Arkansas is known for its stunning natural beauty, and one of its most unique attractions is its extensive network of caves. From the Ozark Mountains to the Mississippi Delta, Arkansas is home to a wide variety of caves, each with its own unique features and geological formations.
Exploring these caves can be an unforgettable adventure, providing a glimpse into the hidden world beneath the surface of the earth.
Arkansas’s caves are the result of millions of years of erosion and geological activity, and they are home to a variety of unique features such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, cave pearls, and underground rivers.
Many of these caves are open to the public and offer guided tours, providing visitors with an opportunity to explore the natural wonders of Arkansas up close.
With that in mind, in this article, we’ll take a closer look at 15 of the most unexplored caves in Arkansas, each with its own unique features and attractions. From the magnificent Blanchard Springs Caverns to the stunning Cosmic Cavern, these caves are sure to leave you in awe of the natural beauty that lies beneath the surface of the earth.
So grab your hiking boots, pack your sense of adventure, and get ready to explore the incredible world of Arkansas’s caves!
1. Blanchard Springs Caverns
Blanchard Springs Caverns is one of the most popular and accessible cave systems in Arkansas. The cave system is located in the Ozark National Forest and is made up of three levels of exploration. The first level is a self-guided tour that takes visitors through the upper cave, which features stunning formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones.
The second level of the cave system is known as the Dripstone Trail and is a guided tour that takes visitors through the lower cave. The lower cave features unique geological features such as cave popcorn, cave bacon, and cave pearls.
The third level of the cave system is known as the Wild Cave Tour and is a guided tour that takes visitors through unexplored areas of the cave system. The Wild Cave Tour requires visitors to be physically fit and able to crawl, climb, and navigate through tight spaces.
2. War Eagle Cavern
War Eagle Cavern is located near Rogers, Arkansas, and is known for its stunning formations and natural beauty. The cave system is home to a variety of unique geological features such as flowstones, cave pearls, and cave draperies.
Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system. The tour includes a boat ride through the underground lake, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
3. Mystic Caverns
Mystic Caverns is located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains and is a popular destination for visitors looking to explore the natural beauty of Arkansas. The cave system features stunning formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones.
The cave system also has a unique feature known as the Bottomless Pit, which is a 75-foot-deep hole in the ground that is believed to lead to an underground river. Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system.
The tour includes a visit to the adjacent Crystal Dome, which is a natural opening in the cave system that allows sunlight to filter in and create stunning reflections on the cave walls. The cave system also has a gift shop and a campground, making it a great destination for a weekend getaway.
4. Onyx Cave
Onyx Cave is a small but stunning cave system located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The cave system is known for its unique formations such as cave popcorn, cave draperies, and rimstone dams. Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system.
The tour includes a visit to the underground lake, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
5. Old Spanish Treasure Cave
Old Spanish Treasure Cave is located in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas, and is known for its rich history and natural beauty. According to local legend, the cave system was used by Spanish explorers in the 1500s to hide treasure from Native Americans.
Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system. The tour includes a visit to the bottom of the cave, where visitors can see the stream that runs through it. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
6. Cosmic Cavern
Cosmic Cavern is located in Berryville, Arkansas, and is known for its unique formations and underground lake. The cave system is home to one of the largest underground lakes in the state, which is a popular destination for visitors. The tour includes a boat ride on the lake, which offers stunning views of the cave system.
Visitors can also see unique formations such as cave bacon, cave pearls, and cave draperies. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip. For those who are interested in adventure, the cave system offers a Wild Cave Tour that takes visitors through unexplored areas of the cave system.
The Wild Cave Tour requires visitors to be physically fit and able to crawl, climb, and navigate through tight spaces.
7. Hurricane River Cave
Hurricane River Cave is located in the Ozark National Forest near Pelsor, Arkansas. The cave system is known for its unique geological features such as cave bacon, cave popcorn, and cave pearls. Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system.
The tour includes a visit to the underground river, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
8. Colossal Cave
Colossal Cave is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and is known for its stunning formations and natural beauty. The cave system is home to a variety of unique geological features such as stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones. Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system.
The tour includes a visit to the underground lake, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
9. Tanglewood Branch Cave
Tanglewood Branch Cave is located in the Ozark National Forest near Russellville, Arkansas. The cave system is known for its unique geological features such as cave bacon, cave popcorn, and cave pearls. Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system.
For those who are interested in adventure, the cave system offers a Wild Cave Tour that takes visitors through unexplored areas of the cave system. The Wild Cave Tour requires visitors to be physically fit and able to crawl, climb, and navigate through tight spaces.
10. Blue Spring Cave
Blue Spring Cave is located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and is known for its stunning formations and underground river. The cave system is home to a variety of unique geological features such as stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones.
Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system. Like most others we’ve already looked at, the tour includes a visit to an underground river, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
11. Mystic Falls Cave
Mystic Falls Cave is located in Bella Vista, Arkansas, and is known for its unique formations and stunning underground waterfall. Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system.
The tour includes a visit to the underground waterfall, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system is also home to a variety of unique geological features such as cave bacon, cave popcorn, and cave pearls. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
12. Bull Shoals Caverns
Bull Shoals Caverns is located in Bull Shoals, Arkansas, and is known for its stunning formations and natural beauty. The cave system is home to a variety of unique geological features such as stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones.
Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system. The tour includes a visit to the underground lake, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
For those who are interested in adventure, the cave system offers a Wild Cave Tour that takes visitors through unexplored areas of the cave system. The Wild Cave Tour requires visitors to be physically fit and able to crawl, climb, and navigate through tight spaces.
13. Bear Cave
Bear Cave is located in Harrison, Arkansas, and is known for its stunning formations and unique geological features. The cave system is home to a variety of unique features such as cave bacon, cave popcorn, and cave pearls.
Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system. The tour includes a visit to the underground river, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
14. Cave City Cave
Cave City Cave is located in Cave City, Arkansas, and is known for its stunning formations and unique geological features. The cave system is home to a variety of unique features such as stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones.
Visitors can take guided tours to explore the various rooms and passages of the cave system. The tour includes a visit to the underground river, which is one of the highlights of the visit. The cave system also has a gift shop and a picnic area, making it a great destination for a day trip.
15. Paradise Lost Cave
Paradise Lost Cave is located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and is known for its stunning formations and unique geological features. The cave system is home to a variety of unique features such as cave bacon, cave popcorn, and cave pearls.
For those who are interested in adventure, the cave system offers a Wild Cave Tour that takes visitors through unexplored areas of the cave system. The Wild Cave Tour requires visitors to be physically fit and able to crawl, climb, and navigate through tight spaces.
Related: Caving In Arkansas