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The cave river tour was super cool. Our tour guide Cameron was very knowledgeable and took his time to show us the wonders of the cave and answered any questions the group had. You could really tell he enjoyed his job and was passionate about cave preservation. I would highly recommend for anyone visiting the area, very kid friendly and a cool stop in Kentucky!
Trails are easy to navigate and somewhat circular but are mostly crushed gravel so hard on the feet if you aren't wearing good shoes. Birds were in abundance although part of the trail has some road noise. You can pay for a guided tour but we did not do it. The butterfly house opens May through October. I enjoyed the walk.
Had a great time on this tour. Interesting historical information and a beautiful cave. Well worth the time when you are in Bowling Green Kentucky.
The cave tour was great. I made a reservation early and was led down to where we met our guide. Only recommendation is to bring a jacket or hoodie because it gets pretty chilly in the cave.
Fun place to come and see a unique Kentucky Cave! When I was looking up caves to go visit while in the state I thought this one sounded different since you get to go in a boat and see a river inside a cave. The tour was very fun and it was so cool to see and hear about the history of it. It had a lot less walking than I thought and there was no walking inside the cave it was all in the boat. It was a cool experience and now I'm ready to go see more caves next time I'm visiting in the area! Thanks to our tour guide Olivia for a great tour :)
Blue hole which is the water body in the start of the cave, is being dyed green today by some leprechauns. Believe it or not, there are parts of the city of Bowling Green under this 7 mile cave. The boat ride is slow but informative. Saw a lone tiny tiny bat inside the river cave. You get to see the tiny stalactites.
Great tour guide. Interesting caves with a LONG history. They also have a butterfly area and great hiking trails.
We really enjoyed our visit, our guide was so sweet. The scenery was amazing. They were setting up for a wedding so bonus for us it was gorgeous.
This was a cool adventure. The grounds themselves were gorgeous and inviting. We went on the tour which was fun and informative. We started at the meeting point and walked down to the cave area hearing all about the river and history of the cave. Then we got on a boat and traveled into the cave. At one point we all had to duck down low to prevent our heads from hitting the rocks. It was gorgeous in there. We even saw some crawfish in the water. They were prepping for a wedding when we were there, which looked like it was going to be a great time. There was also an area for Halloween festivities on site too. It also had a cute gift shop area. Definitely check it out.
We had a great time at Lost River Cave and definitely give it 5 stars! The price was very reasonable -- just $24.99 for an adult ticket -- and well worth it for the experience. The tour starts with a 15-20 minute walk to the cave entrance, guided by someone who shared interesting local history and fun facts along the way. Then we boarded a boat and went into the cave itself, which was such a cool and unique experience! The guide continued sharing stories and history during the ride, making it both fun and educational. After the cave tour, we explored the trails, visited the butterfly garden, and saw three of the natural blue holes on the property -- all beautiful and peaceful spots. We ended our visit at the gift shop, which had a great selection and surprisingly reasonable prices. This was such a fun and different stop -- perfect for all ages. Highly recommend if you're in the Bowling Green area! Thankfully, we had purchased our tickets in advance. There was a man at the counter asking for same day, walk-up tickets and they were out, so I do highly recommend purchasing your tickets before arriving and arriving at least 30 minutes before so that you can check in and walk down to the area for the tour to begin.
