Mammoth Cave got its name from the enormous size of its passages, not from any mammoth finds. It is precisely the size of the underground spaces that is its main attraction.

I visited it after the Ice Cave and, to be honest, I wasn’t really that impressed by it.

There are no ice formations here, and a large part of the tour consists of bare rock passages complemented by light installations.

If you have plenty of time or you’re really into caves, by all means visit both. On my next visit, however, I’d skip the Mammoth Cave and spend the time saved on a longer hike to the summit of Krippenstein.

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How the tour works

The tour is only available with a guide and lasts around50 minutes. The accessible route is about 800 metres long and has an elevation gain of 70 metres.

The temperature inside remains constant at around 3 °C. It isn’t as cold as in the Ice Cave, but a jacket and sturdy shoes are advisable even in summer.

The commentary is provided in German and English.

• Duration of the tour: approximately 50 minutes
• Temperature: approximately 3 °C
• Length of the route: approximately 800 metres
• Elevation gain inside the cave: about 70 metres
• Age restriction: none

Is Mammoth Cave worth a visit?

In my view, Mammoth Cave is mainly of interest to geology and caving enthusiasts. For the average visitor, the Ice Cave offers a more memorable experience in practically the same amount of time.

A visit to Mammoth Cave makes sense in three situations:

• You’ve set aside a whole day for Krippenstein
• You enjoy caves and underground spaces
• The weather at the summit is bad and you won’t be able to see the views anyway

In fine weather, I’d prefer to visit the Ice Cave and spend the rest of the time on the hiking trails around Krippenstein and the 5 Fingers viewpoint.

Registration and tour times

To take a tour, you must register at the cave ticket office at the Schönbergalm cable car midway station. You’ll find the ticket office to the left of the sliding doors.

You’ll be given a group number and a specific start time. There’s no fixed two-hour interval or regular rotation between the two caves. Groups are formed on a rolling basis depending on current visitor numbers.

If you wish to visit both caves, please state this at the time of registration. The staff will allocate times for both tours. Allow a total of approximately 3–4 hours for the Ice Cave and the Mammoth Cave.

Admission and cable car tickets

Standard tickets include a tour of both the Ice Cave and the Mammoth Cave:

• The Dachstein Cave Ticket for 50,20 eur includes a return journey on the first section of the cable car and both caves
• Dachstein All-in-One Ticket for 66,20 eur includes all three sections of the cable car, both caves, Krippenstein and 5 Fingers
• The Afternoon All-in-One Ticket for 62,20 eur includes all sections of the cable car and one selected cave

Tickets are usually cheaper in the online shop, but you cannot book a specific tour time online. Registration at the intermediate station is compulsory for all visitors.

You can also buy the Online All-in-One Ticket via GetYourGuide.

How to get to the cave

From the Dachstein Krippenstein lower station, take the first section of the cable car to the Schönbergalm intermediate station.

From the cable car, follow the gravel path to the cave. The walk takes15 to 20 minutes and involves an elevation gain of around 40 metres.

I provide detailed information on how to get to the cable car and where to park in my article on Dachstein Krippenstein.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Hallstatt.