River Styx Spring Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring

The River Styx Spring Trail can be accessed from the visitor center by taking the Historic Entrance trail from the visitor center. Once you pass the entrance to the cave, the River Styx Spring Trail transforms into a crushed gravel trail that remains wide. The trail descends through the forest where you may see deer feeding or resting throughout the day. Depending on rain fall, water may be flowing down a creek bed on the right hand of the trail. The trail rounds the corner at the bottom of the hill and approaches a boardwalk that allows you to go out and view the River Styx Spring, where the River Styx emerges from Mammoth Cave. Due to its short distance, crushed gravel, and proximity to the historic entrance, this is a pretty popular trail. Rangers do guided hikes from the visitor center to the spring throughout the year, so check in at the visitor center that day to see if there is a free ranger tour if you want to learn more about the spring.

From here, you can either retrace your steps on the wide gravel trail, or you can follow one of several narrow dirt trails that lead back uphill toward the visitor center. If you continue straight uphill, the Sunset Point Trail provides access to the visitor center. If you turn back and follow the Green River Trail to the Dixon Trail, you can make your way back to your car that way.