3 months ago
A great and unique cave experience in Bowling Green. We recently took the underground boat tour at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and it was a very cool and unique adventure! This is Kentucky's only underground boat tour, and we were lucky to visit right after the river had lowered enough to reopen following flooding. (When the water is high, the cave becomes submerged, so timing is everything.) Our tour guide, Bri, was fantastic. She was funny, engaging, and an incredibly skilled boat driver. She kept the group entertained with corny but hilarious jokes while sharing the rich history of the cave, from its days as a Native American hunting ground and Civil War campground to its time as a hideout. It was even a 1930s nightclub which was being used as a wedding venue when we visited. She navigated us as far back into the cave as possible, pointing out beautiful and interesting rock formations along the way. The tour was about 45-minutes and included a guided walk to the cave entrance with 3 stops before you board the boat. Be aware that it involves a steep walk down (and back up) and requires bending over low in the boat with your torso flat toward the seat when the water is high as you first aneter and leave the cave. This makes the ride difficult or impossible for those with mobility impairments. Despite the physical aspects, I thought the experience was truly unique and peaceful as you glide through the cool, dark cave. I highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in unique cave experiences or anyone who enjoys a blend of nature, history, and corny jokes. read more
Located in Bowling Green KY,this area offers hiking,family activities such as zip lining as well as a 7 mile cave system. Due to flooding,the cave area was closed so we just hiked the trails. The trails were well marked and they had an upper and lower trail that were connected. You will see sink holes,creeks as well as many types of plants and birds. There is an admission fee to explore the caves when open but no fee to hike . Parking is free read more
3 months ago
The cave river tour was super cool. Our tour guide Cameron was very knowledgeable and took his time to show us the wonders of the cave and answered any questions the group had. You could really tell he enjoyed his job and was passionate about cave preservation. I would highly recommend for anyone visiting the area, very kid friendly and a cool stop in Kentucky! read more
3 months ago
Very cool experience , Drew was a Awesome guide, loved Terry the T-Rex my daughter asked was it worth it I told her yes but wasn't expensive either read more
1 year ago
Trails are easy to navigate and somewhat circular but are mostly crushed gravel so hard on the feet if you aren't wearing good shoes. Birds were in abundance although part of the trail has some road noise. You can pay for a guided tour but we did not do it. The butterfly house opens May through October. I enjoyed the walk. read more
4 months ago
11 months ago
Had a great time on this tour. Interesting historical information and a beautiful cave. Well worth the time when you are in Bowling Green Kentucky. read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
The cave tour was great. I made a reservation early and was led down to where we met our guide. Only recommendation is to bring a jacket or hoodie because it gets pretty chilly in the cave. read more
Fun place to come and see a unique Kentucky Cave! When I was looking up caves to go visit while in the state I thought this one sounded different since you get to go in a boat and see a river inside a cave. The tour was very fun and it was so cool to see and hear about the history of it. It had a lot less walking than I thought and there was no walking inside the cave it was all in the boat. It was a cool experience and now I'm ready to go see more caves next time I'm visiting in the area! Thanks to our tour guide Olivia for a great tour :) read more
3 months ago
3 years ago
Blue hole which is the water body in the start of the cave, is being dyed green today by some leprechauns. Believe it or not, there are parts of the city of Bowling Green under this 7 mile cave. The boat ride is slow but informative. Saw a lone tiny tiny bat inside the river cave. You get to see the tiny stalactites. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
Great tour guide. Interesting caves with a LONG history. They also have a butterfly area and great hiking trails. read more
1 year ago
We really enjoyed our visit, our guide was so sweet. The scenery was amazing. They were setting up for a wedding so bonus for us it was gorgeous. read more
7 months ago
This was a cool adventure. The grounds themselves were gorgeous and inviting. We went on the tour which was fun and informative. We started at the meeting point and walked down to the cave area hearing all about the river and history of the cave. Then we got on a boat and traveled into the cave. At one point we all had to duck down low to prevent our heads from hitting the rocks. It was gorgeous in there. We even saw some crawfish in the water. They were prepping for a wedding when we were there, which looked like it was going to be a great time. There was also an area for Halloween festivities on site too. It also had a cute gift shop area. Definitely check it out. read more
