Lost River Cave – Bowling Green, KY
Overview
Lost River Cave offers one of the most unusual natural experiences in Kentucky, a cave system that’s almost entirely underwater! The entrance opens to a subterranean river, and depending on recent rainfall, even that entryway can sometimes disappear beneath the surface.
In 1986, the cave along with the 25-acre wooded, surrounding valley was donated to Western Kentucky University. Today, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Friends of the Lost River, Inc. (dba Lost River Cave) manages the conservation and sustainability of the Cave and the now 72-acre park, offering trails, wetlands, meadows, and more. You may even want to hold your next event at the Historic Cavern Nite Club!
Getting to the Cave
In order to take the tour, after purchasing tickets at the visitor center, you have a bit of a hike to get to the starting point. You take a stroll over a pretty bridge…
Then you come upon The Blue Hole – the point at which a natural water source pops up out of nowhere.
From here, you follow the above ground river on a trail that runs beside it.
Meanwhile the river slowly flows by…
Eventually, you arrive at the man made dam and other structures that signify the entrance to the actual cave.
The Boat Tour
The best part of course is the boat tour, which lets you float throughout the cave. That small man-made dam was built to maintain navigable water levels making it one of the only underground river tours in the USA. We absolutely loved it!
The beginning of the tour starts by everyone in the boat having to duck down to go under a low spot in the ceiling.
From there, you float deeper and deeper into the cave, while the tour guide tells you about the history, creatures and formations.
Eventually, you begin to hear the roar of a waterfall – and you travel right up to the edge of it where you can watch the river continue underground. It keeps going for miles before popping back up above ground.
History and Other Stuff
In 1986, the cave and its surrounding 25-acre valley were donated to Western Kentucky University, which later transferred management to a nonprofit organization called Friends of the Lost River, Inc. (operating as Lost River Cave). Today, that protected area has expanded to 72 acres, including hiking trails, wetlands, meadows, and educational programs dedicated to conservation and sustainability.
Beyond the cave tour itself, the site has become a community centerpiece. Visitors can explore nature trails rich with local wildlife, attend seasonal events, or even host gatherings in the Historic Cavern Nite Club, a unique venue built directly inside the cave during the 1930s and 1940s swing era.
All in all, we consider this a don’t miss attraction!