By GAGE WILSON
for Glasgow News 1
Mammoth Cave National Park is set to implement a comprehensive Land and River Trails Management Plan aimed at enhancing the park’s trail systems. The plan focuses on improving the condition and sustainability of both land and water trails, enriching visitor experiences, and safeguarding the park’s natural and cultural resources.
The plan proposes increasing the total designated trail mileage to 146 miles, which includes 66 miles of new trails. These additions are designed to accommodate various user groups, with about 50 miles designated for pedestrian use, 59 miles for both equestrian and pedestrian use, and 37 miles for bicycle and pedestrian use.
To support this expanded network, the plan includes the installation of 10 bike racks, seven information kiosks, three parking lots, seven restrooms, seven backcountry land campsites, and five reservable river campsites.
A key emphasis of the plan is sustainable trail design and construction practices to minimize environmental impacts. New trail alignments will be determined within designated 60-foot-wide corridors, with final placements decided in consultation with park natural and cultural resource specialists. This approach ensures that trail development avoids sensitive areas and preserves the park’s ecological and historical integrity, according to the plan.
The environmental assessment process included a public review period from Oct. 16 to Nov. 15, 2024, during which the park received 117 pieces of correspondence.
Some responses referenced concerns about the decommissioning of certain trails currently in use. In response, the National Park Service wrote: “The National Park Service acknowledges that the decommissioning of any recreational asset such as a trail will inevitably have a possible adverse effect on some visitors. This impact may be felt acutely by users who frequently use trails that are decommissioned… Ultimately, the plan does include short new loop opportunities and exciting new terrain through interesting park resources.”
Other comments focused on concerns about invasive species along equestrian routes, noting that disturbances along trails often create conditions that favor invasive species establishment. Addressing these concerns, the report stated: “The proposed changes in this plan, including the sustainable trail guidelines for equestrian trails, decommissioning trails that are unsustainable long term, and enacting wet weather closures, will ensure that impacts from equestrian use are concentrated and do not extend beyond the equestrian trail area of the park.”
The report also concluded that no significant impact on endemic species was expected due to these changes.
According to information released by the park in Oct. 2024, the plan is scheduled to be implemented in the summer of 2025 “and beyond.”
