The caves of Arkansas are located primarily in the Ozark Highlands in the north part of the state. To see well-decorated caves in safety and comfort we recommend that you take guided tours in the show caves of the state. An up to date list is maintained at http://www.state.ar.us/agc/arcaves.htm.
The crown jewel of Arkansas show caves is Blanchard Spring Caverns in Ozark National Forest. The Discovery Tour and the wild cave tour given there are especially fine, though seasonal.
Other show caves with websites include: Bull Shoals Caverns, Hurricane River Cave, and Mystic Caverns.
State Parks which allow entry into small wild caves on established trails include Devil's Den State Park (Devil's Den and Devil's Icebox on the Devil's Den Trail) and Withrow Springs State Park (War Eagle Cave on the War Eagle Trail). The Buffalo National River allows entry into some caves, including Eden Falls Cave at Lost Valley. These are all small, well-visited, caves where the dangers to inexperienced explorers from the cave and to the cave from inexperienced explorers are real but lessened. Please do not ask us to divulge the location of other caves with greater dangers.
In our opinion, though, the best way to see Arkansas's caves is in their natural states, and the way to do that is to join our grotto or another Arkansas grotto of the N.S.S. You will be required to subscribe to the N.S.S. conservation guidelines and if you go caving with us, expect to get muddy, wet, cold, hot, tired, and, did I mention muddy?
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