Experiences
Multi-use trails closed, due to Hurricane Michael
We are in the process of clearing trails. Thank you for your patience as we work diligently to open them back up.
Bicycling is currently allowed on the park drive to Hickory Pavilion, visitor center, and back to the ranger station approximately 1.5 miles one way. Use caution riding on the road as it is shared with vehicle traffic.
- Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
- Please remember that flowers are for everyone; insects bite; trails have wet areas; and moving water is dangerous!
Closed due to Hurricane Michael
We are in the process of repairing the camping facilities. Thank you for your patience as we work diligently to make repairs.
This 1,500-acre park has 38 campsites, for both recreational vehicles and tents. All sites are within a short walk or bike ride to the Blue Hole day-use area.
Thirty-two campsites in the Blue Hole camping area are equipped with 30/50-amp electricity, water, sewer hookups, a picnic table, an in-ground grill and a fire ring.
Three RV/trailer campsites in the equestrian camping area have all amenities mentioned above but do not have sewer hookups. Use of a communal dump station located at the entrance to the youth camp is free for park campers. Stables are available for visitors who bring their horses if camping in the equestrian camping facility.
Three primitive tent campsites in the equestrian camping area have all amenities mentioned above but do not have electricity or sewer hookups.
- Restrooms with showers are available in both camping areas.
- Pets are permitted in accordance with our Pet Policy.
- Maximum RV length for the Blue Hole Campground = 32 ft.
- Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance through ReserveAmerica. Book online or call 800-326-3521 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or TDD 888-433-0287.
Closed due to Hurricane Michael
We are in the process of repairing the camping facilities. Thank you for your patience as we work diligently to make repairs.
There are six sites located in the equestrian camping area within walking distance of the Blue Hole day-use area. Three sites are RV/trailer only and three sites are tent only.
The three RV/trailer sites are equipped with 30/50 amp electricity, water, a picnic table, an in-ground grill and a fire ring. No sewer hookups are available in these sites. Use of a communal dump station located at the entrance to the youth camp is free for park campers.
Stables are available for visitors who bring their horses if camping in the equestrian camping facility.
- Please be sure to bring proof of negative Coggins for each horse.
- Horses are restricted to trails.
- Three primitive tent campsites in the equestrian camping area have all amenities mentioned above but do not have electricity.
- Restrooms with showers are available for registered campers.
- Pets are permitted in accordance with our Pet Policy.
- Maximum RV length in the equestrian camping area = 40 ft.
- Reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance through ReserveAmerica. Book online or call 800-326-3521 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or TDD 888-433-0287.
Closed due to Hurricane Michael
We are in the process of repairing the camping facilities. Thank you for your patience as we work diligently to make repairs.
The youth camp, located near the visitor center in a large open area, has two spacious sites that can accommodate organized youth groups with up to 25 campers per site. Two toilets, a cold-water shower, potable water, picnic tables and two large fire pits are in the camping area.
- Chaperones must remain with the group at all times.
- For more information and reservations, please call the park at 850-482-1228.
Closed due to Hurricane Michael
Geocaching is an outdoor game using hand-held global positioning systems (GPS) devices. It's effectively an inexpensive, interactive, high-tech treasure hunt that's a great way to learn geography. Participants use location coordinates to find caches. Some caches are easy to find; others are more difficult.
The biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of a place where you have never been. Geocaching should have minimal impact to the environment and conscientious land-use ethics should be followed.
Multi-use trails closed, due to Hurricane Michael
We are in the process of clearing trails. Thank you for your patience as we work diligently to open them back up.
Horseback riding, bicycling and walking are just some ways to view the beautiful scenery of Florida Caverns State Park. Tour several miles of multi-use trails while viewing natural wonders such as floodplains, sinkholes, rivers and karst topography. View a wide variety of plants and animals as you journey through these scenic natural areas.
- Trail maps are available at the ranger station upon request.
- Helmets are highly recommended for all cyclists and Florida law requires helmets for cyclists age 16 and under.
- Please remember that flowers are for everyone; insects bite; trails have wet areas; and moving water is dangerous!
We are in the process of clearing access to the river, but it remains closed until further notice, due to Hurricane Michael.
