Mammoth Cave National Park looking for public feedback on new proposed bicycle and horseback trail rule change
MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. – Mammoth Cave National Park is considering a rule change that would allow bicycles to be used on more trails in the area, while allowing horseback riding as well… and they want your voice to be heard on this proposal.
“This proposal actually comes from a land and river trails management plan that we kind of put into process and completed a couple of years ago. In that, there’s an environmental assessment that found that there was no significant impact to the plan that we were wanting to put forward, and this is just a really important opportunity for visitors in the community to help shape how these popular activities are managed,” Mammoth Cave National Park’s public information officer Molly Schroer says.
Some of the trails already have bicycle usage, like the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail, and Schroer says staff want to use this feedback as an opportunity to see if visitors would like more of these trails.
“This rule would allow for about 37 miles of multi-use trails in the park, and this is including adding eight new trails that would be constructed at some point in the future, that we would be able to move forward with those, and also would allow horseback riding on the Houchens Ferry North Road,” she says.
While they value this feedback, Schroer says the end goal is simple:
“Really, the changes are designed to enhance the recreational opportunities in the park while also protecting the natural and cultural resources,” she says.
The feedback period is open through April 10th. You can learn more about the proposed rule and submit your own feedback by visiting the Federal Register’s website.