1 year ago
We had a great time at Lost River Cave and definitely give it 5 stars! The price was very reasonable -- just $24.99 for an adult ticket -- and well worth it for the experience. The tour starts with a 15-20 minute walk to the cave entrance, guided by someone who shared interesting local history and fun facts along the way. Then we boarded a boat and went into the cave itself, which was such a cool and unique experience! The guide continued sharing stories and history during the ride, making it both fun and educational. After the cave tour, we explored the trails, visited the butterfly garden, and saw three of the natural blue holes on the property -- all beautiful and peaceful spots. We ended our visit at the gift shop, which had a great selection and surprisingly reasonable prices. This was such a fun and different stop -- perfect for all ages. Highly recommend if you're in the Bowling Green area! Thankfully, we had purchased our tickets in advance. There was a man at the counter asking for same day, walk-up tickets and they were out, so I do highly recommend purchasing your tickets before arriving and arriving at least 30 minutes before so that you can check in and walk down to the area for the tour to begin. read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
Our tour guide Olivia was amazing and very educated on the history of the cave, not to mention quite knowledgeable on how caves are formed and the wildlife therein. She threw in just the right amount of snark and we loved it!! She has a terrific sense of humor. The cave itself was simply beautiful. My husband has a tv show called History Highway and did a Jesse James Lost River Cave episode (S1 Ep 6) two years ago, so he already knew some about the cave, but learned a lot more! Saw the Venmo tip board...it made me feel so guilty that I didn't have enough to tip her bc if I did, I would've. Spent most of my money eating out for our anniversary!! We absolutely ADORED the gift shop! Sorry Olivia, we'll be back hopefully next year because I'd def wanna revisit the gift shop since they have so many unique gifts. There's tons to do in BGKY, so go here if you wanna get away from the hustle & bustle! read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
Fun trip in an underground large military issue John boat. Amazing rock formations. Tour guides informed and fine boat drivers in tight spaces. A "don't miss" in Bowling Green Ky. read more
1 year ago
The Mammoth cave was closed due to the government shutdown, so we were looking for options and found the Lost River Cave boat tour. We were in a RV, and happy that they had ample parking for us. The tour operator did a great job, and the boat tour was fantastic. I was glad the Lost River Cave was open, and happy we went there. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Our tour guide, Drew, was phenomenal! Very informative, kind, and patient with our crew. Unfortunately, on our way back to the car we encountered an unpleasant employee. A kid on our tour had asked about "cave kitties," so when we spotted one on our way out, we stopped to take a photo to later share with her. An employee walking by, without acknowledging us personally, shouted at us to leave the cat alone --- repeatedly, despite us remaining on the paved walking path at a significant distance. So, here's that lady's acknowledgement: perhaps great with animals, not with the general public. And that will be our lasting memory of this place! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
This tour was good, not great, but a nice stop if you have extra time near Mammoth Cave. This was the only truly wet cave we ventured to. It was a nice albeit short boat ride through the cave. Our tour guide Emma-Claire was so passionate and informative. You could tell she was interested in what she was talking about, and did a great job of inserting humor in with the history. The cave is very pretty and the gift shop has a good selection of trinkets and handmade goods from local artisans. This wouldn't be a tour I would repeat, and think the price doesn't necessarily match the length and overall experience. Based on length and overall tour, shouldn't be priced higher than $12pp. You can head to most other caves and spend almost double the time for the same price. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Our travels brought us into town a little early, so I took my kids to see Lost River Cave after looking at a few reviews and pictures. The entrance to the place is friendly and welcoming. I love what they have done to the surrounding area to make it look rustic. There is an excellent gift shop with plenty of items to browse. Tickets for my two teenagers and I ran about $71. This is on par with many show caves, so it must be pretty big. After all, Mammoth Cave ran us $24. The young lady we purchased tickets with was "all business..." not much small talk, but rather scripted. We joined our tour guide at the bridge entrance a little ways away. She showed up with a mini speaker around her neck and a headset. She discussed some safety and general information about the cave before we started. The entrance to the cave is a little different than others, and it shows off