Blanchard Springs Caverns Debuts 'Wild Cave' Adventure

By Craig Ogilvie, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

For the adventurous wanting a taste of wild cave exploring, Blanchard Springs Caverns is offering guided hikes into undeveloped reaches of the federally-protected underground system.

Operated by the USDA Forest Service, Blanchard is a multi-level cavern complex, with the two upper levels open for guided tours along paved and lighted trails. Thousands of visitors have enjoyed the Discovery and Dripstone trails each year since their opening in 1973. Touted by Life Magazine as the "cave find of the century," Blanchard has received constant environmental care and remains a "living" cave after 31 seasons of visitation.

The developed trails provide access to the most beautiful formations known to exist in the Blanchard system. Dripstone's 1,150 foot-long Cathedral Room provides the visitor an opportunity to view great flowstones, crystalline columns, colorful stalagmites, and delicate soda straw stalactites.

Regular visitors can expect a comfortable guided tour with only a little grit on their shoe soles to remind them of their adventure 200 feet below the earth's surface.

However, the Wild Cave Tour is much different. Participants can expect to get dirty as they crawl up and down steep slopes, squeeze through areas with low ceilings, scramble over large boulders and experience a four- to five-hour physical workout. They are rewarded with spectacular views of the cave, including the Titan Room (a cluster of missile-shaped formations).

According to Bob Reeves, manager of Blanchard Springs Caverns, this tour is not designed to meet the expectations of an experienced wild caver. "However, participants need to be in good physical condition and supply their own sturdy hiking shoes or boots." The Forest Service provides helmets, lights, gloves and kneepads for each tour, which is limited to twelve persons and two guides.

Wild Cave Tour reservations are required and may be made by calling toll-free 1-888-757-2246. Total cost is $75 per person ($25 non-refundable deposit and $50 on the day of the tour.) Participants must be at least ten years old, and an adult must accompany those ten to 12 years old.

The Dripstone Trail remains the most popular Blanchard caverns tour. Open year-round, the one-half mile trek passes through the oldest and most beautiful rooms in the cave. It is accessible to strollers and wheelchairs, but two strong assistants are needed to help with visitors in wheelchairs.

The Discovery Trail, on a lower level, is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends. It covers 1.2 miles and includes almost 700 stairs steps. A giant flowstone, underground stream, unique formations and the natural entrance to the cave are highlights of this route.

Blanchard Springs Caverns remains open daily from April through October, then operates five days a week (Wednesday-Sunday) November through March. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Reservations are recommended during June, July and August, plus holiday weekends. Tickets for Dripstone or Discovery tours are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-15. Group discounts, with reservations in advance, are honored.

Ozark National Forest facilities at Blanchard include a visitor center, exhibit hall, introductory movie, and a bookstore operated in cooperation with the Ozark Interpretive Association. Public use camping and picnic sites are located nearby. Other attractions include a fishing lake, hiking trails and Blanchard Springs, which emerges from the caverns and forms a stream that flows several miles to the White River.

For more information on Blanchard and other caves in the Ozark National Forest, contact Blanchard Springs Caverns, P.O. Box 1279, Mountain View, AR 72560; or call toll-free 1-888-757-2246. Visit the Ozark National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/.

Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism