Lost River Cave image

Lost River Cave

Tourist attraction Park Hiking area Event venue Gift shop Wedding venue Nature preserve Non profit organization Education center

One of the Best Places To Visits in Bowling Green


Address

2818 Nashville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, United States

Website

www.lostrivercave.org

Contact

+1 270-393-0077

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (2.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Friday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Saturday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Sunday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Monday: (Washington's Birthday), 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Hours might differ
  • Tuesday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: tour (54) cave (41) boat (35) guide (22) gift (16) shop (16) beautiful (14) great (14) good (12) ride (12)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Ophelia G. 2 years ago on Google
    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.
    14 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel E. 2 years ago on Google
    We really enjoyed our visit today! The boat ride was nice and the cave is beautiful. Our tour guide was super funny and made it so much more enjoyable as she educated us on the natural history of the area. I felt good spending money here, knowing that the proceeds go to and not for profit foundation set up to preserve this historical cavern. The site also ties in with Civil War history, which was an extra bonus for my boys.
    13 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Troy D. 1 year ago on Google
    Pulling in the parking lot we had no idea what to expect. After entering the gift shop to buy spots on the tour, we found a wonderful place for souvenirs. The staff was super friendly and gave us all the information we needed to start our adventure. Walking down to the cave is a beautiful Scenic route. 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🚶Once we reach the end of the path and saw the cave, we were pleasantly surprised at its splendor. 🤩 Our guide was full of energy and made us laugh many times during the boat ride. I recommend you don’t forget to fit this itinerary on your next vacation. 😁
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Donna S. 6 months ago on Google • 791 reviews
    This was a different cave experience than what we are used to since this one is in a boat. It isn't a long boat tour but it is interesting. The grounds are very nice and the staff is nice and friendly. Our tour guide was fun. They also have ziplines, a butterfly sanctuary, and nature trails. There is also a very nice gift shop. This is one tour that you probably wouldn't repeat, but it is definitely worth visiting.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 James M. 2 years ago on Google
    The cave boat tour was fun, not something you get to do often. When they say to get there 30 minutes early, the reason is because you have to walk a bit to get to the start of the tour. In our case it was just as a big rainstorm hit, and we were soaked. The guide will spend a good while talking once you get to the cave, before you can get on the boat, and our 6 year old was bored. But, it was all fine and the guide did well. The company does not enforce masks, which is not good in this close seating arrangement. Nor are masks required in the gift shop. I'd be good if they could at least put all the people with masks in the same boat!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jessica C. 1 year ago on Google
    We had so much fun on our visit to Lost River Cave. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Nashville. This was our sons favorite part of vacation. It is just a short 45 minute drive from Nashville and well worth it. I purchased our tickets online and there are a few benefits of that. I was able to get a discount on the kids mining buckets which they loved! And you also receive a coupon for the gift shop. The tour guides do an amazing job and know a lot of history about the cave and area which I enjoyed. Really all the staff from the gift shop to the guides are super friendly and helpful. If you are visiting when it is cooler be sure to bring a jacket you do have to walk outside some and will want a jacket. Just a note our kids are 9 and 2.5 and it was perfect for them. I was unsure if our daughter would enjoy it or be entertained long enough to sit still for the tour but she did fine. I highly recommend the mining bags or buckets kiddos get to pan for treasure (gemstones shark teeth and geodes) outside of the gift shop and ours loved that experienced.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lauren 1 year ago on Google
    We enjoyed the butterfly house before our boat tour. The butterfly house was nice and the workers were very helpful. The tour guide was fun and boat tour was on the short side but the tour starts on the way to the boat. It was a fun experience but would note after starting the boat tour you have to duck under some low rocks for a brief time in the boat. A bit claustrophobic but it is over quickly. This is family friendly and educational.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Terra F. 2 years ago on Google
    My 10 year old picked the Lost River Cave as a stop for his early birthday trip! I’m so glad he did because it was a very cool experience! We booked a boat tour and bought a bag of gems online the week before hand. The cave tour was a little shorter than we thought it would be, but it was amazing to see! The guides were very friendly, funny, and knowledgeable! All the staff were nice! There are a few small hills while hiking around the property, nothing too bad. The butterfly house was my favorite! There were several butterflies and they landed on flowers very close to us! My son was super excited to be able to mine for gems! He got some really cool gems! We enjoyed our time so much and would love to go back again!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ernest G. 1 year ago on Google
    We took the boat tour very informative guide great visuals and very educational. Also in the park is a it's a 2 mile walking trail that could that currently has many scarecrows for the Halloween season a lot of fun for the kids and adults as well. The cave entrance can be rented out for events the day we were there it was set up for a wedding with crystal chandelier
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jessica H. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a cool experience! The short walk back up the hill is worth it! Our guide was so knowledgeable and had great dad jokes! The cave is beautiful. Was hoping it was bigger but hey its a cave! Was so interesting learning all the history and with that was put into this. Definitely worth the stop! Oh and the gift shop has so many good tourist stuff!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joshua T. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely loved this experience. Stopped by on the way to Florida for something to do and assumed it would be a cheesy tourist trap, but it is not. Knowledgeable friendly staff, a large beautiful trail system as well as a butterfly enclosure to walk and visit at your leisure, and my favorite part, the boat tour. The underground cave tour is just surreal with all the things you'd expect to see while being educated with a bit of humor as well. On top of all of that the gift shop is well stocked and the prices are all surprisingly low as well. There was also a zip line course that looked great but we didn't have the time to try it this time. If you have the chance I would definitely suggest stopping by.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Rebecca D. 8 months ago on Google • 61 reviews