Canoe rentals on the scenic Chipola River are available daily. Contact the Florida Caverns Gift Shop at 850-482-1228 for information. A wide variety of flora and fauna can be observed during your trip. Herons, egrets, alligators, beavers and snakes are just a few common sights you may see as you travel upstream through this wonderful natural community.
- Canoe rentals are available at the gift shop and can be rented for half-day and full-day trips. Call the Florida Caverns Gift Shop for information at 850-526-2650.
- Traveling south under the bridge at the boat ramp is not recommended.
Picnicking is available at the visitor center, Hickory Pavilion and Sweetgum Pavilion only. All others remain closed, due to Hurricane Michael.
- The Hickory and Sweetgum pavilions have multiple picnic tables and two grills. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- For pavilion reservations, please call the ranger station at 850-482-1228.
Currently closed for construction in the area
The Blue Hole swimming area is open for park visitors and campers. Because of the close proximity to the Chipola River, it is occasionally closed due to water clarity from river flooding. The swimming area is 35 feet deep.
- Lifeguards are not present.
We are excited to announce cave tours are offered Friday through Monday. Tours are unavailable Tuesday through Thursday, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Guided cave tour tickets can be purchased, in person, at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 9 a.m. Central time. The cave tour is illuminated with a new state-of-the-art LED lighting system, which helps with energy efficiency while protecting the light-sensitive ecosystems of the cavern.
Tour guides will take you on a journey through time to see formations that have grown slowly over thousands of years.
- Arrive early - Cave tickets may sell out in advance, especially on weekends and holiday.
- Tour information
Multi-use trails closed, due to Hurricane Michael
We are in the process of clearing trails. Thank you for your patience as we work diligently to open them back up.
- A short half-mile walking loop around the visitor center is open to the public.
- An audiovisual guided trail walk and park tour video are available in the museum.
Amenities
Florida Caverns State Park is committed to providing a variety of amenities accessible to all our visitors. These amenities include:
- Visitor center and museum with a full audiovisual guided cave tour video.
- Concession and gift shop.
- Picnic facilities with tables and grills.
- Service animals are welcome in all areas of Florida State Parks.
We are in the process of clearing access to the river, but it remains closed until further notice, due to Hurricane Michael.
A boat ramp is located between the park entrance station and the family camping area. Only small boats are recommended to launch from this area due to water levels and possible underwater hazards along the Chipola River.
Boaters can take a leisurely tour along the river, fish, and view a variety of wildlife.
- Traveling south under the bridge at the boat ramp is not recommended.
The park's concession is located below the historic visitor center in the Florida Caverns Gift Shop. Guided cave tour tickets may be purchased there. Refreshments and souvenirs are available for purchase. There is no restaurant in the park.
Closed due to Hurricane Michael
We are in the process of repairing the camping facilities. Thank you for your patience as we work diligently to make repairs.
Horseback riders can enjoy the use of stables. A wash rack is located directly behind these stables to clean and cool the horses after a hard day's work. Restrooms and picnic shelters are nearby for your convenience and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Equestrian camping is available.
- Please be sure to bring proof of negative Coggins for each horse.
- At this time the park does not rent horses.
- Horses are restricted to trails.
Hickory and Sweetgum Pavilions are open; all others remain closed due to Hurricane Michael.
Four picnic areas are located throughout the park for your enjoyment. Tables and grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Picnic pavilions can be reserved in advance for a special event. Currently only one shelter is open.
- The Hickory Shelter has a restroom facility and a playground nearby. (Open)
- The Horse Camp Shelter is located directly across from the Blue Hole swimming area. (Closed)
- Contact the ranger station for shelter reservations and dates. Picnic shelter prices are as follows:
- Large shelter: Hickory Shelter (holds between 60 to 100 people) $60 per day, plus tax. (Open)
- Small shelters: Sweetgum (open), Horse Camp (closed) and Beech (closed) (hold between 30 to 60 people) are $30 per day, plus tax.
The visitor center is a unique limestone structure built from locally source materials and was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1942 as a part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal project.
A self-guided museum is located upstairs in the visitor center with a large variety of exhibits offering historical, cultural and natural resource information. Visitors can watch an entire guided cave tour on a video screen inside the museum.