Florida Caverns  Photo by Larry Arrington
People don’t come to Florida for the fall color. After all, with the sensory immersion of the Blue Ridge Parkway less than a day’s drive away, why even think about it? That would be like coming to Florida to go spelunking. No one explores caves in Florida, right. Right?

Not so fast. It’s that kind of “conventional wisdom” that causes folks to miss out on the best kept secrets down roads less taken.

During the right time of year – that being mid October into early November – a hike at Florida Caverns State Park is not only relatively cool and refreshing, but also every bit as colorful as a walk through a more famous “calendar photo” destination. We visited the park in early October and the leaves were already losing their green, hinting at the beauty that would be revealed by Halloween. And, even early in the season, one short hike filled our pockets with red, yellow and gold treasures.

And about those caves…

Illuminated caverns
Florida Caverns State Park is an opportunity to peek under Florida’s sunkissed surface and explore the wonders hidden in the carved-away karst terrain beneath your flipflops. All the formations you may have seen at more famous caves are well represented here, including: stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, soda straws, draperies and rim stone pools.

Much of Florida’s karst topography – the porous, cave structure left when the prehistoric seas receded – remains waterlogged, beckoning only to cave divers and SCUBA adventurers. But here in the relatively dry northern panhandle, all the nooks and crannies are accessible without wearing a mask and an oxygen tank.

But how do these caverns measure up to other marquee caves? Someone in our group commented that this tour was better than a certain much larger, dare I say “mammoth,” tour. And, though I’m not one to compare, I will say Florida Caverns stacks up nicely – and, better yet, offers a terrific onsite camping experience.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

  • Guided cave tours are offered several times a day, Thursday through Monday (no tours Tuesday or Wednesday). Arrive early or call ahead – the tours sometimes sell out.
  • You may also want to bring a sweatshirt or long sleeves. Temperatures in the caverns hover around a chilly (for Florida) 65 degrees.
  • If you want to sound super-smart going in, here’s a tip for telling the “tites” from the “mites.” Stalac_tites_ hang tight to the ceiling. And if you’re not careful in the caverns, you might trip over a stalag_mite_. Scientific? Nope, but I bet you’ll never get them confused again.

Steamy stream Photo by Monica Feldman
A CONVERGENCE OF COMMUNITIES

Florida Caverns State Park is not all about awesome subterranean formations. You don’t have to descend into the earth to be immersed in natural wonder here. The park grounds consist of more than 1,300 acres bordered on two sides by the spring-fed Chipola River. In addition to the natural aquatic and terrestrial cave ecosystems this park is home to glades, hardwood and mixed forests, floodplain forests and swamps, streams and springs. Each of the 10 diverse communities offers a distinct interaction with nature. Hike among stands of towering spruce, ash and magnolia liberally splashed with color from elm, walnut and beech trees. Continue down toward the springfed river and the forest changes to swamp oak and bald cypress domes. The transition is subtle, marked by the various animals that call each community home.

Blue Hole Spring Photo by John B. Crowe
EXPLORING ABOVE GROUND

If you are not the subterranean type, don’t worry, Florida Caverns still offers plenty to see and do. You can easily spend an entire day here without ever having to duck your head.

  • Hikers can depart right from the Visitor Center to enjoy a pleasant stroll down the aptly named Visitor Center Trail.
  • Visit the Interpretive Center on the second floor of the Visitor Center. Get a crash course on north Florida in the small museum. And, if you happen to collect those souvenir pennies, this is where you’ll find the machine to secure your 51-cent memory.
  • Two park trails, Fenceline and Sinkhole, are multi-use trails. It is not uncommon to see visitors on bikes pass others on horseback. Grab a trail map at the Visitor Center.
  • Boaters can take advantage of the launch ramp into the Chipola River. Only small, shallow draft boats are recommended. Fish, view the wildlife and stay in the boat…_because the alligators are viewing you_.
  • Canoes are available for rent every day. On your leisurely river cruise you can expect to see egrets, heron, beaver, deer, snakes, turtles and, of course Al E. Gator.
  • Swimmers can dive into Blue Hole Spring, particularly rejuvenating in the summertime, though a bit cool heading into winter.
  • There are six picnic areas in the park. Some have restroom and playground facilities, others do not. We chose to eat our lunch in the shade of some trees near the Visitor Center. Though the Visitor Center offers some refreshments, you should probably pack your pic-a-nic basket before arriving.

Spider Lilly

LIVING HISTORY & REVEALED SCIENCE

The interesting geologic formations that draw visitors to Florida Caverns began roughly 38 millions years ago. Sea levels were higher then, covering much of the southeastern United States and most of Florida. Shells, coral and sediment slowly morphed into limestone that was, in turn, etched by acidic groundwater. Fossilized reminders of this aquatic history can be seen in the walls of the cave in the form of nautilus, tube coral, fish vertebrae and shark teeth. The ebb and flow of this water continues today, evident in the “drip building” of cave formations. These caves are very much alive, home to a variety of animals including blind crayfish, salamanders, 3 species of bats, the occasional errant raccoon and other stealthy forest critters.

PARK CULTURE

Statue Honoring the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)


The acreage that comprises Florida Caverns State Park was purchased by the state on October 11, 1935. Work on the park and the cave tour areas was completed, in large part, by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), one of many groups created by President Roosevelt to provide jobs during the Great Depression. Construction on the park stopped in 1942 as funding for the CCC was earmarked for the war effort. Many of the structures began by the CCC, including the Visitor Center and Museum, are still in use today. A statue celebrating the CCC workers greets every visitor to Florida Caverns.

GETTING THERE

Florida Caverns State Park is located in the northern panhandle of Florida at 3345 Caverns Road Marianna, Florida 32446. GPS: 30.806576, -85.212716. For park, cave tour, rental and camping information visit www.floridastateparks.org/floridacaverns or call 850.482.9598.

WHERE TO STAY

Florida Caverns Campground
Florida Caverns State Park (www.floridastateparks.org/floridacaverns)

The recently renovated (Oct. 2010) onsite campground offers 33 public RV campsites. Reservations are available – and definitely suggested – and can be made up to 11 months in advance. Most of the sites are multi-use, but there are 3 each designated for RVs/campers only. In addition, 3 of the RV sites offer stables for campers with horses.

  • Full hookups – Water, sewer & electric (50 amp)
  • NO WiFi or Cable TV
  • Big rigs okay up to 40 feet, no pull thrus
  • Plenty of shady trees
  • Family friendly
  • Pets welcome, including horses (in designated areas)

Located at 3345 Caverns Road Marianna, Florida 32446. GPS: 30.806576, -85.212716. For reservations contact Reserve America at 800.326.3521 or book online via the park website.

Dove’s Rest RV Campground

Sandy roads and grassy sites among scattered pine trees make this campground officially “rustic.” The helpful staff and roomy sites with their long pull thrus make it worth the stay, particularly if you are traveling without kiddos. Some permanent residents on site – hardly unusual in Florida. If you have kids, you may want to opt for Florida Caverns, but if you consider peace and quiet a park’s most important amenity, look no further.

  • Full hookups: Water, sewer and electric (50 amp)
  • Cable TV (no WiFi)
  • Plenty of big rig access and pull thrus
  • Family friendly (in that it’s not age restricted)
  • Pet friendly

Located at 1973 Dove Rest Dr, Marianna, FL 32448. GPS: 30.707384, -85.186689. For reservations or more information call 904.482.5313.

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