Beware: You should never explore wild caves alone or without proper gear. Consider getting in touch with a Grotto of the National Speleological Society at www.caves.org or a qualified cave club. These groups are skilled and will train you. Without sufficient knowledge, preparation, and equipment, cave exploring can lead to serious injury or death.
The citizens of Carter are quite fortunate to have easy access to some of the most interesting cave systems in the world. Their 945 acres of Kentucky Park feature the Carter Caves, an impressive caving site that attracts tourists from all around the world. Though there are more than 20 caves in this park, only 20 are accessible and open for tourists. Other caves are undeveloped and access to them is limited at best.
If you ever find yourself in Carter County, Kentucky, the first thing you should do is visit the Carter Caves. They are designated as nature preserves and dedicated to the protection of endangered species.
These caves and the entire park were privately owned by manly families, however, in 1946, J.F. Lewis Family and some other investors donated a large area of this park to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. That’s why, it is now a state resort park with multiple caves that feature hiking trails, cave tours, cottages, full-service campgrounds, etc.
Noteworthy Carter Caves Features
The most surprising feature of Carter Caves is each cave has distinctive features that reflect geological forces. For example, some caves are packed with thousands of Indiana Bats, while others have a claustrophobic entrance.
There are some special caves and passages also that have small pools of water throughout their length. Therefore, in a way, you find each cave a bit different.
When it comes to trails, this place has many exceptional hiking trails.
You will find hiking trails, dog leash trails, forest trails, and more. Choose any one of them that suits your mood the most. It is also possible to get a hand-curated trail map and driving directions that assist you in hiking and camping. Just start checking them out, get your key equipment, and you will be out on the trail in no time.
We personally love the ‘Three Bridges Trail’ in this location. It is a 5 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail that is very soothing and features a lake. It is like heaven on earth. The best thing about this trail is it has many activity options that keep you and your family entertained.
Your pets can also use this trail, but they must be kept on a leash.
In case you are particularly interested in the caving type of trail, count on ‘Carter Caves Natural Bridge’. It is a smaller trail compared to the Three Bridges Trail, however, it is good for all caving skill levels. People primarily use this trail to have a sense of caving. They hike, walk, and relish road biking in it also. It is one of those trails in Kentucky with a highway road over it.
Not Bruce Wayne’s Bat Cave
Professional cavers should visit ‘Bat Cave’ in the Carter Cave System.
It is the largest cave in this park and hosts 40,000 Indiana Bats that are known as ‘Myotis’. Due to the bat’s hibernation period in the winter, the authorities open this cave only in the Summer.
They aim to protect the bats and ecosystem of the cave as much as they can.
When you visit this cave, you walk on the half-mile-long passage that follows the course of the cave branch. It varies in height in different locations. The low ceiling can be 4 feet high, whereas the highest ceiling is around 35 feet. Before you visit this passage, bear in mind it has a wet passage with small pools of water and it is often flooded by torrents of water in the rain season. It can be dangerous to visit it in the monsoon season.
Fortunately, there is a dry option for you in case you visit Carter Caves in the rainy season.
The ‘Saltpetre Cave’ in this park is dry and no stream flows through it. Though we have evidence that water did flow through it once or twice many years ago, it still stays dry and poses no danger to the tourists. This cave produced gunpowder during the war of 1812.
Carter Caves History
If you are interested in history, you will find plenty of interesting information about it. You can’t visit this cave on your own. You need to have a guided tour of this cave.
Next, there is an ‘X Cave’ in this park that is named for the crossing pattern of its passages. The main feature of the X Cave is the great rock formation, narrow and tall passages, and beautiful walls carved by water. It takes approximately 45 minutes to visit this cave as it is 1/4 miles long and has 75 stair steps that are used in narrow passages. The tours of this cave are available in the winter months only.
After visiting all these cave systems and trails, don’t forget to visit the Smokey Valley Lake and Tygarts Creek because they have populations of largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill.
Safety Tips when Visiting Carter Caves
There are some rules to visit all these Carter Caves; you need to follow them to stay safe.
Because most caves in this place have small, tiny passages that compel you to crawl on hands and knees. In some situations, you need to crawl on your belly too. For that reason, if you can’t do prolonged stooping, bending, or scrambling over slick rocks, you will have to sit this one out.
Apart from that, you should be wearing hiking boots. It can be immensely difficult to visit the wet passages without hiking boots. But there’s great news if you’re on a budget – you don’t need to buy additional equipment for caving in the Carter Caves. The authorities provide you helmets, headlamps, and kneepads.
However, we know many cavers aren’t as interested in the guided tours. They are interested in self-exploration. If you are one of them, this place has two special locations for you – ‘Laurel Cave’ and ‘Horn Hollow Cave’.
These places are open for self-exploration but they are prone to flooding especially during the spring months and summer. You have to be extremely careful as flash floods can occur.
All in all, if you truly love caves, visit this place. It has so many interesting things for everyone. Particularly adventure-seekers will find so many fascinating things in it.
