Cofran's Texas . . .
Hill Country Portal

The Texas Hill Country has some well known caves and caverns that are well worth seeing. Some are privately operated, and some are operated by the state or county. Most can be toured inside, but some are not accessible except for viewing of bats.

Cave tours area a nice change of pace and a way to get outside and still be able to beat the heat, but it will be humid so dress accordingly. Wear good traction shoes to help on the wet, slippery inclines. And wear a hat to absorb the occasional water drips.

Note, many of these caves are part of the Texas Parks & Wildlife system and are profiled, along with all other State parks in the Hill Country, in more detail at Parks & Lakes.

Also see our related Portal profile for Bats & Caves.

Click some images to enlarge.












BLOWOUT BAT CAVE: Located in NW Blanco County, near RR-3347 (Althaus-Davis Rd) at intersection of A Davis Ranch Rd, approx. 15 mi NW of Johnson City, and NE of Willow City. Historic ghost town settlement along Comanche Creek near Comanche Spring. The cave lies on private ranch land and was once home to a large bat population. The community name “Blowout” originated from a reported lightning strike that ignited methane gases from accumulated bat guano, causing an explosion. See history at TSHA, Profile2. Lat: 30.44694; Long: -98.57722. Elevation: 1271. Map





CASCADE CAVERNS: 830-755-2400; 226 Cascade Caverns Rd, Boerne, TX 78015. 105-ac park featuring a living cave with dramatic formations and Texas’ only cavern with a 100 ft waterfall. Guided tours offered year-round. includes nature trails, picnic areas, and campground. Enjoy the cool comfort of 68 degree year round temperatures as you wonder through underground pathways, huge cavern rooms and soaring cavern walls. An award winning natural attraction. cascadecaverns.com; Map

CAVE WITHOUT A NAME: 888-839-2283; 325 Kreutzberg Rd, Boerne, TX 78006. A federally designated National Natural Landmark. A natural living cavern filled with spectacular formations. Tour the 6 rooms filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones, all in constant 66 degree comfort. Offers guided tours, concerts in the Queen’s Throne Room, and adventure programs. cavewithoutaname.com; Map



LONGHORN CAVERN STATE PARK: This huge cave once was a favorite roosting cave for bats. Now, there are only about a dozen Eastern Pipistrelle bats in Longhorn Cavern. They do not hang out together, they are loners. Cave staff now report they get to see one every now and then during the winter months when the bats are hibernating. For more information on the bats that live inside Longhorn Cavern, visit their Gift Shop and request a book named "Hey! I've Got Feelings Too!". Longhorn Cavern State Park is a 646 acre scenic park, featuring Longhorn Cavern, formed in prehistoric times by water flow. Activities include hiking; a 1.5 hour cave tour covering 1.25 miles of caves; and a geology program. Facilities include a gift shop, a full service deli and snack counter, gift shop, a picnic area, and 2 mi of hiking trails. Open for day-use only. Elevation: 779 to 1585 ft. Admission fee for cave tours.

Location: In Burnet County, in Burnet. 6 mi W of US-281, on Park Road 4.
1-877-441-2283, 830-598-2283; visitlonghorncavern.com, tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/longhorn_cavern

By reservation, PRIVATELY GUIDED TOUR OF LONGHORN CAVERN: 512-809-8057; Park Rd 4, near Kingsland, Lake Buchanan Area & Burnet. Choice A: For groups, min $200 fee, 4.5 hour program; Choice B: 2 hour program, standard individual ticket price plus gratuity.