    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, but still glad we experienced it.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carla S. 7 months ago on Google • 56 reviews
    This place is really relaxing and calming. I love coming here when I am in Kentucky. They have a great gift shop and very friendly staff. The grounds are beautiful, there is hiking trails and a butterfly garden that is fun to see. It is a good place to get out in nature. I love seeing the creeks and hearing the water. The tour is short but I enjoyed the boat ride. You don't go that deep into the cavern but I would definitely recommend coming here. It is beautiful.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nancy 1 year ago on Google
    Hannah gave us an awesome tour! I highly recommend coming here. It was my second time and just had to bring my 7 year old twins who both loved it. They thought it was cool to be on a boat in a cave on a river. Need I say more?
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laura L. 8 months ago on Google • 87 reviews
    If you love being surrounded by the wonders of God's creation then I highly recommend the nature trail here. With beautiful scenery and interesting facts about the Lost River along the way it is sure to please any nature lover. I have yet to take the underground boat tour but I'm sure I won't be disappointed when I finally do. The gift shop has unique and beautiful items for sale and the employees are very friendly. My grandchildren enjoyed the rock mining and the Lost River spring more than anything. I could go here every day and discover something new.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 T 5 months ago on Google • 11 reviews
    Definitely book this tour! We were searching for a cave tour that is easily accessible as we had two with us that had small mobility issues that could not do much of the hiking which would be involved with the other cave tours around. They both made it up and down to the entrance with ease. Our tour guide was fantastic, knowledgeable and made the adventure enjoyable! The boat tour itself is gorgeous.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tammy L. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful, fun place for all ages! Your kiddos will certainly enjoy the outdoor unique activities that await. Such as panning for gold! The Cave Tour is entertaining, interesting, led by someone who truly knows the history. The guide I had was funny and wise. They work hard so bring funds for a tip. The tour begins with a very scenic walk to get to the entrance. Wear comfy shoes and clothing. You will be getting into a boat with a life jacket provided. No pets can ride however the Gift Shop may be able to watch yours if temperatures are too high for someone to walk while you ride. It is a great place to walk your dog as well. There is plenty of free parking just keep driving and you will find a spot on either side. The Gift Shop is a great place to cool off, do some shopping;) You will certainly want to stop in since they have so many lovely items!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kristen B. 7 months ago on Google
    This was a very pretty place. Small gift shop with an outside area for kids to run around and explore. A few painted murals for pictures. There is a small walk down into the lost cave, very pretty walk along the river, everyone in our group enjoyed the boat ride into the cave. Was very short but enjoyable, nonetheless. One part of the boat ride you have to duck down under a very long rock just be aware if you have older people with you.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Z. D. 2 years ago on Google
    What a fun trip! The temperature inside the cave was so pleasant, especially in the middle of July! Our tour guides, Caroline and Austin, were friendly and fun and shared many interesting things from the history of the cave. We also purchased tickets for zip lining for our kids after the boat tour (which was a short walking distance) and the employees there were also really nice and made sure the kids were safe and had fun. They have zip lining for adults as well. You can also pay for gem mining which is located close to the gift shop by the entrance. All in all, I highly recommend the excursion. It felt good to support the university and the non-profit organization that take care of the cave, especially since everyone who worked there was so pleasant and clearly enjoyed their job!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 mandy k. 1 year ago on Google
    What a beautiful gem tucked away in Bowling Green! Our guide, Katie, was fantastic. All the staff were super nice and very knowledgeable. It's definitely worth the visit, and we will go back again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chloe 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely beautiful and worth it. The trails are gorgeous and the butterfly habitat is a place I’ll never forget. The boat tour was intriguing and nothing less than informative. My boat’s tour guide, Gavin, was absolutely hilarious, had a great demeanor, and was able to answer every question we threw at him. My entire family had a great time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amber G. 1 year ago on Google
    The Lost Cave was a unique experience. It was interesting to hear about the history of the cave. We ended up having two separate guides. One guide was before we got on the boat and we had a different guide during the boat tour. The second guide seemed in better spirits and perkier than the first guide. There was a wedding/reception all set up for that night so that was neat to see.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kim G. 1 year ago on Google
    This cave was beautiful! I enjoyed learning facts about the place from our tour guide. You can also rent the area for a wedding! It was really pretty and very neat to ride the boat through the cave, my son loved it. Also I think its less than a 20 minute walk to the cave or for the start of the cave tour. They are kid/baby friendly as we took a 9 year old and a 9 month old on the tour. The gift shop had lots of cute knickknacks too! We didnt have a wait to buy the tickets but we had about a 20 minute wait from time we purchased tickets until our tour actually began, which was totally fine with us as there was plenty to see to occupy our time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dawn D. 6 months ago on Google • 10 reviews
    Lost River Cave is phenomenal! I had my wedding here over the weekend and I got so many compliments! The staff were so helpful and professional. Their get ready building was so helpful! I got to hang out with my girls and hook my phone up for music! I strongly recommend this venue for weddings! 10/10! We also did the tour and that was so much fun! We encouraged everyone from our guests list to go before the wedding as well!

