Mammoth Picnic Shelters

Two shelters are available at the Mammoth Cave Picnic Area for visitor use: G-1, an enclosed shelter, and G-2, an open shelter. They sit across from the Visitor Center parking lot, nestled in the Picnic Area, and each is equipped to accommodate up to 60 people, with a grassy surrounding area to enjoy as well. From December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2027, winter hours for the enclosed shelter are 9am to 4pm. The shelters are within Mammoth Cave National Park, which is best known for its cave that extends over 400 miles. The cave formation began millions of years ago when mildly acidic groundwater dissolved beds of limestone, creating subterranean passages. Native inhabitants of the cave include bats, spiders and blindfish. Picnicking, enjoying the outdoors, and exploring the caves are of primary interest to visitors. The site has trailheads to the Green River Bluffs Trail and the Dixon Cave Trail, both hiking trails about a mile long. The picnic shelters are surrounded by oak, elm and maple trees in the Green River Valley. The park sits above the labyrinth of underground caves and extends out over rolling hill country. The Green River is where anglers can fish for perch, bass and bluegills, and where kayakers can paddle past lush, tree-lined banks. Any part of Mammoth Cave National Park's 52,800 acres is worth exploring through trails or scenic drives.