Uncover the Mysterious Underground World Hiding in Arkansas’ Ozark National Forest

If you're looking for one of the very best underground attractions in Arkansas, then you'll be very excited about Blanchard Springs Caverns in Fifty-Six, Arkansas. We walk around all day, every day on the surface of the earth, rarely thinking about what is going on below the ground below us. Places like Blanchard Springs Caverns give us the opportunity to go down there to check out the underground world for ourselves - and we absolutely should take that opportunity! Read on to learn more about this very special underground place.

Have you ever been in a cave before? If you haven't, or even if you have, Blanchard Springs Caverns in northern Arkansas is worth the trip! These caverns are a cave system that is made of limestone, and it was once an underwater cave when an ancient sea covered Arkansas and the surrounding areas over 350 million years ago. Today, it's lit by electric lights and is accessible to curious visitors.

Blanchard Springs Caverns, which is located in the Ozark National Forest, was known to locals in the 1930s, but in the 1950s, systematic exploration began. However, it wasn't until 1973 that the caves were opened to the public for tours. Today, it's the only tourist cave owned by the National Forest Service, and it's the only cave owned by the federal government that isn't a part of the National Park System. It's Arkansas' second longest cave, and it's also the state's largest cave by volume.

There were once five different levels of these ancient caves, but the two upper levels filled in over time. Today, visitors can explore the lower three levels on guided tours. The Dripstone Trail exists on the uppermost level and is about a half mile long. The Discovery Trail is 1.2 miles long - more than twice as long as the Dripstone Trail - and visits the two lower levels. At its lowest point, it is 366 feet underground.

Blanchard Springs Caverns also offers "wild" tours for people who like to live a little dangerously. This three to four hour tour involves crawling and squeezing through tight spaces in dark areas. If you're feeling brave, these tours are, without a doubt, something that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Blanchard Springs Caverns continues to develop and change as time goes on. Formations grow, bit by bit, as calcite drips and leaves deposits on the cave walls. It's really something to see - and to think about.

You'll love visiting and exploring this unique and interesting cave system in Arkansas. Your adventure at Blanchard Springs Caverns will have you thinking more often about the wonders of the world that are below our feet. Take some time to go underground and see this special place. You're sure to be glad that you did.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.