Parking
Approach from the Heritage Trail across the pedestrian bridge by the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center. Parking alongside the Lodge is within 100 yards of the Heritage Trail.
Overview
About Sunset Point Trail
Why go
- Passes a broad overlook above the Green River valley.
- Links Heritage and Echo River Springs trails in a short crossing.
Heads up
- Returning to the Heritage end means climbing about 44 m.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Mammoth Cave map
Full mapElevation551–696 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Mammoth Cave alerts
- ClosureSelect trails closed for rehabilitationMentions this trailThe Old Guides Trail, Heritage Trail, Sunset Point Trail, and areas of the Sinkhole Trail are closed for a trail rehabilitation project. Check current park conditions before planning a hike.Official details
- ClosureGreen River Ferry suspendedGreen River Ferry service is suspended because low water levels prevent operation. - Service will resume once water levels rise and conditions are safe; a river forecast is available.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Mammoth Cave Tour Guide
Your drive to Sunset Point Trail, narrated.
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 trailhead
The Lodge and Heritage Trail0:00 / 0:33
“You're coming up on The Lodge at Mammoth Cave, across the footbridge from the visitor center. You can stop here without staying overnight.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Mammoth Cave Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Mammoth Cave Picnic Area and Dixon Cave
- Visitor Center and Historic Entrance
- Mammoth Cave Campground and Caver's Camp Store
- Green River Ferry and Echo River Springs
- 52 audio storiesacross Mammoth Cave’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor White-tailed Deer, Tricolored Bat, Cave Salamander, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 47 trails, 42 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Sunset Point Trail
The short crossingSunset Point Trail is a 0.
Sunset Point Trail is a 0.3-mile, one-way connector from Heritage Trail to Echo River Springs Trail, passing Sunset Point above the Green River valley. Allow about 15–30 minutes from one end to the other. A separate walk-to-the-overlook itinerary is also described as a 0.6-mile out-and-back; this row maps the connector itself. Continue on linked trails or retrace the line—this is not a loop.
A short route with a real descentThe mapped line drops about 44 m (144 ft) from the Heritage end toward Echo River Springs.
The mapped line drops about 44 m (144 ft) from the Heritage end toward Echo River Springs. Turning around means climbing back up the same corridor, so the short distance is more work than a flat path. The connector's footing and accessibility are not documented; do not assume the adjoining Heritage Trail's accessible walkway classification continues here.
The view at Sunset PointThe overlook opens across forested hills to the Green River Valley, a river-cut view through…
The overlook opens across forested hills to the Green River Valley, a river-cut view through the park's Kentucky karst above Mammoth Cave's underground passages. Spring foliage and autumn color are especially notable, and the overlook is positioned for the setting sun. Benches and interpretive panels make this the natural place to stop along the connector.
Getting to the connectorApproach the Heritage Trail from the pedestrian bridge across from the Mammoth Cave Visitor…
Approach the Heritage Trail from the pedestrian bridge across from the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center. Parking alongside the Lodge is within 100 yards of that trail. The one-way route continues to Echo River Springs Trail, so plan to carry on through the trail network or return to the Heritage side. Leashed pets are allowed on surface trails; keep the leash to six feet or less and collect waste.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Mammoth Cave
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.