Portal Photo Gallery: Longhorn Cavern SP

LONGHORN CAVERN STATE PARK: 877-441-2283; 6211 Park Road 4 S, Burnet, TX 78611. Historic limestone cave formed by underground river flow. Once used by Native Americans, Confederate soldiers, and outlaws. Guided walking tours available daily. Park includes hiking trails, picnic areas, and a visitor center. visitlonghorncavern.com; TPWD; Map



FRIO BAT CAVE: 10-12 million Mexican free-tailed bats ascend at dusk and return at dawn. This is alleged to be the 2nd largest bat population in the world and the largest is open to the public. You may see Cave Swallow, Rock & Canyon Wren, & maybe a Ringed-tail cat or Skunk entering the cave to catch dinner. Be amazed as several species of Raptor dive into the exiting swirl of Bats. This is a maternity cave where the bats return each spring to mate & give birth to their pups. Unfortunately the Bats fly south for the winter & are only here from mid-March thru September. The bat guano was mined during the Civil War for Confederate black powder. The rocked furnace pipe used in drying the guano can be seen at the cave entrance.

Location: Near Concan. Find 1st gate S of Frio River on FM 2690, drive your car 2 mi on ranch in to Frio Cave. Profile & Guided Tours. 888-502-9387

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JACOB'S WELL: hayscountytx.com/jacobs-well-natural-area. Historic artesian spring flowing from the Trinity Aquifer, forming the headwaters of Cypress Creek. Located 3 mi NW of Wimberley near Woodcreek, in Hays County. The inclined shaft descends 140 ft and connects to a submerged cave system nearly 1 mi long—Texas’ second-largest fully submerged cave. Formerly popular with scuba divers, the site is now closed to diving due to safety concerns. Swimming permitted May 1–Sep 30 by reservation only. Free Sat tours at 10a and by appointment. Access restricted to tour hours. Annual festival held in Sep. Featured in Stephen Harrigan’s 1984 novel *Jacob’s Well*. See full details in our Portal Profile at Parks & Lakes.



ECKERT JAMES RIVER BAT CAVE PRESERVE: 325-347-5970; 17 mi SW of Mason, near James River Rd off FM 2389, in Mason County. One of the largest bat nurseries in the U.S., hosting 4–6 million Mexican free-tailed bats from May to September. Females arrive pregnant and give birth to a single pup in June or July. Young bats begin flying at five weeks and migrate with their mothers to Mexico in October. The 8-acre preserve is owned by The Nature Conservancy and open mid-May to early Oct for interpretive tours Thur–Sun, 6p–9p. Sunrise tours also offered. $5 entrance fee; children 5 and under free. Web with driving directions. VideoOne; KVUE Video



NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS: 210-651-6101; 26495 Natural Bridge Cavern Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78266. Just 8 mi W IH-35 (Exit 175) in New Bruanfels. Take a tour of the largest caverns in Texas, visit the Natural Bridge Caverns Mining Company and learn about identifying gems and minerals while filling your pockets with treasure, or take the Adventure Tour through the South Cavern, a physically demanding and thrilling excursion into one of the world's premier caverns. Family-friendly guided tours along lighted, paved walkways. Open daily. Cavern



DEVIL'S SINKHOLE STATE NATURAL AREA BAT CAVE: 830-683-2287; tours@devilssinkhole.org. Seasonal home to 3–4 million Mexican free-tailed bats. Located in Edwards County, approx. 6 mi NE of Rocksprings on US-377, 1 mi SW of US-377 & TX-41 intersection. The 1,860-acre preserve sits at 2,450 ft elevation and features Texas’ largest one-chamber cave and 4th deepest cavern. The vertical shaft measures 50x60 ft across, dropping 140 ft into a circular chamber over 350 ft deep. Evening bat flight tours run May–Oct, Wed–Sun, 6p–9p. Guided nature hikes offered 1st & 3rd Saturdays (except hunting season). Day tours require 3-day advance notice. No camping. Picnic sites and trails available. Access by reservation only via Devil's Sinkhole Society. Tours meet at Visitor Center, 101 N Sweeten St, Rocksprings, TX 78880. Other tours include birding, nature walks, and motorcycle outings. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/devils-sinkhole; Gray's Blog. Portal Photo Gallery: Devil's Sinkhole SNA Park. See: Bats == new, but no image, do compare

