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Stay cool underground at Florida Caverns State Park
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Florida Caverns/ Photo by Jace Delgado
“I tell you what, I can’t wait to hit that 60 degrees!”
The man in line behind me at Florida Caverns must have read my mind, as I sheepishly blotted sweat from my forehead. It was another scorcher with a heat index of 104; I looked forward to heading underground.
The forty-five minute walk is the best way to experience Florida Caverns State Park. The passages visitors see during a cave tour have only been open to the public since the 1940s, but these formations have been slowly forming for millions of years. Acidic groundwater dissolves cracks and crevices into the limestone surface, creating passages that are eventually large enough to walk through. Naturally acidic rainwater is similarly responsible for forming the dramatic soda straws, stalactites, draperies, and stalagmites tourists see along the tour.
Tours are limited to 25 people, insuring that visitors will be able to hear the ranger talk but more importantly safeguarding against anyone being left behind in the cave! Our guide Paul cautioned us beforehand, reminding us to follow the leader at all times. We were also asked not to touch anything in the cave; oils in our skin could ruin the structure's surface. I was pleased to find that the caverns are lit with floodlights and strategically-placed reflectors. In fact, flashlights are not allowed on the tour, although Paul had two just in case of a power outage. Aside from the scarce lighting, the caves are left in their natural state. No handrails exist and there are no paved sidewalks; we dodged puddles and slippery slopes throughout our walk. Although the tour is less than a mile long, it felt farther due to the unfamiliar terrain.
Stalagmites at Florida Caverns. Photo by Don White
The dank air and dark nooks and crannies created an eerie atmosphere, but Paul lightened the mood with lots of information and a great sense of humor. He pointed out beautiful paper-thin draperies, delicate soda straws that looked as if they could snap at any moment, and the amazing “wedding cake” and “pipe organ” images in the Wedding Room. Paul had a creative way of infusing loads of geology and historical facts into our presentation without making it feel like a lecture.
Although now and then I was hit by water droplets, this was probably the cleanest nature walk I ever encountered. The caves are bug-free, there is no dirt or mud, and surprisingly I didn’t notice the musty odor that I expected. Bats did not make an appearance during our adventure, however three types of bats make their homes in Florida Caverns. The Southeastern Bat and the Pipistrelle are commonly found throughout Florida, and the endangered Gray bat hibernates in the caves.
Caves are an interesting phenomenon, and Florida Caverns State Park is the only place in the state where visitors can walk through an active or “live” cave. The cool, moist air makes a cave tour a refreshing option during a hot summer day; the cave temperature hovers around 65 degrees all year long. Along with the tours, visitors can enjoy swimming at Blue Hole Spring, paddling the Chipola River, or hiking and horseback riding on one of several trails. Florida Caverns State Park provides many ways to enjoy our state’s geological wonders.
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