Mammoth Cave National Park

Three Springs Campsite Trail

BackpackersSolitude SeekersPrimitive Camping
0.1 miDistance
VariesEstimated Time
one_wayTrail Type

What to Expect

This is about as short as a trail gets — a quick spur off McCoy Hollow Trail that drops you at the Three Springs backcountry campsite. You're not hiking this for the trail itself; you're hiking it because you've got a pack on your back and a night in the Kentucky woods ahead of you. The path cuts through typical Mammoth Cave backcountry — hardwood forest, dappled light filtering through oak and hickory, and that quiet humidity that settles into the hollows. The campsite sits near its namesake springs, which means water access for filtering and a soundtrack of trickling water to sleep to. This one's purely for backpackers setting up camp, not day hikers looking for a destination.
BackpackersSolitude SeekersPrimitive Camping

Safety Advisory

Ticks are aggressive in the Kentucky woods from spring through fall — do a thorough check after setting up camp, especially around ankles, waistband, and hairline.

The backcountry here can feel disorienting after dark since the hollow terrain and dense canopy block landmarks. Carry a reliable headlamp and know your route back to the McCoy Hollow junction before sunset.

Trail Details

Distance0.1 miles round-trip
Estimated TimeVaries
Trail Typeone_way
PetsNot allowed
SeasonYear-round
TrailheadThree Springs Campsite Trail
Trail Tips
  1. 1

    This spur only makes sense as part of a longer backcountry loop — plan your route along McCoy Hollow Trail and time your arrival at camp with enough daylight to set up and filter water from the springs.

  2. 2

    Pack a reliable water filter since the springs are your water source out here — there are no treated water stations in the backcountry. A gravity filter works well for camp since you won't be in a rush.

  3. 3

    Register at the visitor center before heading out — Mammoth Cave requires backcountry campers to check in, and the rangers can tell you current trail conditions and whether the springs are flowing well.

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