Blanchard Springs Recreation Area — Ozark St. Francis National Forests

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.

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.

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.