Onondaga Cave State Park — Attraction in Sullivan

General Feedback: My visit to Onondaga Cave State Park in Leasburg, MO, was a truly enchanting and educational experience. The park's natural beauty and fascinating cave formations provided a captivating glimpse into the wonders of the underground world. From the moment I stepped into the park, I was surrounded by the tranquility of nature and the excitement of exploring ancient caves. Onondaga Cave State Park is a hidden gem that offers a perfect blend of outdoor adventure and geological wonders.

Pros:

Breathtaking Cave Tours: The guided cave tours at Onondaga Cave State Park were the highlight of the visit. The knowledgeable guides led us through the magnificent underground chambers, explaining the geological formations and history of the cave. The stunning stalactites and stalagmites were a sight to behold, making the tour both educational and awe-inspiring.

Scenic Nature Trails: The park's well-maintained nature trails offered a delightful way to explore the lush landscapes and natural beauty. The hiking trails were suitable for different skill levels, and I thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful walk amidst the picturesque surroundings.

Family-Friendly Activities: Onondaga Cave State Park is a great destination for families. In addition to the cave tours and hiking trails, the park offers picnic areas and playgrounds, providing opportunities for family bonding and relaxation amidst nature.

Cons:

Limited Cave Tour Availability: The cave tours at Onondaga Cave State Park can get quite popular, especially during peak visitation times. Securing reservations for the cave tours in advance is recommended to ensure availability.

Weather-Dependent Activities: Some outdoor activities, such as hiking and cave exploration, might be impacted by weather conditions. Checking the weather forecast and planning accordingly can help maximize the enjoyment of the park's offerings.

Summary: Onondaga Cave State Park in Leasburg, MO, is a hidden treasure offering an enchanting and educational experience for nature enthusiasts and cave explorers alike. The breathtaking cave tours, scenic nature trails, and family-friendly amenities make it a fantastic destination for individuals and families seeking a connection with nature. While cave tour availability might require some planning, the overall experience at Onondaga Cave State Park is worth every effort. If you're looking to explore the wonders of underground formations and immerse yourself in the beauty of the great outdoors, Onondaga Cave State Park is the ideal destination. It left me with cherished memories and a desire to return for more outdoor adventures...

I suppose this is the MO secret, so I may be doing the taboo, but holy moly is this place awesome! The campground is very conveniently located within walking distance of three of the main trails. All three trails were awesome in their own way: Oak Ridge was by far our favorite with all of the different areas we went into and of course the bear poop and mushrooms; Deer Run was also really awesome with its amazing views of the Merrimac and glades; and Blue Heron was a super easy but beautiful starting-out walk for the older people in our group, but the pond was beautiful in the early morning with the mist rolling off and we saw a muskrat, so absolutely no complaints. We saw deer and raccoons and lots of chill opossums, and we highly recommend downloading the iNaturalist app (if you are like us nd don't have a botanist friend) because the trails are full of interesting and tasty plants.

The new naturalist for the park is awesome; he knew a whole lot about the cave and shared with us all of the historical information. Of all the caves I have been in all over the world, Onondaga is the best! It just got better and better the more we walked through! I would highly recommend this cave for all ages and even for people who don't like caves! We will definitely be back!

Our only qualm was with the Vilander Bluff Trail; there wasn't a lot of information to find the trailhead online, but fortunately the visitor center had a map with directions. The drive over was beautiful with some friendly dogs and deer. The trail itself is nice, just really a pretty walk through the woods; however we went hoping to see the bluffs, but we weren't able to because the trail to the actual bluffs is apparently really time-consuming to find. I read several people's accounts of going to the bluffs and tried to follow them as best I could, but we were never able to find them and eventually just gave up. I do wish the trail to the actual bluffs was marked better or someone would just give coordinates to it. But either way, we would definitely still...

Onondaga State Park is one of the best state parks in Missouri and one of the coolest caves that we have had the pleasure of visiting. Cave Tour: While we were there, the Cathedral Cave Tour was not running so I can only speak to the Onondaga Cave Tour. This was an absolutely amazing tour. The tour starts off kind of slowly, the first room only a glimpse of the amazing formations to come. For people who might be afraid of caves this one is not bad, the rooms are huge, you never feel squeezed at any point. The Lost River flows right through the cave very slowly. The rooms in the cave were highly decorated, especially the Rock of Ages. The queen's drapery is also another highlight. This tour is $15 per person and highly worth it. The park naturalist did a great job giving this tour. Campground: We stayed one night at the campground in Site 1. We enjoyed this campground vey much. It was quite, I wish they turned some of the lights off in the campground that were making it hard to stargaze. The campground has all the basics that anyone would need. I can not say anything was super great about it, but nothing was bad either. Trails: We did the Deer Run Trail from the campground while we were there. The trails are not well traveled as we probably walked through at least 100 spider webs on the trail. They seemed to well maintained but not utilized. Overall, we highly recommend this park for anyone...