Florida
Caverns State Park - Marianna, FL
Pictures & visitor information from a trip
inside the caves of the Florida Caverns State Park located in Marianna, FL.
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Florida Caverns State Park |
Visitor Center |
CCC Worker 1933-1942 |
The Florida
Caverns State Park is located at 3345 Caverns Road, Marianna, FL
32446. You can reach a park ranger by phone at 850-482-9598. Visitor
hours are from 8:00 AM to sunset. Guided tours of the caves are one of the most popular activities at this 1,300 acre wildlife sanctuary and recreational area situated on the Florida Panhandle. The underground cave tours last about 45 minutes and do require a bit of athleticism due to the stairs, low ceilings and slippery surfaces. The caverns tour is unavailable on Tuesdays and Wednesday to reduce the wear on this popular attraction. It was $4.00 per vehicle to enter the park and then another $8.00 per adult for the guided cave tour. Campsites are available for $17 per night. Horses are welcome with proof of a current Coggins Test and a fee of $6 per animal. Visitors who arrive on foot or on a bicycle must pay $1.00 per person. |
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CCC Worker Statue |
Guided Tours Information |
Bat House Sign |
Some of the other recreational opportunities at the Florida Caverns State Park include hiking, bicycle trails, horseback riding trails, scenic nature trails, the Blue Hole Spring swimming area, fishing (Florida fishing license required), picnicking, camping and canoeing on the Chipola River. Canoes and horse stables are available for rent | ||
Bat House & Light Post |
Rectangular Bat House |
Tour Departure Point |
The Florida State Caverns Park has a concessions building with refreshments, souvenirs, restrooms, trail maps, and equipment rentals. Also available on the grounds are showers, a playground, a boat launch ramp, picnic shelters, a public telephone, campsites, and youth camping areas. | ||
Visitor Center Bathrooms |
Visitor Center Front Patio |
Early Inhabitants Sign |
Well behaved dogs are welcome at the Florida State Caverns Park in designated areas and must be kept on a 6 foot leash at all times. | ||
Artificial Cavern Wall Model |
Native Indians Display |
The Chatot Native Peoples |
New Deal Era History |
Fragile Cave Life |
Aerial Picture of Park |
Blossoms & Butterflies |
Varied Natural Habitats |
Florida Cave Bats Sign |
Park Orientation Map |
NW Florida State Parks |
Trees Near Visitor Center |
There are ten unique natural habitats or "communities" contained within the 1,300 acre park such as the upland hardwood fores, upland glade, upland mixed forest, floodplain forest, floodplain swamp, alluvial stream, spring run stream, terrestial cave, and aquatic cave. | ||
Stalagmites - Cave Floor |
Stalactites - Cave Ceiling |
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A "stalagmite" is a collection of calcite deposits that form on the cave floor when water drips down from the ceiling. A "stalactite" looks like an icicle and it forms when calcite drips through a hole in the rock creating rings of deposit that eventually becomes a solid spike. Other formations that form include draperies, flowstones, columns, rimstone pools, and soda straws. It takes about a century for just one cubic inch of a calcite formation to develop. | ||
Limestone Foundation |
Stone Brick Building |
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The trees in the Florda Caverns State Park weren't in bloom since we visited during the winter. Some of the most common trees seen in the park are Florida Elms, southern magnolias, bald cypress tupelos, swamp chestnut oaks, white ash, American beech, black walnuts and needle palms. | ||
Tour Guide Leading |
45 Steps To Caverns |
Cave Entrance & Side Trail |
Thick Calcite Column |
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A few of the creatures that call these caverns home include three species of bats, cave salamanders, blind cave crayfish, cave crickets, woodrats, spiders, and slimy salamanders. We were lucky enough to see several bats including a couple that was mating on the ceiling of the cave. | ||
"Draperies" Formations |
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"Wedding Cake" Formation |
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Low Ceiling |
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