Explore Kentucky's Only Underground Boat Tour & Hands-On Nature Programs

Guided cave boat tours, educational workshops, and seasonal events at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Tours & Experiences

Guided cave tours, hikes, workshops, and community events

Cave Boat Tour

Discover the underground beauty of Lost River Cave on a private boat tour that combines adventure, history, and natural beauty all in one unforgettable experience. Perfect for all ages, this guided journey reveals stunning formations and fascinating stories beneath Franklin. Keep reading to find out why this activity is a must-do in Kentucky!

Cave Boat Tour

Discover The Art of Local Wood: Sustainable Woodworking at Lost River Cave, Kentucky

Dive into sustainable woodworking with Wildland Woodworks at Lost River Cave, Kentucky. Discover how local trees shape art and culture in this unique hands-on demonstration and tour.

Discover The Art of Local Wood: Sustainable Woodworking at Lost River Cave, Kentucky

Bowling Green

The Secret Lives of Trees: Discover Lost River Cave’s Ancient Giants on an Arborist-Led Walk

Explore Lost River Cave’s forests with certified Arborist Chad Singer and uncover the hidden world of trees that have thrived for centuries amid Kentucky’s unique karst landscape. This guided walk offers a blend of science, history, and outdoor connection.

Bowling Green

Composting 101 Workshop at Lost River Cave: Transform Your Scraps into Garden Gold

Join Compost Bowling Green at Lost River Cave for an interactive Composting 101 workshop. Learn how to turn kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich soil in this hands-on session set in Kentucky’s unique karst landscape.

Bowling Green

Unwind with Outdoor Yoga at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Experience one hour of outdoor yoga surrounded by the limestone cliffs and flowing waters of Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This unique wellness event blends mindful movement with nature in an unforgettable setting.

Unwind with Outdoor Yoga at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green

Snow Flurry Scurry 5K at Lost River Cave: A Scenic Winter Run in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Experience winter’s chill and natural beauty at the Snow Flurry Scurry 5K through Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This January event blends a scenic run with community fun and cave country history.

Snow Flurry Scurry 5K at Lost River Cave: A Scenic Winter Run in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green

Create Pollinator Seed Bombs at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, KY

Join a hands-on workshop at Lost River Cave to create native Pollinator Seed Bombs. Learn how these small seed-packed balls support vital pollinators like bees and butterflies in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Create Pollinator Seed Bombs at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, KY

Bowling Green

Discover Karst Hydrogeology on a Guided Hike at Lost River Cave, Kentucky

Explore the fascinating karst landscape of Lost River Cave near Bowling Green, KY, with a guided hike led by local experts. Discover how groundwater shapes caves and sinkholes in this unique limestone valley.

Discover Karst Hydrogeology on a Guided Hike at Lost River Cave, Kentucky

Bowling Green

Volunteer Invasive Plant Initiative in Bowling Green, KY

Join the Volunteer Invasive Plant Initiative at Lost River Cave to help remove harmful plants and restore Kentucky's native ecosystem. Get hands-on and make a difference while enjoying the outdoors!

Volunteer Invasive Plant Initiative in Bowling Green, KY

Bowling Green

Buggin' Out: Nighttime Insect Adventure in Bowling Green

Join Lost River Cave for Buggin' Out, a captivating nighttime insect adventure in Bowling Green. Discover moths and beetles under the stars with expert guides leading the way!

Buggin' Out: Nighttime Insect Adventure in Bowling Green

others

Bowling Green

Camping at Lost River Cave: An Unforgettable Underground Adventure in Bowling Green, KY

Discover a one-of-a-kind camping experience at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Spend a night underground enjoying a campfire feast, a movie inside the cavern, and a hearty Sunday breakfast in this unique natural setting.

Bowling Green

Cocktails and Trails Volunteer in Bowling Green, KY

Volunteer for nature and enjoy cocktails on August 4th in Bowling Green’s Lost River Cave. Support conservation efforts while exploring beautiful trails and making a difference outdoors.

