Eureka Springs Walking Tour: Exploring Historic Underground Systems
4.8
149 Ratings
Eureka Springs
Discover the hidden history of Downtown Eureka Springs on a walking tour that explores the fascinating underground systems. Uncover the secrets of caves, cliffs, and the creek that runs beneath the town, and visit an exclusive underground storefront. Perfect for all ages!
Duration: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Eureka Springs Historical Downtown - Discover the Behind the Scenes Secrets of Eureka Springs! Our underground Eureka Springs Tour will deliver a unique and entertaining view into the history and folklore of the most fascinating city in Arkansas. Dig deep into the origins of the magic healing waters and the sacred Indian springs. Learn about constructing the unique civil engineering miracle and the boomtown that defined us towards the end of the 19th Century.

You will learn about many of the colorful characters that passed through Eureka Springs, including the famous temperance campaigner Carrie Nation, good and bad doctors like Alva Jackson and Norman Baker, the Starr gang bank robbers, and so on much more.

Wear good walking shoes as you travel up and down through history, exploring all the quirky and creative nooks that make Eureka Springs so charming. This is your chance to see Eureka Springs in a way that even local residents haven’t noticed and your only opportunity to explore underground at the famous bathhouse.

What's Included
  • A researched historical tour focusing on Downtown’s cultural and geographical heritage
What's Not Included
  • Bottled water
  • Sunscreen & Hat for Sun Protection
  • Good walking shoes
  • Gratuities for Local guide
Additional Information

The excursion provides an opportunity to discover the past of Downtown Eureka Springs - beginning prior to the establishment of the city, the individuals who contributed to its historical significance, and the exceptional topography of three subterranean structures - caverns and cliffs, the reconstruction of Mud Street, and the stream that flows beneath it all.

Strolling through the amusement and retail zone, you can experience the aura of the past, appreciate the present art district, and uncover hidden gems dispersed all around. Narrated in anecdotes and small scenes throughout the journey, the trip is a delight for people of all age groups.

You’ll also explore a preserved underground shop that was enclosed during the creation of the Underground. This unique site is exclusively accessible to participants of our tour. While this is not an adventurous exploration trip, the tour provides a detailed understanding of the underground structures, although only the subterranean shop is part of the actual visit.

Location
Basin Spring Park
Spring Street
Meet at the base of the stairs by the Pretzel Shop in Basin Spring Park.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(149 Ratings)
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Sarah
Mar 19, 2024
A Lovely Spring Stroll🌷 - We enjoyed learning about some of the history of Eureka Springs. Spring is in the air this time of year, so it was nice to see flowering trees and tulips in full bloom. The pace was perfect, and between this tour and our hike at Lake Leatherwood, we walked about five miles in a day, which is good because we’ve also been enjoying lots of tasty treats from local restaurants.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anitaandken
Mar 18, 2024
Everything you want to know about Eureka’s history. - Megan was a very informative guide. Her knowledge of the history of Eureka Springs was amazing as was she. Very friendly. Lots of steps but little stops between climbing was just right. Only one room actually underground but tour is excellent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meghan_b
Mar 16, 2024
So fun to see the hidden... - So fun to see the hidden things Eureka Springs has to offer that you don't know about if you don't do the tour. SOOOO worth the money.
Review provided by Viator
Susan_s
Mar 10, 2024
Fun activity and very interesting! - Very good guide (Megan). Knowledgeable and clear. I have knee problems but we went at a good pace, no problems. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Review provided by Viator
Michaelsn1804un
Mar 9, 2024
Great Historical and Experience Tour! - Megan was a great tour guide. I’d highly recommend taking this tour on your first day in town. She was able to give us many places we should have visited while in town! We’ll just have to come back another time. The history and photo opportunities were great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
363cassiew
Feb 29, 2024
Excellent and Informative Tour - This was an excellent tour filled with a lot of interesting information about the town. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and nice. It's also a nice way to see some of the downtown area that you might not otherwise see.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Frostygoth
Feb 20, 2024
Wonderful walking overview of downtown Eureka Springs - Megan was our tour guide and she did an amazing job walking us around beautiful Eureka Springs and telling us its fascinating history. I liked how we walked around a good amount of the downtown area and even got to go into one of the underground former storefront areas! She was professional and well-spoken the whole time and the timing and length of the tour was perfect.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johnny
Feb 13, 2024
Linda was a great tour guide! - January had been a dreary month. The town was still trying to recover from the winter precipitation from the previous week. The weather however threatened to spoil things again with rain. This afternoon there was a break from the bleakness of the off season and the locals and tourists alike were trying to capitalize on the opportunity to get outside. There were only 3 of us on the tour but we were a diverse group. Linda led us on a laid back trip through the town and it's history, allowing for plenty of time for questions and conversation. Her storytelling led to lots of inquiries and we wound up on a trip that was much longer than 70 minutes before it was over. I appreciated her friendly nature and patience with my many questions (some of which were just silly small talk about her shoes and the fairy houses around town). She's a great ambassador for the town.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jehenson81
Mar 17, 2024
Hidden History - This was one of the few activities in Eureka Springs I haven’t done in the fifteen years I’ve been visiting. There was a lot of walking, but thankfully our group was small so we got from location to location in plenty of time to complete the tour within the time it was scheduled. Megan, our guide, was superb and provided a plenty of history and tidbits about the city, like have you ever noticed the beautiful stained glass windows in the side of the flatiron building. They commemorate the fires that the city endured through the years. I really recommend this experience, but be sure to wear walking shoes and be prepared to walk up and down a lot of stairs and the big hill through the center of town.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robertgt6867sj
Feb 15, 2024
Tour of Eureka Springs - Very good tour. Lots of somewhat hazardous stairs. Not recommended for individuals with mobility or balance issues. Some individuals in our tour had difficulty getting around. Linda is a great tour guide. Really learned a lot about Eureka Springs history. The time was nearly 105 minutes, not 70 so plan accordingly. Would have given a higher rating if they had disclosed the somewhat hazardous footing and the longer time for the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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