Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs, AR · Ouachita MountainsFree
Rain that fell about 4,000 years ago comes up in downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, at an average of 143 degrees. You can't soak in it outdoors. For a full bath in the thermal water…
Photo: Dave Bunnell / CC BY-SA 4.0
Caves
Blanchard Springs Caverns
About
Blanchard Springs Caverns, near Mountain View, Arkansas, closes after the 2026 season, which runs through October, for its first major renovation since the 1970s, and a grand reopening is anticipated in 2028. The shorter Dripstone Trail starts at the bottom of a 216-foot elevator ride and goes about half a mile to the Cathedral Room, more than 1,000 feet long, with a column about 65 feet tall. The Discovery Trail is much harder: 686 stair steps over 1.2 miles, past the underground stream that feeds Blanchard Springs. The cave is 58 degrees and wet underfoot, and there are no restrooms below ground.
Highlights
Dripstone Trail to the Cathedral RoomDiscovery Trail, 686 stepsCave stays 58°F all year
