onondaga cave state park

Went camping for the 4th of July weekend with family and friends. The RV Campsites are paved and nicely spaced for your RV, there is also grassy spots on each site in case you want to bring a tent too. The sites are reasonably priced. Also the park has some neat hiking trails with a nice Spring Pond on one. Perfect for an afternoon of walking or bicycling.

I thoroughly enjoyed the couple hours I was able to spend in Onondaga State Park. Even though I arrived at noon, I was the first person to come by that day for the cave tour, and the only person for that specific tour. I was able to get a private tour, and the guide spent more time than usual describing and showing different formations and aspects of the cave. I have visited many caves, and this one tops the list for being utterly breathtaking in its beauty. The sheer size and number of cave formations is astounding. I have yet to see so many different types of formations in one place. We spotted a couple bats in the cave (!), but the salamanders, fish, and frogs that can sometimes be seen were elusive. Visitors can also see the skeletal remains of a couple bears, fairly recent tracks from river otters, and salamander footprints along the pathway. After the tour was over, I took a leisurely walk along the trail that meanders to the old mill pond and back. The flowers were in bloom, the water was a beautiful shade of blue, and the birds were singing. (The mosquitoes were also in attack mode, but this is summer in Missouri.) Along the walk, I saw turtles, Canadian geese, ducks, and songbirds. Sadly, I had time constraints, or I would have spent even more time in the park. I will be coming back for their weekend only tours of Cathedral Cave.

We arrived at the campground on Thursday, floated the river Friday and sat on lawn chairs in the water along the river bank Saturday to watch the rafters and canoers and kayakers go by. I suggest bringing water guns along. Probably floating not suitable on Saturday for younger children. It's a younger crazy crowd on Saturday floats which is probably true on most rivers in missouri. The campground only has electric hookups but bathrooms and shower house very clean. Campground hosts even deliver ice to your site if you like. We bought firewood on hwy H. Good price. Only downside is no cellular service but if you need to get connected, drive up the hill on Hwy H about a mile and you get service. Had a great time!!

What a pretty place....none if us had been here before...Sara our tour guide was fun and knowledgeable.It was a good place to be when it was 95+° outside and a balmy 57° -in the cave! We found a shady place near the river for a picnic lunch!!!! Good day!

Great choices of different hiking trails and well maintained. We did the 2.25 mile trek that took us to the bluffs overlooking the river. A good hike with many elevation changes. Several shorter ones also as well as a 8 miler if you've got the strength and endurance. We weren't quite ready this early in the season.

As a fan of caves, I really want to give this an excellent rating but I just can't based on the cave tour.I spent three days camping which was great. The campground was full but the host did a wonderful job making sure it was a fun environment for everyone from the young 20-somthings drinking to the child on their bicycle to the senor citizens in their campers. The showers, flush and vault toilets were all clean. No trash was ever seen on the property, anywhere. Access to the river is superb. I'm a cave enthusiast and this was my first cave in the state of Missouri. The cave itself is lovely, the tour guide was below average. I expected more from a state park; her knowledge was very limited, did not know a lot of the cave history and geology. She did mention she was new, but obviously the state needs to revamp their training program. I hung to the back most of the tour, and shouldn't have as she had a habit of turning off the lights before one could see everything in an area. I had to seek out another park employee to get my questions answered. Be aware, they bill this as a handicapped accessible, but with the pitch of the trails I'd hate to see anyone with mobility issues climb/descend.As to the cave formations itself, Onondaga has the largest flowstone in the state. The lighting, what I got to see of it, was well done also. The cave is worth the trip.I plan to return in August to tour Cathedral Cave and will give Onondaga another try. I'm hoping I just picked the bad apple in the bunch.

We live about an hour away. Decided to take advantage of a particularly warm March day by taking my two daughters to this park for some fresh air! We just walked along the Blue Heron Trail and came across some wonderful finds. A beautiful small pond with crystal clear water, a waterfall, daffodil buds, bats in an old shaft, a turtle sunning himself on some logs, quartz rocks, etc. The trail is short, only .5 miles long so out and back we totalled a mile which was perfect for the girls. I want to return in the summer when the cave is open! We plan to do some tent camping(very nice campgrounds with a playground) and splash around in the river. I might even be able to get in a trail run on some of the longer trails. Sidenote: the visitors center was very nice. I loved browsing in their gift shop and the girls bought $2 mood rings as souvenirs. Great afternoon.

It's been several years, but I doubt this cave has changed much at all. Touring it is a wonderful experience with many awe-inspiring formations!

The caves were beautiful.A few tips for the cave tour which is a "must see" if you are visiting the park. The onondaga cave tour is appx 90 minutes. Make sure you and little ones have gotten a drink and used restrooms before the tour starts as their is no turning back once started and no facilities inside. The cave trail has some very steep inclines and some are a bit slick. Make certain you have on a good pair of hiking or tennis shoes that have good traction. It is a little chilly in the cave and you are likely to get a few water droplets on your head during the tour, a light wind jacket will make things more comfortable!

We have been there over the summer and we loved it. It was really neat how they have the park set up. My husband and I love to go up there for the weekend and go camping it is very family friendly.

Probably the best cave tours in the Misouri area. Good guides, friendly, clean, good restrooms, orientation and reasonable pricing offering senior discounts.

The park is nice but the cave is better. Look for the original enterance of the cave that is neat. We will be back again once it cools down a bit. Until then see the cave and come back in the fall or sping for the park.

We have always enjoyed camping here. But the photos, I believe, are misleading. I'm pretty sure the photo with the walkway was taken at Johnson's Shut-Ins in Middlebrook, MO.

Clear water, very nice accomodations and the grounds were kept tidy. The kids had a blast biking also!

We love camping at Onondaga. The hosts are very nice. Kids love the hiking trails and caves.