The Deepest and Shortest River in KY Is Open Year-Round

Let me take you back to New Year's Day 31 years ago. I had visited some friends in Bowling Green and we hung out on New Year's Eve, played games, and rang in 1993. The next day, we went for a little hike down by the river.

While it IS possible to do that along the Barren River, which runs through the city, we were more interested in the Lost River and its cave. We didn't get that far into it before realizing we couldn't go much farther. So we hiked out and up a steep hill to street level, ending our adventure.

Today, Lost River Cave is one of Kentucky's most popular commercial ventures, offering walking tours and boat tours on the underground river.

What you may not know is that Ripley's Believe It or Not has tagged Lost River as the deepest (437 feet, reportedly) and shortest (400 feet long) river in Kentucky. Additionally, the river's valley protects what are known as "blue holes", as well as a collection of unique foliage:

The 68 acre valley protects four blue holes, which are underground sinkholes or caves with water and are often called vertical caves, and a valley (sinkhole) which was formed by the collapse of the cave entrance. The wooded ravine is very mesic and dominated by large trees that are at least 75 years of age including chinkapin, white, black, southern red, and swamp chestnut oak, tuliptree, black cherry, sycamore, hackberry, black walnut, eastern red cedar and osage orange.

On your tour, you'll learn that Jesse James and his gang used it as a hideout. Also, in the 1930s, the cave was the site of an underground nightclub.

The long and short of it--well, maybe the deep and short of it (contextually)--is that Lost River Cave is a worthwhile Kentucky destination for anyone looking for a quick and fun getaway. Also, regardless of the season, the cave maintains a temperature of 52 degrees, so keep a jacket handy, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

LOOK: This is the best place to live in every state

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in every state using Niche's 2023 rankings, from planned communities to college towns.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

LOOK: 50 cozy towns to visit this winter

Stacker created a list of 50 cozy American towns to visit each winter. Towns were selected based on visitor opinions, ratings from nationwide publications, and tourist attractions.

Gallery Credit: Laura Ratliff

Filed Under: Facebook, Kentucky caves, Lost River Cave

Categories: Kentucky News, KENTUCKY TRAVEL, What's New