The Caves and Caverns of the Texas Hill Country
One of the features of the Llano Uplift are large outcroppings of limestone created when the area was underwater. Over time water traveling down through the rock erodes the weaker calcite that creates the speleothems (stalactites, stalagmites, columns, etc.) that adorn the caves. Read more about the history of Wimberley from prehistoric times.
Most of the Texas Hill Country is dotted with caves and caverns and, while many are closed to the public except for very rare events, several are open for exploration.
Bracken Cave
The summer home to more than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats (the world’s largest bat colony), Bracken Cave requires reservations to view the bat emergence each night during the summer (May-October) and is closed otherwise. (During Summer months you many also view a bat emergence from the Congress Avenue bridge in nearby Austin.)
Bracken Cave Preserve
26101 FM 3009
Gardenridge, TX 78266
https://www.batcon.org/see-bats-live/visit-bracken-cave-preserve/
Longhorn Cavern State Park
Multiple tours and activities are offered at Longhorn Cavern, from relaxing walking tours to more primitive spelunking exertion. Advance tickets are recommended.
Longhorn Cavern State Park
6211 Park Road 4 S
Burnet, TX 7861
https://visitlonghorncavern.com/
The Cave Without a Name
One of the more beautiful caves in the Texas Hill Country with a dizzying array of drapery, flowstones, rimstone dans and more. Advance reservations are recommended since this is a busy spot.
Cave Without a Name
325 Kreutzberg Rd.
Boerne, TX 78006
https://cavewithoutaname.com/
Cascade Caverns
Artifacts left by the Lipan Apache beginning in the 1700s attest to this cave’s long human awareness. Multiple tours are available at varying activity levels with additional activities for the whole family.
Cascade Caverns
26 Cascade Caverns Rd
Boerne, TX 78015
https://www.cascadecaverns.com/
Natural Bridge Caverns
The largest, and most popular, cave system open to the public in Texas, Natural Bridge Caverns offers a full day of activities, both below ground and above the trees, for the family.
Natural Bridge Caverns
26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd
San Antonio, TX 78266
https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/
Caverns of Sonora
One of the warmest caves visitors can leave sweaters and jackets behind. Also one of the only caverns to offer onsite kennels for Fido during your visit! Some of the more interesting tours require advance booking so visit their website to learn more.
Caverns of Sonora
1711 PR 4468
Sonora, Texas 76950
https://cavernsofsonora.com/
Honorable Mention
Canyon Lake Gorge
It would be remiss to discuss the caves and caverns of the Texas Hill Country without mentioning one of our newest geological formations. Created by planned overflow at the Canyon Lake Dam following a week of torrential rains (34”) in the summer of 2002, the historic flood created a 64-acre gorge and exposed 110-million-year-old dinosaur footprints. While not a cave, Canyon Lake Gorge is worth a visit to admire the waterfalls and springs, and see limestone layers (and fossils) deposited when the area was an ancient sea bed. Read more about dinosaur in the Texas Hill Country.
Canyon Lake Gorge
16029 S. Access Rd.
Canyon Lake, TX 78133
https://www.gbra.org/recreation/canyon-lake-gorge/