Ultimate Guide to Blanchard Springs Cavern, Arkansas (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
We may have been compensated for this post. Please keep in mind that it affects you in no way financially. If an item is being reviewed, we are not obligated to give a positive review and always use our own words. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. If you would like a review done contact Dannelle at DannelleGay@gmail.com
Located in Stone County in Arkansas, Blanchard Springs Cavern is one of the most beautiful caves in the US. Operated by the National Forest, the show cave has been developed with utmost care so that the caverns are as close to the natural environment as possible. The authorities have taken extra care to ensure that the fragile environment of the cave is fully protected.
Blanchard Springs Cavern, Arkansas
The cave developed from a limestone rock formed by fossilized sediment from sea creatures at the bottom of an ancient inland sea that existed about 500 million years ago. When the prehistoric landmasses shifted, the seabed was uplifted 300 million years ago to form the Ozark plateau.
The rainwater entered the cracks and crevices in the limestone and enlarged the cavities as they flowed through them. When the water began to cut its way downward in search of lower levels, it left behind hollow, air-filled caves like the Blanchard Springs Cavern.
History of Blanchard Springs Cavern
Blanchard Springs Cavern is a beautiful limestone cave system formed by natural erosion caused by the flowing water. The spring that formed these caverns flows into a trout pond called the Mirror Lake. The spring was christened after John H. Blanchard, then enlisted in the Kentucky Volunteers in 1861 and fought for the Confederacy.
Blanchard fought some bitter battles before he was wounded. He propagated peace after the war by homesteading 160 acres in the Ozarks. A gristmill was constructed by him, which was powered by the falling spring and now bears his name.
There is graffiti in the cave that says John 1922, but it does not refer to John Blanchard, as many people believe, as he passed away in 1914 at 74 years old. The residents were aware of the cave in the 1930s, but its entrance was a 75 ft drop, and the exit was underwater through the spring. Exploration got delayed until more technology and equipment could be put into service.
The first documented visit was that of Willard Hadley, a Civilian Conservation Corps planner, in 1934. The first professional exploration was done in 1960, and in 1971 the scuba divers entered through the spring entrance and followed the course.
The diver explored 4000 ft of underwater passages and accessed five caverns that were inaccessible before. In 1973 the Blanchard Springs Cavern was opened to the public after years of development and planning.
Geological Cave Formations in Blanchard Springs Cavern
The Cavern boasts brilliant geological formations, which can be seen in the Dripstone Trail Tour. Visitors will come across at least two rooms filled with soda straws and stalactites. Blanchard Springs Cavern is described as a living cave, and apart from the delicate soda straw formations, there are stalagmites, columns, sheet-like calcite deposits, and vast areas of flowstone.
Wildlife in Blanchard Springs Cavern
Many plants and animals call Blanchard Springs Caverns their home. The mosses and ferns can be found near the entrance of the cave and further back in the caves; only bacteria and mold can grow. Salamanders, frogs, and crickets are commonly found in caverns and they are often sighted.
There are also the endangered gray bats that come here during hibernation. Some animals love to spend their lives inside the caverns, such as the Ozark blind salamander.
Is Blanchard Spring Caverns Haunted?
Blanchard Springs Cavern is undoubtedly a living cave, but there is no proof of any other ‘force’ living in these caves. It is a safe cave and is frequented by lots of visitors every year.
How Big is Blanchard Springs Cavern?
Blanchard Springs Cavern is the second largest cave in Arkansas, with a mapped length of 13.70 km.
Blanchard Springs Cavern Tours
The caverns have three levels, and parts of each level are open to the public for guided tours. There are three tours available to view the caves.
Dripstone Trail
It is the easiest of all tours and is highly recommended for all visitors, especially beginners. The tour seeks to explore the upper levels of the caverns and boasts of the maximum number of formations compared to other levels.
The tour is known as Dripstone as the cave formations are due to the minerals deposited in the dripping water. A bulk of these formations are visible from the trail.
The main highlights of the tour are the Cathedral Room, the Coral Room, the natural bridge, a 70 ft column, and 55 ft draperies. The Cathedral Room is so huge that it can accommodate three football fields and still have space left over. Calcium carbonate formations naturally decorate the Coral Room.
The tour takes about an hour to get over, and it covers 4/10th of a mile. The trail is accessible to those on wheelchairs or strollers, and there are only 50 stair steps in this trail. However, if you find it difficult to negotiate the steps, you can opt for an alternate trail that will bypass some of the formations.
It is an easy trail, and there are seating arrangements along the trail for those who need rest. The tour can be taken up by people of all ages.
Discovery Trail
The Discovery Trail is 1.2 miles long and descends 366 ft below. The tour will let you explore the lower levels of the cavern and is a bit complex than the Dripstone Tour. It will take around 90 min to complete this tour, and during this tour, you will need to negotiate a whopping 700 steps along the route. Small children and people who have walking problems are not allowed on this tour.
It is interesting to note that this part of the cave was only discovered in 1963, and it turned out to be the largest of the three sections. Within this tour, you will be able to follow the route of the early explorers, check out their campsites, and even see the entrance from where they descended on ropes.
This tour will not have the same number of geological formations as the upper levels, but you will get a chance to view the underwater stream that runs through the cave.
