The Basics
Blanchard Springs Recreation Area
AR Highway 14
Fifxt-Six, AR
Phone: (870) 269-3228 (Sylamore District Office)
Closest Towns: Calico Rock, Fifty-Six, Melbourne, Mountain View
Directions: From Mtn View, head North on Hwy 5/Hwy 14 for approx. 5.4 miles, then Turn Left/West onto Hwy 14. Travel West approx. 6.6 miles on Hwy 14 to the entrance sign on your right. Turn Right and follow the signs to the different facilities.
About Blanchard Springs
The Blanchard Springs Recreation Area offers so much for the outdoor enthusiast, including hiking trails, swimming holes, fishing, a waterfall, springs, camping, picnicking, and one of the most spectacular caves in all the Ozarks.
The campground offers 32 campsites, each offering grills, tables, lantern poles and tent pads. RVs/camping trailers, up to 32ft in length, are allowed, but no elecric or other hookups are avaialble. The campground does offer restroom with hot showers, available during the on-season. The campground is also conveniently located next to the trailhead for the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail. Two group camping areas are also available, with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 50 each.
Hiking trails include the short paved trail to view Blanchard Spring, as well as the North Sylamore Hiking Trail and the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail. The North Sylamore Trail follows North Sylamore Creek, and links Blanchard Springs with the other two campgrounds in this district, Barkshed and Gunner Pool. The Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail is a series of interconnecting loops that offers mountain bikers nearly 50 miles of trail, mostly single-track.
North Sylamore Creek runs through the recreation area, and offers great fishing and two popular swimming holes. The main swimming area has a bathhouse and a small pavilion. The other swimming site is located near the upper loop of the campground, across the low-water bridge. Please be aware that higher than normal bacteria counts may close a swimming area, so be sure to call ahead before traveling here if you plan to swim.
Fishing is good along the creek either upstream or downstream from the swimming areas. Two historic dams have enclosed the waters of Blanchard Spring, forming beautiful Mirror Lake. The lake is regularly stocked with trout, and fishing from the lake is handicap accessible. Arkansas Game & Fish regulations apply.
Two picnic pavilions are also provided within the recreation area for groups. The smaller one can accomodate 50 people, while the larger pavilion can hold up to 125 people. There are also numerous picnic tables avaialble in the Day Use area.
Of course, no visit to the recreation area should end without visiting the main attraction, Blanchard Springs Caverns.
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