Florida Caverns State Park

Florida Caverns State Park, located in the panhandle in Jackson County, is the only in the state to offer public tours of natural caverns, which, according to visitors, rival the famous Carlsbad Caverns and Mammoth Caves in their beauty and uniqueness. Guided tours, offered daily year round except on Thanksgiving and Christmas, take visitors on a subterranean tour on a path 1,600 feet in length, winding through a labyrinth of tunnels normally reserved only for the eyes of its natural denizens, such as salamanders and bats.

Surprised? What you may not know is that caves and caverns are abundant in Florida, owing to the fact that the state is, geologically speaking, essentially a limestone plateau formed millions of years ago when the region was beneath the waves of the Atlantic, part of North America's continental shelf. Thanks to the slowly eroding Appalachian Mountains, sand and clay piled up over Florida's limestone foundation. As sea levels fell, Florida appeared as an above-the-waves land mass connected to the North American mainland.

That groundwork, however, maintains its honeycombed characteristics, meaning that below the surface, the state is crisscrossed with underground rivers. In the panhandle, rock has been pushed up over time and geological movement has created a hillier landscape than in the rest of the state, including numerous underground caves.

Statewide, most caves are water-filled, so exploration must be done by diving, requiring extensive training for the safety of the divers and the preservation of the water-filled caverns. At Florida Caverns, however, a dry air-filled cave has been preserved and maintained by the state park system since 1942 for the benefit of curious visitors like us.

The scenery? It's ancient - stalactite and stalagmite formations created by water dripping from limestone rock over tens of thousands of years, side by side with other unique limestone features dubbed soda straws, flowstones and draperies. Fossils, elegant pools of water and smooth terraces can also be found in the magical underground mix.

Cave temperatures are cool - about 65 degrees Fahrenheit year round - meaning it's a great place to find temporary relief from the summer heat. Guided tours are offered throughout the day, starting at a depth of about 60 feet below the surface and lasting about 35 to 40 minutes.

Like most other Florida State Parks, the attractions at Florida Caverns are multi-faceted. While the cavern is the main event, the 1,310-acre park offers a number of other unique features and opportunities for outdoor adventure.

The Chipola River flows through the park, where it offers a unique river sink, where the river sinks 90 feet below the surface and reappears a half-mile downstream. In addition to this unique natural phenomenon, the river also offers a glorious variety of fish, including bass, catfish, sunfish and mullet, to give anglers a chance to put their skills to good use. The Chipola River is also a haven for canoers and kayakers, who can take a laid back look at the sites and sounds of the Real Florida from a prime vantage point. Wildlife sightings for the astute observer commonly include heron, egret, alligators, beavers and snakes. Canoe rentals are available at the park.

Swimming is also a popular activity at the park, in a river vent dubbed the Blue Hole swimming area. No lifeguards are on duty at this clear spring, which is flanked by a retaining wall/beach to the west and a wooden platform to the east. The location is also spanned by two bridges, one to the north and one to the south, which offer pleasant vantage points to view wildlife and the surrounding scenery.

Those who prefer to enjoy their natural encounters on dry land will enjoy the park's multi-use trails, which take visitors by horseback, bicycle or on foot through natural wonders such as floodplains, sinkholes, rivers and Karst topography (more of Florida's limestone history, this time in the form of limestone landforms). Trail maps are available at designated trail entrances and at the ranger station. Horse rentals are not available, but the park offers an equestrian facility for those who wish to bring their own.

Walkers have the added advantage of checking out two natural trails, limited to foot traffic only, which allow exploration of the rocky bluffs towering over the river floodplain.

A full facility camping area, boasting 38 campsites with electric and water hookups, is also available, and picnicking areas are provided throughout the park.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, park rangers offer a variety of interpretive programs on Saturday evenings.

Florida Caverns State Park, like all other Florida state parks, is open 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. Florida Caverns is located three miles north of Marianna, off of US 90 on SR 166. Admission is $4 per vehicle for up to eight people. Cave tour admission fees are free for ages 0 to 2, $3 for kids ages 3 to12; and $6 for all others, plus tax.

For more information, call the park at (850) 482-9598 or visit www.floridastateparks.org.

Article provided by Homesteader