BOWLING GREEN HIKING FIELD GUIDE
Inventory the Wild: Documenting Lost River Cave’s Living Tapestry
A hands-on citizen-science hike across Lost River Cave’s 72 acres — brief training, then solo trail work using the iNaturalist app to record plants, animals and fungi for conservation.
Inventory the Wild: Documenting Lost River Cave’s Living Tapestry.
On the 72 acres of Lost River Cave near Bowling Green, volunteers translate curiosity into conservation: after a short, practical training you take to the trails to catalog the park’s plants, animals, insects and fungi. The Species Inventory program turns everyday hikers into data collectors, using the iNaturalist smartphone app to document what lives in the park and build an evidence base for stewardship.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Citizen science that counts
Participants collect essential species observations that feed conservation records for Lost River Cave, helping land managers understand and care for the park’s biodiversity.
A short training, then the trails
After a brief orientation you hike independently through the park’s trail network, documenting organisms you encounter using the iNaturalist app on your smartphone.
A 72-acre living laboratory
The inventory covers the 72 acres of Lost River Cave, where plants, animals, insects and fungi together form the communities you’ll record and help protect.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
The outing is straightforward and focused: a concise training sets you up with the protocol and the iNaturalist workflow, then you move onto the trails to make observations at your own pace. The work is observational and methodical — you find, photograph and log organisms, contributing real data to park stewardship while immersed in the natural rhythms of the site.
THE MISSION
Citizen science that counts
Participants collect essential species observations that feed conservation records for Lost River Cave, helping land managers understand and care for the park’s biodiversity.
THE FIELDWORK
A short training, then the trails
After a brief orientation you hike independently through the park’s trail network, documenting organisms you encounter using the iNaturalist app on your smartphone.
THE PLACE
A 72-acre living laboratory
The inventory covers the 72 acres of Lost River Cave, where plants, animals, insects and fungi together form the communities you’ll record and help protect.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this volunteer experience fits — and who might pause.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Bring a smartphone with the iNaturalist app installed so you can photograph and submit observations during the hike.
The Species Inventory is run by Lost River Cave at their Bowling Green, Kentucky property and covers the park’s 72 acres.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Who runs the Species Inventory?
The program is operated by Lost River Cave.
Where does this activity take place?
The inventory takes place at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
What will I be doing during the inventory?
After a brief training you will hike the trails and document plants, animals, insects and fungi using the iNaturalist app.
What app do I use to record observations?
Observers use the iNaturalist smartphone app to photograph and submit species records.
How does my work help?
The observations you collect contribute essential data for managing and conserving the 72-acre Lost River Cave property.