its uniqueness. We had a large group, so our guide said she would split the group in two, and another guide would meet us shortly, as she was off to boating with the first half. It took about 15 minutes for that to happen, and it felt disorganized. Once our guide showed up, we got into the boat and were on our way. The boat is rather long, with a motor in front and rear. As we got underway, the guide warned us to all duck our heads as much as possible. This is because the entrance is LOW, so they call it "wish rock." If you don't duck your head, you will "wish" that you had. Anyone who ignores these instructions will likely be talking out of their rump for the rest of their life. The guide said that Jesse James hid out in this cave. Jesse James must have loved caves because they also say the same thing in many of the Missouri caves. The entire boat ride lasted about 30 minutes at maximum. Was it worth over $70? A more fitting price would be about $25 for the three of us. It was a beautiful area, and the cave had some neat history, but it was short and did not woo us seventy dollars worth. I am glad I took the kids so they could see it, but it will probably be a "one and done" type of thing." read more
2 years ago
Very interesting experience. Not sure it's worth $23 but it was fun. Definitely fun for kids if you're looking to kill a couple of hours. Probably not for older kids or toddlers. Definitely not for people who are claustrophobic! The story behind the cave & the tour is worthy the stop. **Not at all recommended for those who have trouble walking or easily winded. read more
5 years ago
Lost River Cave was one of the best and most affordable adventure places we have visited since we moved here. We purchased our tickets online to the underground boat cave tour. The tour is popular, and the tickets sell fast. Online purchases are recommended. It is about $25 for an adult. They will give you a discounted refund in person if you show your military ID. Our tickets were reduced to $15 a person. The hiking trails are fun and gave a good mini workout. The boat tour was about 45 minutes. The walking portion is 20 minutes, and the boat ride was 25 minutes. You sail inside a 350 million years old cave and learn a lot of amazing facts about the cave. Our tour guides were Austin and Caroline. They were easy to listen to and kept the group entertained well. We were pleasantly surprised by the butterfly house and garden. So many beautiful butterflies! Many of them flew around me and onto the ground...like something out of fairytale. This was one our favorite parts of Lost River Cave. read more
It's an ok tour. Talk of history is longer than the boat tour. It starts with a very low ceiling that you have to really bend over in your seat to avoid hitting. Tour stops a couple times to show you things in the bigger room. Guide was knowledgeable and funny. Some nice history to learn dating back to 1800's. There are nice trails to walk without paying for the tour. It was a cool experience and most of money collected goes into preservation and there are geological studies being done. Was told cave floods about 130 days a year on average. read more
The short drive up is definitely worth this cool little adventure. We weren't sure what to expect going into it, but once we arrived we were pleasantly surprised. While waiting for our 4:30p boat tour, we visited the large, nicely stocked gift shop. The shop had tons of items to choose from including home decor, books, children's toys, and of course, beautiful geodes. Since we had some time, we bought these bags of sand they sell at the gift shop and took them down to the panning stream to "mine for treasures". Honestly, I don't think it was worth it; it was kinda pricy for literally seconds worth of entertainment for the little ones. Unfortunately our 4:30p boat launch turned into a 5:30p launch. We're not exactly sure why the hour delay; it was a bit bothersome since we had kids, a toddler and a baby in our crew, but we kept a positive attitude. They finally gathered our group and walked us down to the boat launching area. The guide had a portable microphone, but must have forgotten to turn it on cause we couldn't hear a thing. Nonetheless, once we received our seat/floatation devices, the adventure began. The cave was awesome! The best part was by far the wishing rock. I'll let you experience that surprise for yourself. The actual boat ride was fairly quick, maybe 20 minutes round trip. It was my first time in a cave and worth the wait. It was fun to experience with our kids! Pro tip, walk down towards the bridge and boat loading area. There's awesome natural landscaping and more shade for you to wait under. read more
6 months ago
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More info about Lost River Cave
2818 Nashville Rd
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Directions
(270) 393-0077
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https://lostrivercave.org
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A few questions.... is this a stroller friendly trail? is there a age limit on the boat tour?
Yes. It's paved to the boats. Don't believe there is an age limit.
Review Highlights - Lost River Cave
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