexplored, underground wonders at Diamond Caverns.

Do note that tours of Diamond Caverns can be physically challenging.

MORE:

The best castles in Kentucky to explore

Tips to stay safe while exploring caves

Most of the caves on this list are well-known and well-maintained, but others are a bit less traveled. If you’re ever exploring a cave without a guided tour, heed these tips in order to stay safe:

Dress in layers: Most caves can get chilly, so dress warmly. If you get too hot, just shed a layer

Safety gear: You might need a helmet, gloves, knee and elbow pads, and a headlamp to stay safe

Lights: Experts recommend bringing two light sources per person when exploring a cave (your phone doesn’t count)

Mind the weather: Many caves feature underground water sources, and these bodies of water can flood—if the area around the cave you’re visiting has had bad weather, do your cave-adventuring another time

Know your limits: No one needs to be a hero while exploring a cave—respect the environment, pace yourself when exploring, and bring food, water, and first aid supplies

Keep in touch: Make sure you let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back, just in case

How to help preserve subterranean habitats

Sometimes we can forget how much of an impact we have when visiting natural wonders—when exploring, do your part to ensure you don’t disturb nature.

When exploring a Kentucky cave, take these steps to ensure you don’t respect the creatures and lifeforms that live there:

Keep it clean: Clean your shoes and gear before entering a cave

Bats: if you see these flying, subterranean creatures, leave them alone—do not disturb!

Obey the rules: if parts of a cave are blocked off or closed to visitors, do not enter them

How to find the best car insurance before hitting the road

Whichever Kentucky cave you end up exploring, protect yourself en route with a robust car insurance policy, and get it by using

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