Pros & cons
PROS
- Multiple signed sinkhole viewpoints in a compact loop
- Benches and interpretive panels at the overlook
- Leaf-off seasons can offer bald eagle spotting over the river
CONS
- Summer foliage can obscure the river view
- Short, steep stair and grade sections rule out strollers and ADA access
- Buggy in warm months and occasionally a bit overgrown
Small trailhead lot on Brownsville Road (KY‑70), roughly a 10-minute drive from the Visitor Center; recent improvements include new gravel and updated signage.
Short but steep stairs and grades; unfenced drop-offs at the overlook; slick when wet. Expect ticks, poison ivy, and occasional snakes in warm months.
Overview
A quick hit of classic Mammoth Cave karst, this 0.5-mile loop packs in sinkholes, springs, and a mid-loop Green River overlook. Expect a well-groomed mix of gravel and dirt with a wooden staircase at the start and a couple of short, steep grades. It’s family-friendly but not flat, and it typically takes 15–30 minutes.
Route and views
From the small trailhead lot, climb steps to the ridge and follow the signed loop. Hiking clockwise gives you a sinkhole rim view early and drops you into the sink later—more dramatic that way. About halfway, an overlook peers toward the park’s north side and the oxbow at Turnhole Bend. In leaf-off seasons the river and spring views open up; in summer, foliage can partially block the vista. Benches and interpretive panels make this a nice linger spot.
Nature and history highlights
This loop is a living lesson in karst—sinkholes, springs, and cool, moist microhabitats that host diverse ferns and amphibians. Spring lights up the oak–hickory forest floor with wildflowers like fire pink, trillium, and celandine poppy. Keep an eye out for eastern newts and common five-lined skinks along warm edges, and watch the sky—bald eagles are occasionally seen cruising the Green River.
Nearby, the area includes Turnhole Bend Spring (one of Kentucky’s largest) and the Patch Rockshelter, a sizable rock house with evidence of prehistoric use—both underscore how water and limestone have shaped this landscape and its human story.
Best time to hike
- Spring for wildflowers and cool temperatures.
- Winter for the clearest river and spring views—and your best chance to spot soaring raptors.
- Fall brings color and fewer bugs. Summer can be buggy and a bit overgrown; go early.
Know before you go
This trail isn’t ADA accessible due to stairs and grades. Surfaces can be slick after rain, and there are unfenced drop-offs near the overlook—mind kids and pups. Ticks, poison ivy, and the occasional snake are part of the package here; stay on trail and do a tick check afterward. The trailhead sits along Brownsville Road (KY‑70) a short drive from the Visitor Center, and the loop pairs well with the nearby Cedar Sink Trail if you want more karst in your day.
Where it starts
37.1624, -86.1584Wildlife on this trail
Near Turnhole Bend Nature Trail
All places →All trails →
0 mi awayTurnhole Bend OverlookQuick Green River overlook on a half-mile karst loopParking · Scenic Viewpoint
0.5 mi awayCedar Sink TrailShort shady loop into a giant sinkhole with a disappearing streamModerate · 1 mi · 1 hr
0.9 mi awayCedar SinkShort stair-filled loop into a wildflower-rich karst sinkTrailhead · Parking
1.3 mi awayJoppa Baptist Church and CemeteryQuiet 1860s church and cemetery tucked into the woods
2.8 mi awayGreen River FerryWorking river ferry with boat launches and riverside trailsRestroom · Parking
2.8 mi awayEcho River Spring TrailEasy, accessible loop to see an underground river meet the GreenEasy · 0.7 mi · 18 min
3.2 mi awaySal Hollow TrailQuiet, muddy backcountry through rolling woods and creeksModerate · 8.5 mi · 4 hr
3.4 mi awaySloans Crossing Pond WalkEasy boardwalk loop circling a wildlife-rich sinkhole pondEasy · 0.5 mi · 18 min
