The Cave Guide

Bluff Dweller's Cave

Missouri
1 hr
on the main tour
$28
adult ticket

A cave that has offered tours since 1927, with guided tours of about an hour, open every day from March to October.

The story

C. Arthur Browning discovered the cave in 1925 while checking traps on family property, after noticing a cool breeze from a limestone outcrop. With help from Bob Ford and Bryan Gilmore, he moved loose rock and debris and explored through a small basketball-sized opening. Two natural openings had been hidden by a landslide over 2000 years ago. The cave was opened to the public for tours in 1927 and is still owned by the Browning family, currently operated by Arthur Browning's grandchildren.

Found
1925
Open to visitors since
1927

History source: bluffdwellerscave.com.

What you'll see

  • Musical Chimes
  • 10 Ton Balanced Rock
  • 75' Rimstone Dam

Tickets and timing

Adults
$28 (12+)
Kids
$16 (ages 4–11), free for 3 and under
How long it takes
About 1 hour
Hours
March–August tours 10am–5pm daily; late September–October 10am–4pm daily; November–February Thu–Mon 10am–4pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Booking
Tickets are purchased in the gift shop.

Good to know

Wildlife
Visitors may see cave salamanders, western slimy salamanders, grotto salamanders, dark-sided salamanders, Oklahoma salamanders, pickerel frogs, tri-colored bats, big brown bats, northern long-eared bats, and bristly cave crayfish. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service strongly recommends decontamination of all caving clothing and gear between caves to prevent the spread of White-nose Syndrome.
On site
Gem Panning, Browning Museum, Gift Shop, Crawl Box

Special tours and events

A Wild Cave Tour.

Questions people ask

How long does a visit to Bluff Dweller's Cave take?

About 1 hour

Do you need to book Bluff Dweller's Cave in advance?

Tickets are purchased in the gift shop.

When was Bluff Dweller's Cave discovered?

1925, according to the cave's own history.

Checked on 2026-10-22 against bluffdwellerscave.com (home and hours pages). Prices and hours change, so confirm on the official site before you drive out.

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