Blanchard Springs Recreation Area — Ozark St. Francis National Forests

We have spent years biking , fishing and hiking this area . Beautiful in the early spring early summer and fall and winter . Summer can be a little warm and you may find a tick or 2 . Clean campgrounds , 1 fault is they do allow generators ..Amazing scenery to be found when you leave the campground . The cavern tour is a must see it’s one of the best around . Visited end of March

it’s certainly a family campground with more tents than RV’s. Not really big rig friendly although there was a bus in site 16, probably the best site in the campground. there is a connecting trail behind site 24 that leads to the main trail. it’s a fairly easy hike with some elevation changes. Bathrooms and showers are clean and functional, all sites are dry camping

This is an incredibly nice campground. There were quite a few people camping here when I visited, but I managed to roll in without a reservation and get the best campsite. It was up on the hill with a paved pull-through driveway and stone steps leading up to a flat terrace area. Plenty of room to spread out.

There are many attractions nearby. At the bottom of the hill, there is a lazy river with a nice swimming hole. Deep enough to dive in from the rocks on the other side of the river, or just do some actual swimming. There's another swimming spot down the road, but the one at the campground is better.

Then there's Blanchard Springs itself. This is a picturesque spot where water rushes out of a lower exit to Blanchard Springs Caverns (closed when I visited but open for tours soon). Adjacent to the springs, there is a disused road that leads up into the forest, past a derelict picnic shelter, and ultimately to AR-14 N, where it is blocked off. There is also a sort of natural stair that goes on a good ways, carved by the water (and apparently improved by the Civilian Conservation Corps) in years gone by. These are both worth a hike. I explored them hoping to find an alternate entrance to the caverns. No dice.

For amenities, the campground has a single bathroom with flushing toilets and running water. It was nice but fairly busy when I visited. There is another bathroom at a picnic shelter down the road. This one was just as nice if not nicer, and totally empty. Water at the campground was very good to drink, but only available from a single spigot at the base of the hill.

Check in Check out 2 pm

Maximum stay– check to see from Memorial Day through Labor Day

$15 per day no hook ups 1 site with electric $20

Open all year 

No reservations     FCFS 

Tent camping or small RV/trailers

Dump station Picnic table toilets hot showers drinking water grills lantern poles

High water can lead to campground shut down. There are two group camp sites that are by reservations only for a minimum of 8 and maximum of 50. Call 877-444-6777 for reservations or info. 

You will find a trailhead connecting the campground to the North Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail. There is also access to the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail. If the cavern is open, right now it is closed due to COVID, it is an excellent cavern to visit as it is a “live” cavern. It is still growing and evolving. A must visit is to see Mirror Lake which was created by a dam built by the CCC. Along the same path you will discover the remains of an old mill. Mills once dotted the Arkansas hills but few remain. A hike to the“Blanchard Springs”. The water that is coming out of the rocks is actually coming from inside the cavern. 

The road to Blanchard Springs is steep going in but the road is in very good shape. To get to the campground you will have to cross a “low water bridge” that is made of concrete and the creek flows over the concrete. Adds a bit of excitement for the kids if they have never been across one.

Carry in all the supplies you will need so you will not have to leave the area until you are ready. The creek is amazing, clear and cool.

LNT 

Better than when you found it

Stay safe Happy travels

Blanchard Springs is one of those campground that you visit and have plenty of things to explore around camp.   From hiking trails of several different difficulties and distances to fishing, water wading and cave exploration this site is one which offers many opportunities.

When I visited the main camp was not open, only the group camp by reservation.   They were currently underway with working on some improvements in the main loop.   I opted to check out the group camp which is a larger reflection of the smaller sites.    I could see the regular sites from atop the hill and they looked very similar.    

Campsites all come standard with fire rings, lantern hooks, picnic tables and camping pads.   They additionally have common spigots within a short distance of each site.    Parking for the sites is well placed and freshly resurfaced with medium size gravel which is easy to drive over.

Campsites are all within walking distance of flush toilets and have access to the flowing waters nearby which are both beautiful and peaceful to visit.     

Just up the way from the campsites is one of my personal favorites, the Blanchard Springs itself, a thundering water fall which emerges it seems from the mountain.    During rainy season especially this is quite the amazing place to visit.   Down a boardwalk you will hike to the spring and once there it is amazing to see and explore.

Blanchard Springs has great camp sites, great hiking, multiple access to swim/wade into water, plus great caving opportunities! There is NO cell service in the park. 

The back camping area has a great swimming hole, beach and shaded hiking. Some enjoy jumping off the rocks/cliff, but I would not recommend it. RV sites with water and electric and full bathrooms/showers. 

The upper camping area has RV sites, bathrooms, tent sites and group sites. The Rangers and very helpful and informative. There is also parking for backcountry camping/hiking. The main trail connects to a network of trails over fifty miles long. There is also a pound with a dam and old mill structure. 

There are guided cave Tours with paved walkways and elevators, plus more rugged off-trail caving tours as well. The visitor center is very informative and has a small gift shop.

We come here year round for swimming in the summer, hiking in the fall and spring, and caving in the winter.

