Blanchard Springs Cavern - Arkansas

Following a quiet night a Sylamore Creek Campground we spent part of the morning swimming in the creek. We had decided during the night we would head over to Blanchard Springs Cavern around 11 AM so it was a short but fun swim. We packed up our camper and took quick showers. We then headed to Blanchard Springs Caverns.

Inside Blanchard Springs Cavern

We arrived as we had planned but as usual on one of our adventures nothing goes as planned. We went up to the ticket station and were informed it was school day at the caverns and multiple schools were having field trips. Because of the field trips we could not get on a tour until 1:20 PM. At this point I asked about the Blanchard Springs Campground and was informed it would probably open back up today.

We decided to head down to a recreational area near the creek and have a picnic. When we arrived there were about 500 or more school students picnicking and playing games. Fortunately we were able to find a picnic table away from most of the chaos and enjoy our picnic lunch of sandwiches and chips. The picnic area is really beautiful and there is a large cave, not to deep. We did not go to the cave because the students were between us and it. I had been to this particular cave on a previous time and it was interesting and fun to see.

I remember this particular cave was very shallow and not too deep. I’m really not sure you could call it a cave but for lack of a proper term we called it a cave.

While we were eating our picnic a ranger opened the gate to the Blanchard Springs Campground which, if you remember from my previous post, had been closed due to potential severe weather and flooding.

We took a few minutes to drive down to the campground and look around. We were planning on staying but when we got down to the campsite was disappointed to learn the campsites located along the river had been closed for two or three years due to the fact the roads had partially washed out.

The area was still beautiful but at this point we were just disappointed and decided to forego staying at the site we had dreamed about staying at because we couldn't get to the site we had planned to camp. It is always so nice to camp next to the river and listen to the water run over the rocks. I hope they fix that road soon.

We returned to Blanchard Springs Caverns and at last got to take our tour of the cave. We chose to take the easier tour and went on the Dripstone Tour. This particular tour takes about one hour.

To enter the cave you have to ride down an elevator about a mile underground. The cavern is very large and in most places open. There are no narrow passageways to go through and the entire tour was on a sidewalk built in the cave.

The cave is illuminated with lights to enhance the various rock formations. Each group has a tour guide. Our guide was quiet knowledgeable and answered our group’s questions. The tour stayed on schedule and took about one hour. Oh, and this cave tour is handicap accessible. The tour we took was accessible for a wheelchair. I would suggest if you do bring someone in a wheelchair be sure to bring a strong person to push as there are some inclines both up and down.

The tour lasted about an hour and of course as in most cave tours there is a joke or two about bat guano.

At the completion of the tour you get to take a harrowing ride on a bus back down the side of a mountain to the entrance. The kids seemed to enjoy the bus ride as much as the cave tour. Seriously, the ride is crazy but fun so hang on to something.

Inside Blanchard Spring Cavern

I would recommend this cave tour to anyone. I am really afraid of heights and this cave has a few areas that made me nervous but nothing I could not handle. If you are claustrophobic it is a pretty wide open cave. The smallest part was the elevator down.

The picture I took on this tour was with my cell phone and no flash. We had not brought our cameras because last time we had gone they did not allow them due to white nose syndrome for bats. Once we entered the caves we learned that policy had been changed and we could have brought our camera. The lesson learned from this portion of our trip is call ahead and ask lots of questions.

Coming up in my series on our Arkansas Camping Trip is horseback riding and narrowly escaping an attack by a raccoon. 

For more information on Blanchard Springs Caverns visit their website at: http://www.blanchardsprings.org/

For more information on the Blanchard Springs Campground visit:  http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southern/ozarcmp.htm