Blanchard Springs Cavern, Arkansas

Blanchard Springs in Arkansas is a tri-level cavern with two levels of the cave open for guided tours. The Blanchard Springs Cavern offers three guided tours. Blanchard Springs Cavern is located 15 miles northwest of Mountain View on Arkansas 14.

The Dripstone Trail winds though the majestic decorated upper level. The trip begins with an elevator ride two hundred feet under the earth’s surface. The first room on the visit is the Cathedral Room. The Cathedral Room is long enough to hold three football fields with room left over. The tour then covers about four-tenths of a mile walking. There are two seating areas on the walk where the tour guide will give orientations on the interesting features of the cavern. There are fifty stairsteps on this tour with alternate trails for persons with disabilities.

The Coral Room has many snow-white formations which are composed of pure calcite or calcium carbonate. This is the mineral that makes up limestone. One limestone formation, known as “Giant Column”, towers seventy feet high.

The Discovery Trail is another guided tour offered at Blanchard Springs. With this tour you will travel routes as early explorers did and pass campsite areas of early expeditions. This trail was built in the lower level of the cavern. You will be able to look up into the natural entrance of the cavern where early explorers let ropes down into the cave to enter.

Some of the highlights of this tour is the Giant Flowstone and is one of the largest anywhere. There is the colorful Ghost Room that has an enchantment all it’s own. This trail also offers the first glance at the underground stream.

If you fancy yourself a true spelunker you may consider the “wild tour” that Blanchard Springs offers. This tour takes visitors to undeveloped sections of the middle level. This site is considered undeveloped due to the fact that you should come prepared to hike and get dirty. In this tour you will climb steep slopes, crawl on your hands and knees and pass under low ceilings. This tour ends at a place called “The Titans”. The Titans are a group of columns.

On this tour you will be provided with some gear for your adventure such as: hard hat, knee pads, gloves, lights and belts. You also get a souvenir T-shirt.

This tour has a few limitations that you should be aware of. The tour group must contain at least 3 persons but no more than 12. Children aged 10-12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The Wild Cave tour is available by reservation only and is open every day from April to October.