Campground · Mammoth Cave National Park
A tent camp on the Green River, with a public boat launch.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Mammoth Cave Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Mammoth Cave National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this place
Houchin Ferry Picnic Area“You're nearing Houchin Ferry Picnic Area, a shady place for lunch beside the Green River.”
Plays as you drive up to Houchin Ferry Campground in the Parkwolf Mammoth Cave Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Houchin Ferry Campground is a 12-site, drive-up tent campground at the old ferry landing on the Green River. It suits campers who want a basic overnight by the water, but the sites are close together, so don't expect much privacy when the campground is busy. It's open year-round and camping is by reservation.
The ferry once carried people between Brownsville and northeastern Edmonson County. It was taken out of service in 2013; after Lock and Dam 6 breached and was removed in 2016, the Green River fell 8 to 10 feet and the crossing could no longer reliably support ferry service. The campground keeps the name of that former crossing.
There's no food, camp store or firewood for sale at the campground. Pick up supplies and firewood before the drive; NPS points campers to Caver's Campstore near the Visitor Center. GPS directions can be misleading on the way in, so follow the park's route via KY-70 through Brownsville and Houchins Ferry Road down to the river.
Wildlife
228 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
23 sightingsTricolored BatMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
75 sightingsCave SalamanderMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
151 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
13 sightingsBarred OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
40 sightingsSnapping TurtleMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Mammoth Cave. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingMcCoy Hollow Trail6.4 mi · 3.5 hr · 1.5 mi awayRavine after ravine on a rugged, one-way backcountry route.
EasyMiles-Davis Cemetery Trail0.5 mi · 30 min · 3.3 mi awayA short cemetery spur tucked deep in the backcountry.
ModerateFirst Creek Trail6.3 mi · 3.5 hr · 3.9 mi awayA wooded backcountry crossing with Nolin River views.
ChallengingFirst Creek Trail, McCoy Hollow Trail and Wet Prong Trail Loop16.4 mi · 8 hr · 3.9 mi awayA full-day loop through backcountry creeks and rugged ravines.
ModerateWet Prong Trail4.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 3.9 mi awayA wooded backcountry traverse with creek crossings and blue blazes
ModerateBlair Springs Hollow Trail1.8 mi · 1 hr · 4.3 mi awayCreek crossing, hollow tread, and a steady climb through backcountry.
ModerateDry Prong Trail2.4 mi · 1.5 hr · 4.5 mi awayA rough connector best folded into a longer backcountry hike.
ModerateTurnhole Bend Trail1.8 mi · 1 hr · 4.5 mi awayA backcountry camp route with one steep ravine at the end.Parkwolf’s Mammoth Cave ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
