Onondaga Cave State Park

About this park

Onondaga Cave State Park protects one of the finest show caves in the entire United States, a genuine National Natural Landmark whose towering stalagmites, dripping stalactites, and actively growing flowstones have made it a centerpiece example of why Missouri carries the nickname "The Cave State." Guided tours lead visitors deep into this underground wonderland, passing formations that have been growing, drop by mineral-laden drop, for thousands of years. For visitors who prefer the surface, the park's Vilander Bluff Natural Area offers a panoramic overlook of the Meramec River, giving hikers a dramatic above-ground counterpart to the cave's underground scenery. Easy river access lets visitors canoe or fish directly below the bluff, taking in a peaceful, scenic stretch of water framed by the same limestone geology responsible for the cave system below. The cave's own biology, geology, and human history, including its role as an early Missouri tourist attraction, add further depth to a visit, and the park maintains an active events calendar including photo tours specifically timed for photographers hoping to capture the cave's formations under ideal lighting. Camping, a visitor center, and a park store round out the above-ground amenities, making Onondaga Cave a genuinely complete destination for visitors drawn specifically to Missouri's extraordinary karst geology.