  • 5/5 Ariel G. 2 years ago on Google
    This was one of the coolest things we did on our trip to KY - all 3 of my kids loved it! The cave tour is a bit expensive but all the proceeds go to the maintenance of the cave and surrounding trails etc. so I felt like it was worth it. The whole place is really well maintained and the staff is all super friendly and helpful. There’s a very cool nature playscape outside the gift shop that my kids would have spent all day playing on if they could. The gift shop is super clean and reasonably priced. I’d definitely come back if I’m in the area!

  • 5/5 Elashia R. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely amazing to see. It was Labor Day weekend so of course tours were full plus thunderstorms were rolling through but only about a 30 minute delay. Staff was incredibly friendly! Tour guide was great, the boat ride was so fun. Would recommend to everyone!

  • 5/5 Arianna H. 1 year ago on Google
    Very cool sight! Brought my ten month old in a baby carrier and she did great. Tour guides were fun and caves are always fun to venture into. Certainly worth checking out and supporting!

  • 4/5 Trey T. 2 years ago on Google
    Woods with trails, a river and a cave system all within easy access of I65 and right in town of Bowling Green. This is a pleasant spot to have some outdoor time anytime. Trails are free and great for a short hike, bird watching, or if early morning a nice trail run. Cool views of some gnarly trees, small cliffs, and glimpses of the underground river keep everything visually interesting. Of course if visiting with family consider the butterfly house and Zipline. Finally there is the cave tour. This will require planning ahead though as tickets are required and sell out fast. Plenty of restaurants and shopping close by for before or after your visit to round out a day trip.

  • 5/5 Mits 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely amazing experience you must do yourself to really get it. If you love cave exploring, Lost River needs to be on your list. Your tour will start outside near their Blue Hole, then to the cave mouth - absolutely magical view with the vibrantly green vegetation hanging down over the rock. Then the boat! Fun ride into the cave and believe me when I say you get CLOSE to the cave... so fun!

  • 5/5 Nicole M. 2 years ago on Google
    Tour guide was very knowledgeable, had a few puns, seemed to enjoy his job. The place in beautiful with cave tours, walking paths, nice store and a few other thinks to do. Over all worth a stop if in the area.

  • 5/5 Brian N. 1 year ago on Google
    What an amazing experience. The nature trails are absolutely gorgeous and well maintained. The staff are fun and informative. The caves are beautiful and steeped in history!

  • 4/5 Scott G. 2 years ago on Google
    The tour is shorter than I thought it would be, but its still pretty neat and informative. And there are some trails you can walk after the tour. Zip lining is pretty good too.

  • 5/5 Brandon B. 2 years ago on Google
    We really enjoyed our boat tour at Lost River Cave. Our guide Jacob was informative and entertaining. The cave itself as an interesting history and it's good to see it cleaned up and giving tours after learning that it was abandoned at some point in the past. I think couples and families would enjoy the tour.

  • 5/5 Taylor G. 6 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    Absolutely loved it! We had Becky as our tour guide and she did a great job with commentary and history. It’s not a super long tour so you can talk smaller children on it (there are life vests and the water is only around 4 feet deep). Would definitely recommend.

  • 5/5 Paciance G. 2 months ago on Google • 2 reviews New
    Cole did an absolutely amazing job! He talked with us about the history and even threw in a few jokes. Congratulations on graduating this May! Thanks for an awesome tour!


Call +1 270-393-0077 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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