Search

Photo Gallery

Sylamore Splash

(Blanchard's New Quarterly Newsletter)

THE CAVERNS

Blanchard Springs Caverns is administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

Blanchard is a three-level system, but only two levels of the caverns are open for guided tours.

Blanchard Springs Caverns offers three tours. The Dripstone National Recreation Trail winds through the magnificently decorated upper level. The longer, more strenuous Discovery Trail explores the middle level of the Caverns system. The Wild Cave Tour offers visitors an introduction to spelunking in a structured enviroment. Informative Forest Service interpreters guide the tours. The Dripstone and Discovery tours are limited to around 30 people; the Wild Cave Tour is limited to 12 people. All tours begin at the Visitor Information Center, where the Ozark Interpretive Association sells books, maps, and other educational materials.

OF SPECIAL INTEREST:

Wild Cave Tour

The newest of the Caverns tours takes visitors to the undeveloped sections of the middle level. Participants should be in good physical shape, wear sturdy shoes or boots, and come prepared to get dirty and have fun. Tour participants should expect to climb very steep slopes, crawl on hands and knees, pass under low ceilings, and travel through red clay.