Blanchard Springs Caverns in Arkansas: A Brief History and Information about Current Cave Tours

Blanchard Springs Caverns in Northern Arkansas is one of my favorite places to escape to. Although I've only been about three times, I have fond memories of it and look forward to going there again.

It's located in the Ozark Mountain area and is run by the Ozark - St. Francis National Forest. It wasn't discovered or really explored until the 1950's through the early 1970's. After much research and work, it was opened to the public.

Cave Tours

They offer three different tours: the Dripstone National Recreation Trail, the Discovery National Recreation Trail and the Wild Cave Tour. All of the facilities are handicapped accessible, but not all of the tours are.

The Dripstone National Recreation Trail is the one you want to take if you have strollers or wheelchairs. It is the easiest of the three tours and lasts only about one hour. You will begin all tours by riding down in an elevator. With the Dripstone tour, you will only go down to the upper level. (The system has three levels, of which only two are open to tours.)

The Dripstone has a nice, cement walk with handrails. It can be slick because the humidity level is usually 100% and water is always dripping or running through the caverns. You will want to wear non-slip shoes and jackets. The cave stays consistently at 58 degrees year round.

The Dripstone is the one that I have been on. It is just an easy-going stroll through some of the most beautiful calcite formations I have ever seen. It is a one way walk for about 4/10 of a mile. It's not difficult at all. There is even one part of the tour where you will sit down on benches so that your tour guide can tell you all about the formations and the bats. Yes, you'll hear all about the guano.

The Discovery National Recreation Trail is found on the middle level of the caverns. It is more difficult and a little longer. It will last for about 1 and ½ hours and has about 700 steps. So those with strollers and wheelchairs will not be able to take this tour.

The Discovery tour will take you under the Natural Entrance and beside the cave stream. You will want to make sure you are honest about your physical shape; otherwise, you may have problems making it to the end of this tour.

The last tour offered is called the Wild Cave Tour. This is for serious spelunkers. Not as many people can go on this tour. This one is also on the middle level, but it has lots of areas in which you will have to crawl on your hands and knees through. You will also have to deal with low ceilings, steep slopes and lots of red clay, which will be all over you by the time you are at the end.

This tour lasts from three to four hours and is by reservation only. No one under ten is allowed to go and even those ten through twelve must be accompanied by an adult.

No matter which tour you choose to take, you'll get to see some fascinating calcite formations, all made from dissolved limestone. Colors will vary as well, from soft pastels to rich earth tones. You will get to see soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, draperies, bacon formation, flowstone, rimstone dams and terraces. A high light of the Dripstone tour is the Coral Pond.

Rates for the tours are very reasonable: Adults are $10, children ages 6 -15 are $5 and seniors are $5 for the Dripstone and Discovery Tours. The Wild Cave Tour is a flat rate of $75 with a $25 deposit. Season passes are available for the two D tours: Adults are $25 and children and seniors are $12.50. If you plan on making at least three trips to the area in one season, the passes are definitely the best deal.

Cave Life

Believe it or not, there is some cave life. It's not going to jump out and get you or anything. Some of it is in the form of plant life and most of that is going to be bacteria, mold and fungi.

There are three different types of cave animals: trogloxenes, troglophiles, and troglobites.

Trogloxenes are actually animals that live above ground but use the caves as shelter. This includes bats and crickets. One of the bat species found there are the Indiana Bats, which are endangered.

Troglophiles live mostly in the cave but could survive if they had to leave it. These creatures include salamanders, frogs and daddy longlegs.

Troglobites are the "cave dwellers". All of their lives are lived in the dark dampness of the cave. One species found here is the Ozark blind salamander. This creature is sightless and without pigment, so sunlight is a very bad thing for him. The Ozark blind salamander is native to the caverns and was the first amphibian discovered living in caves.

History

While there is not a lot of recorded history of this area of Arkansas, it is known who the area is named after. John H. Blanchard was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. He was born and raised in Kentucky. After the war, like most of the soldiers, he needed to find a quiet place to recover and start over. He homesteaded about 160 acres in the area next to Blanchard Springs.

It's not clear if he knew of the caverns, but he did appreciate the springs in the area. He built a gristmill on it.

The Springs

Of course, the springs are what helped to form the caverns. Cutting through the limestone for thousands and possibly millions of years to create the three levels we have today. They are still at work carving away. In another thousand years or so, there may be more caverns and levels to explore.

This water is some of the coldest, clear and blue water I've ever seen flowing. It is breathtaking how beautiful it really is and can only be appreciated in person.

Campgrounds

The National Forest has campgrounds available right along the springs and rates are very cheap - they start at around $4 a night and go up from there, depending on what kind of a site you need.

There are some commercial campgrounds as well that are not as close to the caverns. These offer more amenities, but they also cost a little bit more. Here is a list of some of the ones I've looked at online: Holiday Mountain Resort, Ozark RV Park and Sylamore Creek Camp, all with Mountain View, AR addresses. Some even offer cabins for rent.

Conclusion

I live in one of the most beautiful states in the country. We offer just about any kind of recreation you could ever want. Even though I have lived here most of my life, there are many places I would love to visit or revisit. I invite you to come and experience the beauty of Arkansas as well.

Sources:
www.fs.fed.us