You can make a difference in the care and protection of Mammoth Cave National Park.  Come volunteer in the park 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on September 25, National Public Lands Day.  The park will also offer free Mammoth Passage cave tours in honor of the day.

“Like all public lands, we need the public’s help to maintain and protect the park,” said Superintendent Patrick Reed.  “On September 25 we will concentrate our efforts on invasive plants.  There are a number of species that pose a great threat to Kentucky’s native trees and wildflowers.  It’s like tending a garden – weeds will take over if you don’t control them.”

“Mammoth Cave is a 53,000-acre natural Kentucky woodland,” said Brice Leech, resource management specialist.  “It’s a natural heritage and forest pests are becoming an ever greater concern for its protection.  Spotted knapweed, sericea lespedeza, garlic mustard, stilt grass, and woody species, like privet, tree-of-heaven, and royal paulownia are not native to Kentucky and grow all too well here, crowding out the Kentucky species.”

Volunteers are welcome to come as individuals or groups.  Please meet at the park visitor center at 9:00 a.m. and expect to work until 12:00 noon.

Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, boots, work gloves, and bring drinking water for yourself or your group.  Please call Leech at

270-758-2142 to register and for complete information.

Free Mammoth Passage tours

To take one of the free Mammoth Passage cave tours offered on National Public Lands Day, visitors must pick up their free tickets at visitor center ticket office prior to tour times.  On September 25, the free guided Mammoth Passage tours will depart from the visitor center at 9:00, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30; the tour is limited to 40 people.

The ¾-mile, 1¼ hours Mammoth Passage tour requires a walk down and up the hill below the visitor center, as well as 68 steps at the Historic Entrance.

Camping fees and fees for other tours of Mammoth Cave will not be waived this day.