Cocktails and Trails Volunteer in Bowling Green, KY

land adventures

Bowling Green

Species Inventory Adventure at Lost River Cave, Kentucky

Join Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky for a one-of-a-kind Species Inventory hike. Use the iNaturalist app to document local wildlife and contribute to ongoing conservation efforts!

Species Inventory Adventure at Lost River Cave, Kentucky

Bowling Green

Discover the Science and Magic of Dye Tracing at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Explore the captivating world beneath Bowling Green at Lost River Cave with the "Go With The Flow" program, where live dye tracing reveals the secrets of underground rivers. This interactive, family-friendly science tour offers a unique blend of education and adventure.

Bowling Green

Volunteer at the Snow Flurry Scurry 5K in Bowling Green: Join the Community and Connect with Nature

Step into winter fun by volunteering at Bowling Green’s Snow Flurry Scurry 5K. Connect with nature at Lost River Cave while supporting a vibrant outdoor community event.

Volunteer at the Snow Flurry Scurry 5K in Bowling Green: Join the Community and Connect with Nature

Bowling Green

Volunteer for Earth Week at Lost River Cave: Restore Nature in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Join Earth Week at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to help restore native habitats by removing invasive plants and learning about local ecology. Experience a series of community-driven events that connect you to nature while earning a free boat tour pass!

Bowling Green

Discovering Kentucky’s Hidden Pollinators: The Remarkable Colletes Bees of Lost River Cave

Explore the early-season resilience of native Colletes bees in Lost River Cave, Kentucky. Join expert John Zippay to uncover their surprising wintertime activity and hidden nesting sites during this unique pollinator program.

Bowling Green

Lost Tales of the Underground: Haunted Boat Tour at Lost River Cave, Kentucky

Experience the haunting beauty of Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, KY, on a twilight boat tour filled with ghost stories and geological wonders. Perfect for thrill-seekers and folklore fans alike, this unique underground trip offers a memorable blend of history and Halloween intrigue.

Bowling Green

Wildlife Nature & Conservation at Lost River Cave

Join volunteers at Lost River Cave to help remove litter and protect this unique landscape. Discover the importance of conservation while making a tangible impact in a stunning underground wilderness.

Wildlife Nature & Conservation at Lost River Cave

Bowling Green

Volunteer for the Scarecrow Trail at Lost River Cave: Support Trails and Community in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Step into the heart of southern Kentucky's outdoor community by volunteering for Lost River Cave's Scarecrow Trail. Support trail maintenance and environmental education while enjoying a beloved fall event near Bowling Green.

Bowling Green

Explore Lost River Cave’s Underground Wildlife: A Kids’ Adventure in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Step inside Lost River Cave’s mysterious underground world with the Critters of the Cave program—an interactive adventure where kids ages 8-12 discover cave creatures and learn about subterranean ecosystems.

About Lost River Cave

Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is a natural destination offering guided tours, hands-on workshops, seasonal events, and educational programs focused on the region’s karst landscape and native ecology. The site operates Kentucky’s only underground boat tour, a 45-minute Cave Boat Tour that combines scenic walking and a guided ride through the cave’s passageways and historical sites. Beyond the boat tour, Lost River Cave hosts a rotating lineup of experiences that include woodworking demonstrations with Wildland Woodworks, tree walks led by certified arborists, hiking focused on karst hydrogeology, and craft workshops such as hiking stick building and pollinator seed bomb making. Educational events extend to meadow BioBlitz plant inventories, composting workshops with Compost Bowling Green, and periodic community fitness and wellness activities like Yoga at the Cave and timed races such as the Snow Flurry Scurry 5K.

