Wildflower Day

Wildflower Day 2025

Join Mammoth Cave National Park rangers and volunteers throughout the day on Saturday, April 12, 2025 to celebrate the wildflowers and blooming trees that treat park visitors to colorful displays along park trails, roadways, and forests each spring. The annual park event highlights the importance of wildflowers for our human history and environmental health.

Special Displays and Craft Demonstrations

Native Wildflower Exhibit

9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

View a display of native wildflowers harvested outside the park by the Warren East Garden Club. Wildflower experts will be on hand to answer questions about the plants and provide suggestions on the best trails to see what is currently in bloom.

Display located inside the visitor center.

Quilting Demonstrations

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Enjoy a display of handmade quilts that showcase the region's textile artistry, creativity, and cultural heritage. View live quilting demonstrations at scheduled times.

Display located in the exhibit area inside the visitor center.

Wildflower Kids Crafts and Jr. Ranger Activities♿

9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.

Discover wildflowers and plants and engage in crafting activities with park rangers and naturalists.

Meets on the back porch of the visitor center.

Walks and Talks

Cedar Sink Hike

9 – 11 a.m.

Join Volunteer-in-Park Steve Kistler on a hike through one of the most decorated areas of Mammoth Cave National Park. Learn ways to identify common wildflowers, peak season, hot spots in the park, and traditional uses of various species. Steve is a former Mammoth Cave National Park employee and has outstanding experience in the trail systems of the park and knowledge of wildflowers of the Southeastern United States.

Meets at the Cedar Sink Trail Head
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 kilometers)
Difficulty: Moderate. This trail includes steep uphill and downhill sections with approximately 100 stairs along the route.

Echo River Spring Trail Walk ♿

9 – 10 a.m.

Join a Ranger on this level loop trail featuring overlooks of natural springs where underground rivers emerge from the cave and flow into the Green River. Admire many wildflowers, plants, and trees along the route.

Meets at the Echo River Spring Trailhead.
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.21 kilometers)
Difficulty: Easy. Meets at Echo River Trailhead

Green River Bluffs Hike

12 – 1:30 p.m.

Join Ranger Rose on nature hike for Wildflower Day. This hike will focus on the local landscape, native seasonal flowers and wildlife. Experience native wildflowers that bloom along the Green River Bluffs Trail.

Meets at Green River Bluffs Trailhead.
Distance: 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers)
Difficulty: Moderate

Echo River Spring Trail Walk ♿

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Join naturalist and Volunteer-in-Park Steve Kistler to observe native wildflowers, ferns, trees, and bushes along this level trail which features overlooks of natural springs where underground rivers emerge from the cave and flow into the Green River.

Meets at Echo River Trailhead
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.21 kilometers)
Difficulty: Easy

Porch Talk ♿

1 p.m.

Join a park ranger at the back porch of the visitor center for a 10-minute presentation on the flora and fauna found in Mammoth Cave. Program topics may include plants, animals, history, scientific research and more.

Meets at the back porch of the visitor center.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 10 minutes

River Styx Loop Wildflower and Photography Hike

1 – 3 p.m.

Hike down to the Green River with Volunteer-in-Park and photographer Kevin Burt and admire the many native wildflowers currently in bloom, along with ferns, trees, and bushes. Once at the river, the group will hike back up the Green River Bluffs and Dixon Cave Trails back to the visitor center. Participants are encouraged to bring along a camera and a tripod, if desired.

Meets at the back porch of the visitor center.
Distance: 1.7 miles (2.74 kilometers)
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous. This trail includes steep hills with total elevation change of 300 feet.