Exploring Texas

5 incredible caves to explore in the Texas Hill Country

5 incredible caves to explore in the Texas Hill Country
Cave Without a Name, in Boerne. Photo by Tom Summers

Austin and its surrounding areas are known for beautiful Hill Country landscapes and plenty of outdoor recreation options — but don't forget to explore the awesome sights underground, too. You can up the adventure by making a day trip to one of these showstopping caves near the city. 

Longhorn Cavern State Park 

If the walls could talk at Longhorn Cavern, boy would they have some great stories to tell. Comanche Indians once used the cavern, a detail that's been honored in the naming of one of the rooms the Indian Council Room. During the Civil War, Confederates manufactured gunpowder inside with the help of the plentiful supply bat guano (aka bat poop). In the 1920s Prohibition Era, it became a speakeasy and dance hall, and in the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps got to work clearing passages.

And while there's no evidence to prove it, legend has it that Old West outlaw Sam Bass hid his stolen millions somewhere inside. You can learn all about these stories and more — and of course, see the cavern's truly unique formations — by hopping onto their guided walking tour, which is offered 364 days out of the year. Those looking for something off-the-beaten path can get down and dirty on the Wild Cave Tour, crawling through the cave's undeveloped lower level. If you're an avid photographer, you might go for their Photography Tour that lets you shoot the cave's most scenic spots at your leisure.

6211 Park Road 4 S, Burnet

Inner Space Cavern 

Located around 30 minutes north of Austin just off the highway in Georgetown is Inner Space Cavern. The fact that it's literally right off the highway makes complete sense seeing as it was discovered when the Texas Highway Department was constructing I-35. Spelunkers started exploring the cavern in 1963, and it officially opened to the public in 1966. Activity in the cave dates back much further than the '60s though. During the Ice Age, plenty of prehistoric animals met their demise after getting trapped in the cavern. They've found fossils of at least 44 different species within the cave, 11 of which are now extinct, including the saber-toothed cat and ground sloth.

Inner Space Cavern offers visitors their choice from three different tours. The Adventure Tour is the standard route following the lit pathway. The Hidden Passages Tour gets a bit more rugged and has you going on an undeveloped trail with a flashlight. The Wild Cave Tour is perfect for thrill-seekers who want to go completely off trail, navigating the cave's undeveloped sections.

4200 S. I-35 Frontage Rd., Georgetown

Natural Bridge Caverns 

Discovered back in 1960 by a group of spelunking St. Mary's University students, Natural Bridge Caverns are probably the most well-known and most-visited caverns in the area — and they're definitely the largest. The name comes from the 60-foot slab of limestone that was left after a sinkhole collapsed and now stretches above the entrance. There are a few different ways to explore Natural Bridge Caverns. Whether you choose the Discovery Tour, Hidden Passages Tour, or Lantern Tour, you're sure to be wowed by the awe-inspiring formations in these extensive caverns.

Before or after your tour, check out the additional activities onsite that make this attraction feel like a mini theme park. You can tackle new heights on the canopy obstacle course, soar through the air on the zip lines, navigate the maze, or go gem and fossil mining. When you need a little break, pop into Big Daddy's Sweets, Treats, and Brew for some refreshments or grab a meal in Cavern Café inside the Visitor Center. It isn't hard to have a fun-filled family outing at this spot.

26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd., San Antonio

Cave Without a Name

It's true — this cave actually is called Cave Without a Name, and a name like that deserves some explaining. After the property owner decided to open it to the public in 1939, there was a statewide contest to name it, prompting a young boy to say that the cave was too beautiful to have a name. He earned the prize and despite short-lived efforts to change it, this is the name that stuck.

Before all of that, people discovered the cave when they went after a goat that fell in through an opening, and eventually, others used it as a moonshine distillery during Prohibition. But it wasn't until three intrepid, local kids found the sinkhole in 1935 and explored the cave's inner chambers that people really began to take an interest. A tour takes about an hour and includes going through six stunning formation rooms. A notable draw of Cave Without a Name is how it hosts musical events throughout the year in its Cave Throne Room, which offers fantastic natural acoustics and makes for an unforgettable experience.

325 Kreutzberg Rd., Boerne

Cascade Caverns 

Cascade Caverns has been in operation since 1932, except for when it temporarily closed during World War II. Back in those early days, the main entrance was the Peep in the Deep, where visitors had to hop in a bucket and be lowered down with a crude rope-and-pulley system. Thankfully, today's visitors get the convenience of a much safer stair route.

