[title size=”2″]Discover Blanchard Springs Caverns[/title]

Blanchard Springs Caverns are a must-see when visiting the Ozark National Forest! Located in Stone County in northern Arkansas, the caverns are 2 miles off Highway 14 slightly north of Mountain View. Blanchard Springs boasts a three-level cave system, only two of which are open to the public. Visitors can only enter the caves through guided tours in order to preserve the natural habitat of the caverns. There are three main tours offered: the Dripstone Trail that takes you through the upper level of the caves; the Discovery Trail which is runs through the middle level of the cavern system; and a recently added “Wild Cave” Tour that gives adventurers access to undeveloped parts of the cave that were previously inaccessible to the public. Dripstone and Discovery tours are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 15. Tours are offered during the warmer months, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, between 10am and 4:30pm.

The temperature in the Blanchard Springs Caverns is a constant 58°F (14°C) year-round, providing visitors with a cool refuge from the summer heat. These caverns are especially significant from an environmental standpoint because they remain “living” caves, thanks to the conservation efforts of the U.S. Forest Service and conscientious visitors. Living caves are still undergoing a slow metamorphosis process due to minerals deposited by seeping and dripping water. The different tours present visitors with the caverns’ fascinating natural formations, including water-carved passages, the world’s largest flowstone, and an underground river. Make sure to set aside an afternoon to tour these majestic caverns.