Visit Bowling Green’s Lost River Cave
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More Than an Underground Boat Tour
Bowling Green’s Lost River Cave is a fun and unique cave experience where the tour involves a boat! This is the perfect stop for those wanting something different than a typical cave tour during your Kentucky travels. This attraction is also more than just an underground boat tour. Lost River Cave has several other activities to pass the time like a kid’s play area, zipline, butterfly house, walking trails, and more, which makes this the perfect day trip.
This site is run by Friends of the Lost River which is a nonprofit organization that has done a ton of work to clean up the cave after years of neglect. The site has some interesting stories attached to it from hiding outlaws to being an underground nightclub back in the 1930s. Today, the group works hard to protect the cave’s natural resources and educate the public about the environment.
Is Lost River Cave Dog Friendly?
Lost River Cave is partially dog friendly. Leashed dogs are allowed in the park and on all of the trails, however, pets are not allowed on the cave tours. A bonus is that there is a dog park nearby if your dog needs to run off excess energy.
Lost River Cave Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is located just off the parking lot near the main road. Inside you will find a gift shop, bathrooms, park maps, and staff that can answer any of your questions. This is also where you would purchase tickets and check in for any of the paid activities located on-site.
Official Photo Opportunities
Along the side of the visitor’s center towards the parking lot, is a butterfly wing mural that creates a fun photo opportunity. If you cross the parking lot and head towards the main road, there is another place for photos. This one has a stand where you can set your phone or camera at the perfect spot so you can catch the large wheel and stonework in the background that says, “Lost River Cave”.
Where to Stay
Lost River Cave does not have any accommodations onsite. Luckily, they are located in Bowling Green, Kentucky where there are a ton of choices to choose from.
Campsites Near Lost River Cave
There are two campgrounds that are close to the cave: Bowling Green KOA Holiday and Beech Bend Campground. Both are dog friendly. Check the websites for the most updated information on rates.
We have a ton of tips for camping with your dog to help make the process less stressful.
Though there is not a permanent campground onsite, occasionally Lost River Cave does host a “camping at the cave” event where you are allowed to camp onsite. Keep an out on their events page for the next camping opportunities onsite.
Hotels Near Lost River Cave
Use our booking.com link to find the best hotel for your vacation!
Booking.comTake a look at our post for tips for taking your dog to a hotel!
Where to Eat when Visiting Lost River Cave
Lost River Cave does not have any restaurants onsite but there is a TON of places nearby to choose from. If you have gluten and dairy sensitivities, Blaze Pizzeria is just a short drive away or you can use the “Find Me GF” app to help you find more options. We recently discovered this free app and it’s been a lifesaver!
Lost River Cave Tour
Chances are if you stopped at Lost River Cave, it’s because you wanted to do the cave tour. This cave tour is unique because there is a river that runs through the cave, so you must do the tour on a boat.
It is highly recommended that you book your tour ahead of time so you can guarantee your time slot. You can purchase online in advance and adult tickets will cost around $23. If you do choose to wait to purchase your ticket when you arrived, there is a chance that you may have to wait for a later tour, or they could even be sold out.
In the event of heavy rains, make sure to call ahead to confirm they are still running tours as they will cancel if the water level in the cave gets too high.
The 40-45 min tour starts across the treetop bridge, so you do need to plan for a short walk to the meeting place. This is where your tour guide will meet up with your group and check tickets before getting started.
Once the tour begins, you will walk down the trail while making a few stops to learn about the cave and surrounding area before arriving at the cave itself.
As you wait for the boat, your guide will tell you the safety rules and hand out life jackets for the smaller children. From here, you will go down to the loading dock and board your boat.
The boat portion of the tour lasts about 15 minutes. The boat will take you to the back of the cave, stopping a few times to point out different features in the cave while talking about its history of the cave. One fun story was about how Jesse James’ gang was rumored to have hidden out in the cave at one time.
Once the boat tour is over, you can explore the rest of the area on your own. Across from the area where the life jackets were handed out, is where the historic Cavern Night Club. This can be a fun spot to take pictures and is currently where you can rent space for private events.
Hiking Trails at Lost River Cave
For more opportunities to stretch out your legs, Lost River Cave has 3 trails on the grounds for you to walk. There is the Ridge Top Trail, Blue Hole Trail, and the Prairie Greenways Trail.
The Ridge Top and Blue Hole Trails start across the Treetop bridge where you meet for the cave tour. Both trails run parallel to each other for the first part and meet at the Butterfly center and Nature Trading Post. This is as far as the Ridge Trail goes, but the Blue Hole trail continues through two more loops and will lead you by a limestone quarry and the Lost River Spring
The Prairie Greenways Trail starts at the back end of the parking lot and leads out of the property. This trail eventually leads to H.P. Thomas Bark Park which is the perfect place to let dogs run around and get some energy out.
Lost River Cave Zip Line
For those that like a little adrenaline rush, they do have a zipline available seasonally for an extra fee. There are two onsite; one for adults and a separate one for children. There are restrictions based on weight to make sure that the riders remain safe during this fun mini adventure. Check with the visitor center for more information on the latest rates and hours of availability.
Charlie Miller Butterfly Habitat & the Nature Trading Post
If you take either the Ridge Top or the Blue Hole trail, it will lead you to the butterfly habitat and the Nature Trading Post. The Charlie Miller Butterfly Habitat is a nice, enclosed butterfly garden where you can see several species of native butterflies and plants.
The Nature Trading Post is located just behind the Butterfly Habitat and is geared toward children. This stop has activities to encourage kids to engage more with nature. Both are open seasonally with the Trading Post being slightly more restrictive as it is only open on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from April to October.
Other Fun Activities:
There are several other fun activities to enjoy during your time at Lost River Cave and the best part is that most of them are free! From playgrounds, gem mining, and different scavenger hunt-type activities, you can be sure to keep busy if you are waiting for your tour to start.
- Nature Explore Playscape is a fun interactive play area for kids just outside the visitor center.
- There is a gem mining structure located near the visitor center so you can add to your rock collection at home. Buy a bag of rocks and have fun discovering what cool rocks and gems you find.
- Do you like to go geocaching? Grab your phone and get ready to explore the area while finding the secret caches hidden around the park. This is a free activity, but they do ask that you stop by the visitor center for the information sheet first.
- If you have a child that likes to complete challenges, they can become a Junior Tour Guide by completing the program booklet in the visitor center. When they turn it in, they will get a certificate and a patch!
Nearby Attractions:
Bowling Green Kentucky is a city full of normal city things to keep you entertained. Visit the National Corvette Museum for all admirers of fancy cars or the Historic RailPark and Train Museum if you are interested in trains There is even an amusement park at Beech Bend during the warmer months with all sorts of rides and even a few shows.
Just a short 30- 40-minute drive away is Dinosaur World. Dinosaur World is a dog-friendly attraction for anyone who loves dinosaurs.
Mammoth Cave National Park is about the same distance and is a beautiful dog-friendly park where you can kayak, hike, and go on more cave tours.
Why You Should Visit:
Lost River Cave is great if you have children or are simply looking for a unique cave tour since it is done on a boat. I found the history of the cave interesting, and it was fun imagining a 1930s nightclub scene at the entrance of the cave. I do, however, admit to being slightly disappointed that the river in the cave was as short as it was. The information given on the tour though was interesting and we enjoyed walking the trails to visit the butterfly house and back. If you are staying in the area, this is a nice opportunity to stretch your legs and have some fun!
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