Bluespring Caverns


Useful Information

Location: 1459 Blue Springs Cavern Road, Bedford, Indiana, 47421.
Near Bedford. I65 exit Seymour, 90 km south of Indianapolis, 78 km north of Louisville. U.S. 50 west through Bedford. Turn off 8 km south of Bedford to the left, 1 km by paved road off of U.S. 50. Signposted.
(38.797784444935270 -86.546657729264030)
Open: 16-MAR to OCT daily 9-17, tours hourly and on demand.
[2024]
Fee: Adults USD 24, Children (0-15) USD 12.
[2024]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave SpeleologyRiver cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=11 °C.
Guided tours: L=2,120 m, 120 m by foot, 2,000 m by boat. D=60 min.
Photography:  
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Bluespring Caverns Park, RR 11 Box 988, 1459 Bluespring Caverns Road, Bedford, IN 47421, Tel: +1-812-279-9471. E-mail: contact
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1800s cave visited by locals through the natural spring entrance.
1913 dam on the White River built and entrance blocked off.
1940 a natural collapse of the cave happened on the Coglazier Farm, which is todays entrance.

Description

Bluespring Caverns drains a karst area southwest of Bedford in Lawrence County, nearly 40 square kilometers of sinkhole plain. A scenic countryside of farmland, rolling pastures, and woodlands, dotted with thousands of sinkholes. Most side passages of the cave system, more than 30 km of passages, converge to a large underground river. This is the place where the show cave is located. The tour consists mainly of an impressive boat ride on the longest subterranean river in the United States, called Myst'ry River.

The cave and its waterways are famous for an abundance of troglobitic life. Fish, crayfish, salamanders, crickets, spiders, beetles, and other forms of animal life which have adapted to the darkness and constant temperatures of the cave. Most common is rare albino blindfish and crayfish. Several types of bats inhabit the cave, but they are generally rare. Most bats are found during winter. However, they do not like the water very much and this is a very active river cave.

The tour starts with a 250 walk steep down into the cave to the landing stage. At the end of the boat tour, you will have to walk up again. The boat tour is made on specially designed flat-bottomed boats seating 17 visitors. It is a 2 km long boat trip on the underground river. The river is navigable even further, but this would make the tour too long.