Cascade Caverns is called such because of the large waterfall in the Cathedral Room, the grand finale of the tour. While Texas drought may prevent it from flowing when you visit, they do pump it artificially to give you an idea of what it's like. Daily cavern tours are offered year-round, and there are special flashlight tours and adventure tours available periodically. When it comes to wildlife, they've found the fossils of bison, mastodon, and saber-tooth tiger inside the cave over the years. Lucky visitors these days will get to spot the famous Cascade Caverns Salamander, a rare, translucent species found only here. Ready to end on a completely random fun fact? Patrick Swayze filmed some of his scenes for the movie Father Hood here.

226 Cascade Caverns Rd., Boerne

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
The Texans square off with the Packers this Sunday! Composite Getty Image.

The Texans make just their third ever visit to Lambeau Field Sunday. It’s a dandy matchup as the Texans try to run their record to 6-1 at the expense of the 4-2 Green Bay Packers. The Texans have one win and one loss in Wisconsin. In 2008 the gameday high temperature was 13 degrees. Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 24-21 win over a Packers team that struggled to a 6-10 record under first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Texans posted their second consecutive 8-8 finish that year. In 2016 the mercury reached a balmy high of 34 degrees as the Texans fell 21-13 at Lambeau. Inexplicably, Rodgers somehow managed to win the quarterback matchup with Brock Osweiler. The Texans and Packers each won their division that year. Both Texans’ trips to “America’s Dairyland” occurred in December. No risk of frozen tundra this time around. The forecast for Green Bay Sunday calls for a high of 75 degrees! That’s almost 20 degrees warmer than normal there for October 20.

It’s a dynamic QB matchup with C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love sharing the field. Love broke out in a huge way in 2023 after serving a two-year apprenticeship under Rodgers. After a stumbling 3-6 start to their season the Packers went 6-2 the rest of the way to snag a playoff spot. They obliterated the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in Arlington (before everyone obliterated the Cowboys in Arlington...) then led at the 49ers with under 90 seconds to go before San Francisco scored to win 24-21. The Packers made crystal clear their belief in Love by signing him to a four-year 220 million dollar contract extension in July. That’s 55 mil per season. Stroud becomes extension-eligible after next season. Anyone think he won’t be in position to command at least 65 mil per season?

Stroud sure looks to be the guy to finally give the Texans the long-term stability and excellence they have never had at the most important position in the sport. The Pack is all in on Love continuing its unreal long-term QB stability and excellence. Love took the reins after Rodgers helmed the offense for 15 seasons. Rodgers took the reins after Brett Favre’s 16-year tenure. So if Love makes it for nine years as the starter, that’s three primary QBs in 40 years. Absolutely amazing.

After missing two games because of a sprained knee ligament suffered in the final seconds of the Packers’ season opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil, Love has thrown 10 touchdown passes in three games. But he has only completed 59 percent of his passes, and has thrown at least one interception per game.

The Texans’ first trip to the NFC North this season went brutally badly, the 34-7 beatdown from Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers 31-29 in week four of the season. That was Love’s first game back, he threw four touchdown passes and three picks. One defensive weapon the Texans will have against the Pack they did not have against the Vikes is Denico Autry. The 34-year-old Autry returns from his six-game banned substance suspension. That happens as one of the fill-ins for him, Mario Edwards, starts his own four-game substance abuse suspension. That should be a net improvement for the Texans.

X-factors

The single biggest variable in swinging the outcome of football games is turnovers. So far this season the Packers have been a takeaway machine. Last season the Packers generated just 18 turnovers over their 17 regular season games, only six teams took the ball away less often. Through just six games this season the Packers already have 17 takeaways. No other NFL team has more than 13, the Texans have just seven. The Packers have produced exactly three turnovers in five of their six games, and got two in the other. Every defense preaches turnovers, so it’s not as if first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has introduced radical concepts that are yielding magical results. But the results are what they are.

If the Texans take care of the ball, they have a terrific chance to win. Having Joe Mixon back aids the cause on two fronts. One, Mixon is obviously the Texans’ best running back. Two, Mixon last fumbled in 2021. The Texans probably best plan to score 25 or more points to win this one because the Packers figure to score a bit. In Love’s four starts the Pack has lit the scoreboard for 29, 29, 24, and 34 points. On the other hand, the Texans’ D has been pretty stout, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (Green Bay rates 18th). It’s a strength vs. strength battle. The Texans have allowed no opponent more than 313 yards in total offense. The Packers have amassed at least 378 yards in five of their six games, and managed 328 in their worst performance.

For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube

The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome