Caves

NOTE:  ALL CAVES IN THE OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS ARE CLOSED TO ENTERING (Except for Guided Tours of Round Spring Cave [when open] and Cave Spring which you can float into at mile marker 21.9 on the upper Current River). This is due to the discovery of White Nose Syndrome, a disease that kills bats, in Shannon County. Please respect these closed caves for the protection of the bats. 

• Medlock Cave - *Mile Marker 12.6 on right* .   This is located between the Cedar Grove and Akers Ferry stretch.

• Welch Spring Cave - The cave is barred due to the endangered gray bat.  The cave is located in the remnants of an old run down hospital here that was used to treat patients who had asthma by having them breath the cave air. *Mile Marker 13.7 on left.   This is located between the Cedar Grove and Akers Ferry stretch.

• Cave Spring Cave (You canoe into it! - video here) - *Mile Marker 21.9 on left* ---> and nearby Devils Well.  Also, this little hike is just below Cave Spring on the left (maybe 5 minutes below right before some rapids). Video here.   --- See this photo of over 100 years ago!   This is located between the Akers Ferry to Pulltite Spring stretch.

• Rock House Cave - *Mile Marker 24.2 on right*  Also see here.   This is located on the Akers Ferry to Pulltite Spring stretch.

• Fire Hydrandt (Pulltite) Cave - *Mile Marker 27.3 on right*    This is on the Pulltite Spring to Round Spring stretch.

• Bat Cave (No Link) - *~Mile Marker 29.0 on left, somewhat fenced due to endangered bats*   This is on the Pulltite Spring to Round Spring stretch.

• Little Gem Cave (also called Merritt Rock Cave) - *~Mile Marker 31.0*  This is on the Pulltite Spring to Round Spring stretch.

• Round Spring Cave - *Mile Marker 35.2 on right* Close to the famous spring with the same name, but not connected.

• Courthouse Cave - *~ Mile Marker 36.2 on right*

DID YOU KNOW? Shannon County has the 2nd most recorded caves in the state. Over 400!!! Perry County is 1st with over 600. Source: Joel Laws, VP - Missouri Speleological Survey