Programs are presented in partnership with local experts and community organizations, including Wildland Woodworks, Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter, Compost Bowling Green, and certified arborist Chad Singer, ensuring subject-matter knowledge during guided experiences. Lost River Cave balances recreational access with interpretation of natural and cultural history, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about karst features, groundwater dynamics, native plants, and wildlife while participating in conservation-minded activities.

Visitors can expect scheduled programs that emphasize hands-on participation, natural interpretation, and stewardship. Lost River Cave serves as a regional hub for outdoor education, local partnerships, and experiential learning rooted in the unique geology and ecology of Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Programs accommodate families and individual explorers.

Explore Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky

Discover outdoor adventure, education, and cave exploration at Lost River Cave. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, this site features the state's only underground boat tour and a rotating schedule of guided hikes, workshops, and community events focused on karst geology and native ecology.

Signature tours and experiences

Lost River Cave offers a variety of trips that combine interpretation with hands-on activity:

Cave Boat Tour — A 45-minute journey that begins with a scenic walk and continues on Kentucky's only underground boat tour, highlighting cave passageways and historical sites.
The Art of Local Wood — A Wildland Woodworks demonstration and sustainable woodshop tour with live honey dipper carving and insights into local native trees.
The Secret Lives of Trees — An Earth Week tree walk led by certified arborist Chad Singer exploring tree biology, survival strategies, and conservation.
Craft Your Own Hiking Stick — A hands-on workshop to select, sand, and seal a personalized hiking stick; all materials are provided.
Meadow BioBlitz — A collaborative inventory of native plants in a restored meadow with Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter to improve species identification skills.
Composting 101 — A practical workshop with Compost Bowling Green teaching how to turn kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost for home gardens.
Yoga at the Cave — An evening yoga session held at the cave site, offering relaxation in a natural setting with timed check-in.
Snow Flurry Scurry 5K — A community 5K event held in January with in-person and virtual participation options.
Pollinator Seed Bombs — A workshop to make seed bombs using pollinator-friendly seeds to support bees and butterflies.
Guided Hike: Karst Hydrogeology — A field hike led by a karst expert examining collapsed cave valleys, karst features, and groundwater dynamics.

Educational focus and partnerships

Lost River Cave partners with local organizations and subject-matter experts to deliver accurate, educational programming. Partnerships include Wildland Woodworks, Wild Ones Southern Kentucky Chapter, Compost Bowling Green, and certified arborist Chad Singer. These collaborations support conservation-minded activities and community science projects.

What to expect

Visitors should expect guided interpretation, hands-on learning, and opportunities to engage in habitat restoration and stewardship. Programs highlight:

karst landscape education
native plant identification
sustainable woodworking practices
practical composting techniques

Practical details and planning

Most experiences are scheduled events; check Lost River Cave's calendar for dates, times, and registration details. Many programs provide materials and expert instruction. Seasonal events such as the Snow Flurry Scurry 5K and Earth Week programs occur at specific times of year.

Why choose Lost River Cave

For those seeking cave tours, outdoor education, or community workshops in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Lost River Cave combines unique subterranean access with a varied program lineup that emphasizes learning and stewardship. Whether joining an underground boat tour or participating in a meadow BioBlitz, visitors engage directly with the region's geology and ecology.

Historic interpretation on the Cave Boat Tour highlights the site's past as a native hunting ground and a Civil War hideout, connecting geology to human history. Hikes and karst hydrogeology sessions explain how limestone dissolution forms collapsed valleys, sinkholes, and subterranean passages and how groundwater moves through fractured rock. Meadow BioBlitz events teach practical plant inventory methods, including using field guides for species records. Workshops such as The Art of Local Wood demonstrate sustainable material use and show basic turning and carving techniques in a woodshop setting. Composting 101 provides step-by-step guidance on what materials to compost and backyard bin construction methods.

Plan visits around program schedules and registered events to ensure availability and the best educational experience.

Book a Tour or Experience at Lost River Cave

Check event schedules and register for cave boat tours, hikes, workshops, and seasonal programs in Bowling Green, KY.