I completed my undergrad and graduate degrees in Arkansas about 30ish miles north of Little Rock. While living in Arkansas, my brother and I traveled all over the state, including a visit to the Blanchard Springs Caverns and recreation area. Hiking through the caverns and around the recreation area is phenomenal. The caverns make you feel like you’re looking at something made my aliens. It’s really pretty amazing. It’s also enormous inside the cave. For us, it was a day trip excursion. However, we did explore all around the recreation and campground area. I’ve camped all over Arkansas and what I’d say is that this is probably a great place for primitive tent camping and/or backpack/hammock camping. I have three small boys and it wouldn’t be my first choice for a family camping trip, albeit very very cool. The campground is small, maybe 30 or so spots and heavily wooded. The terrain isn’t conducive to kids unless you’re ok constantly being concerned about injuries. There are lots of cool swimming holes, moving water and falls nearby with it’s close proximity to Mirror Lake and Sugar Loaf Mt. definitely worth a trip if you’re close by, but not something I’d make a multi-hour trip for. Also wouldn’t stay there more than maybe two nights. I’d say if you’re camping somewhere relatively close, work in a day trip to Blanchard Springs. If you are like me and have kids, and you’d have to travel anything beyond an hour or two to get there, it’s not worth it. There are too many beautiful places in AR and you’d probably drive by more than one of them to get to Blanchard Springs. I’m giving it 3 stars for that reason alone. If I were rating based solely on the sites, activities, etc. I’d give it 5.

I love it.☺️🤘

Nice facilities with 3 campground loops, gravel bottom creek (Sylamore Creek) swim area, small spring fed lake stocked with rainbow trout, but the big draw is the Blanchard Springs Caverns tours. Outstanding! Great place for all ages. If it fills up in peak season, head 6 mi upstream to Sylamore Creek campground.

It is close to a gr

It's a beautiful area. The woods, the hills, the bluffs, the river..and the Cavern is amazing. It is well worth the tour.

There are limited camping spots. It’s best to go up by at least Thursday. No reservations. Honor system, old school, ticket drop pay. $10 a night. The people at the visitors center are excellent. Very kind and very helpful. And the cavern tour is amazing! Definitely worth it.

Went for a week, so quiet, way out there. Cavern Tours are very cool! Keep food stuffs put away. Bring Bug spray...Lots

My friend and I took a day trip and come to see the falls . We walked around and took pictures and enjoyed our self's . This was a much needed day out !

Peacful.

Beautiful caverns with lots of hiking and water activities and a no-frills campground among rolling hills. Lots to do outside the park too.

Yay: easy to get to (near the edge of the park), educational information, lots of trail and cave tour options, shady campgrounds, swimming, waterfalls.

Nay: can be crowded.

Surprise: the standard cave tour is great, plus there is a more extreme tour where you can crawl and squeeze through trails in the caves! Also lots of folk music festivals so check the calendar.

Details! Will try to make as short as I can but this place is fabulous! We've visited here many times as it is a family favorite. Blanchard Springs Caverns were awesome, handicap accessible, and cheap, like ten bucks. The campground (and any other campground in the area) will not disappoint as the scenic views are amazing. There are rock wall and creek views for miles. You can walk and tube Sylamore Creek from right next to your campsite. Mirror lake is exactly as it sounds with a waterfall to see and an old mill along the creek. A handicap accessible trail also leads to a cave where the Springs appear. A short drive in to town and you will find five dollar go carts for the kids, free folk music concerts in the old town square, a string of antique shops, and loco ropes treetop adventures that is also reasonable priced. There are plenty of hiking trails. You can tube, canoe or kayak Sylamore Creek as well as the White River that it feeds into. Plenty of fishing options and boat rentals at Anglers Resort on the White River.

This can be used as a base camp to go and explore other areas as well. The Buffalo River isn't far and is worth the trip with swimming, kayaking and canoeing options as well as great scenic views. Blanchard Springs is between Heber Springs and Bull Shoals which would both be great for day trips.

A must see is Gunner Pool. It is a swimming hole along a rock wall cliff that is spectacular. There is also a waterfall in this area as well. When you enter Gunner Pool take the road strait back and hang a right immediately before the bridge on the short dirt road. You will find primitive camping there, and if you park on your eft, walk behind the trees and you will find the awesome swimming hole. I'd suggest hiking the creek both ways.

Absolutely beautiful! You drive over the spring to camp so be sure the water is not up before you make the drive! It's the clearest spring I've ever seen. There's a bluff in the camping area that's amazing for swimming and small jumping... however, I'm not sure that it's technically allowed but everyone seemed to be jumping safely. It's only 10 dollars to camp and if you go to the caverns it's only 10 dollars as well! So many waterfalls and wildlife!

Beautiful area. The camp sites were very roomy! Clean bathrooms. Hikers' paradise! Love it here! Can't wait to go back!

The summer and bugs are not ideal as it is hot and just plane nasty. The hiking is amazing in this area and is considered one of the better hikes in the state! Plenty of family recreation activities.

We hiked into this campground and found it amazing! Bathrooms were in good shape and the grounds were quiet and peaceful. The campsites and fire rings and tables and were spaced well. The stream ran close by providing plenty of relaxation areas and the hiking is tremendous!

Very beautiful space. I camped by myself with 5 children and never felt unsafe. Our campsite was close to the water so I was able to cook and watch the kids while they were swimming. There are lots of little critter running about so I would be careful to keep a clean campsite. Make sure you go when there is not a lot of rain since you have to travel over a stream to get to the campsite. They close off the campsite if it rains a lot. There are some caverns to visit there too. It's a steep car drive. You could probably bike it but then it may be more difficult to tour the caverns.

Peaceful and quite with lots to see and do from fishing to exploring caves great place to spend with the family

I love the nice big, spread out campsites!