Wild Cave Tour
The final tour offered at the Blanchard Springs Cavern is the highly challenging Wild Cave Tour. The tour aims to explore the new middle-level sections of the cave and the tour lasts for approximately four hours. Participation in this tour entails fulfillment of certain conditions such as:
- The visitors must be in good physical condition
- They must wear good-quality boots
- You must be prepared to get muddy and dirty
It is one of the most challenging cave tours in the US as it involves crawling on hands and knees, traveling through red clay, and passing under dangerously low ceilings. The tour ends at the Titans – a formation of tall, missile-shaped columns.
However, the tour is available by reservation only. The tour is limited to a minimum of three and a maximum of twelve people only. A participant must be of a minimum of ten years of age, and an adult must accompany them.
Blanchard Springs Cavern Tour Prices and Discounts
Here are the rates for the cavern tours.
Dripstone Trail
- Adult – USD 13
- Child (6 to 15 years) – USD 8
- Child (Ages 5 and under) – USD 1
The tour is conducted every day of the week.
Discovery Trail
- Adult – USD 13
- Child (Ages 6 to 15) – USD 8
- Child (Ages 5 and under) – USD 1
It is a one-hour tour that is held only on Saturdays. Headlamps and helmets will be provided for each participant.
Wild Cave Tour
The prices are USD 86 per person and, as stated before, it is a reservation-only tour. The tour starts at 9:30 in the morning and lasts 4 to 5 hours. It is a strenuous tour, and all gear will be provided to participants.
Group rates are available on request.
Is Blanchard Springs Cavern Cold?
The temperature inside the cave hovers around 58 degrees F, making this place a popular destination during summertime. The relative humidity is about 100%, and the trails generally remain wet. Proper arrangements have been made to keep the caverns as close to the natural conditions as possible.
Still, certain modifications have been done keeping in mind the interests of the visitors, such as paved walkways, lights, and handrails.
What to Wear?
All visitors to Blanchard Springs Caverns are advised to bring a jacket and non-slip shoes with low heels. If undertaking the Dripstone Trail tour, you might feel comfortable in a light jacket or a sweater.
Blanchard Springs Cavern Hours
The caverns are open on all days of the week from 9:30 in the morning to 6 pm from April to October. For the rest of the year, they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays plus special days like Christmas, New Year’s Day & Thanksgiving.
What to Do at Blanchard Springs Cavern (Beside Tours)
Blanchard Springs Caverns is within Blanchard Springs Recreation Area. If you are a fan of the outdoors, then you will love the recreation area. Apart from the spectacular cave, there are hiking trails, swimming holes, picnic spots, fishing opportunities, springs, and a waterfall.
The hiking trails include the short, paved trail to Blanchard Springs, the North Sylamore Hiking Trail, and the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail. The Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail is a chain of interconnecting loops. It is ideal for mountain bikers as they get 50 miles of single-track trail.
The North Sylamore Creek runs through the recreation area and offers swimming and fishing opportunities. However, you must call the office before swimming as a high bacteria count can force the authorities to close a swimming area.
Fishing is highly encouraged along the creek where the two dams have enclosed the waters of Blanchard Spring to form the Mirror Lake. The lake is full of trout, and fishing here is a wonderful experience.
There are also a couple of picnic pavilions that have been provided, keeping in mind the needs of the group travelers. Another noteworthy attraction of the Park is the various cottages that showcase live demonstrations of knife making, gunsmithing, blacksmithing, etc.
So, any traveler to Blanchard Spring Caverns would find many things to do in the recreation area and should not come back just by visiting the caverns alone.
Best Time to Visit Blanchard Spring Caverns
In winter, the caverns are generally open five days and week and from November to March. However, the Discover Trail is closed in winter to facilitate the hibernation of bats, but the other tours – the Dripstone Trail Tour & Wild Cave Tour are open throughout the year. So, if you are planning for the Discover Trail, then you should come here during the summer.
How to Get to Blanchard Springs Caverns
Blanchard Springs Cavern is in the picturesque Ozark National Forests near Mountain View, Arkansas. It is on Highway 14, and there are enough signs to point you in the right direction.
From Mountainview:
- Head north on Highway 5 for approximately 5.5 miles, then Turn Left on Highway 14.
- Travel West for about 6.5 miles on Highway 14 and look for the entrance sign on the right.
- Turn right here, and follow the signs to the different facilities.
For detailed directions to Blanchard Springs Cavern from various towns like Mountainview and Little Rock, you can navigate to the Locate Us page.
Hotels near Blanchard Springs Cavern
There is a campground near Blanchard Springs Cavern, which is heavily wooded and has a mixture of hardwoods and cedar. The campground looks lovely in early April with the blooming Dogwoods. The campgrounds are open each day of the year but require a maximum stay limit of 14 days.
If you are not much into camping, you can check one of the many hotels in the vicinity of Blanchard Springs Caverns, such as Jack’s White River Fishing Resort, Days Inn by Wyndham Mountain View, and Ozark Country Inn Bed & Breakfast.
Visiting Blanchard Springs Cavern
Do you need more information before visiting? Call 1-870-757-2211 or fill up the online form for an information packet.
Other Articles You May Enjoy:
- Ultimate Guide to Crystal Caverns, Alabama (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
- Ultimate Guide to Crystal Dome Caverns, Arkansas (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
- Ultimate Guide to Hurricane River Cave, Arkansas (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
- Ultimate Guide to Devil’s Kitchen, Michigan (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
- Ultimate Guide to Blanchard Springs Cavern, Arkansas (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