DEVIL'S SINKHOLE STATE NATURAL AREA BAT CAVE: 830-683-2287; tours@devilssinkhole.org. Seasonal home to a colony of 1–4 million Mexican free-tailed bats. The main attraction is the sinkhole itself—a vertical cavern with an opening approx. 40x60 ft and a vertical drop of 140 ft to the main chamber, which reaches a total depth of 350–400 ft. The 1,860-acre preserve sits at 2,450 ft elevation and is Texas’ largest one-chamber cave and 4th deepest cave. The site is also a designated wildlife preserve. The Devil's Sinkhole Society offers Evening Bat Flight tours throughout the summer and Guided Nature Hikes on the first and third Saturdays of each month (except during hunting season). Day tours can be arranged with a minimum of 3 days notice. Reservations are required. There are picnic sites and some trail development. No camping. Access to the sinkhole is by reservation only through the Devil's Sinkhole Society. Tours (May–Oct) meet at the Visitors Center in Rocksprings, located at 101 N Sweeten St. Other available tours include birding, nature walks, motorcycle outings, and day tours. Location: In Edwards County, approx. 6 mi NE of Rocksprings on US-377, and 1 mi SW of the US-377 & TX-41 intersection. The sinkhole property does not front a public roadway. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/devils-sinkhole; Gray's Blog; Map Portal Photo Gallery: Devil's Sinkhole SNA Park. See: Bats




WONDER WORLD THEME PARK: 512-392-3760; 1000 Prospect St; San Marcos, TX 8666; wonderworldpark.com; A one-of-a-kind Theme Park. Visitors have enjoyed touring the Balcones Fault Line Cave for 105+ years, and now, the park has many other attractions for family fun and entertainment. Enjoy a guided tour and discover the nation's only true example of an earthquake-formed cave deep underground and see up close the devastation of a major quake. Exit by the "Stratavator" and ride high into the sky to the Tejas Observation Tower. Be amazed by the Topsy-Turvy World of the Anti-gravity House where everything is backwards, even water flows up hill! Board the train and splash through the waterfalls of Mystery Mountain on your way to the Texas' largest Wildlife Petting Park (zoo). Educational and fun for ALL ages. Open daily, all weather. Free picnic grounds, shops, restaurant. Located just off IH-35 (Exit 202 Wonder World Dr).




DEAD MAN'S HOLE: (by Mike Cox in Texas Escapes): "The expression 'he just dropped out of sight' had both figurative and literal meaning in Burnet County during and after the Civil War. Common belief held that folks who disappeared in that area often ended up at the bottom of a 150-plus-deep foot limestone fissure south of Marble Falls aptly named 'Dead Man's Hole.' ". Discovered in 1821, this 155 foot deep cave is believed to have been the dumping place for victims hung from an oak tree over the hole. Self-guided tour, always open. SE of Marble Falls, nearer Spicewood, on CR 401 between Hwy 71 and FM 2147 E.




WESTCAVE PRESERVE: LCRA owned but privately operated (non-profit) 31 acre area that includes a lush, green, limestone-walled canyon with many rare and endangered plants, canopied by giant cypress trees and a 40-foot waterfall tumbling over fern-covered travertine columns into an emerald pool. Dedicated to sustaining this unique ecological treasure and offering it as a scientific and educational resource to the community. Guided trail tours, adult & school programs, birding, star watching, and other programs help to inspire greater environmental conservation and awareness.

Location: In SW Travis County (but Blanco County address), at 24814 Hamilton Pool Rd (FM 3238), Round Mountain, TX 78663. 830-825-3442. 15 mi N of Dripping Springs, W of Bee Cave. westcave.org

Portal Photo Gallery: Westcave Preserve






INNER SPACE CAVERN: 877-931-2283; 4200 S IH-35, Georgetown, TX 78626. myinnerspacecavern.com

CAVERNS OF SONORA: 325-387-3105; 1711 PR 4468, Sonora, TX 76950. Located just outside the Hill Country boundary in Sutton County, this cave is internationally recognized for its stunning calcite crystal formations. Discovered in the early 1900s and opened to the public in 1960, the cave features rare helictites, soda straws, and drapery formations. Offers guided tours including the Crystal Palace Tour, Discovery Challenge, and rappelling. Also includes camping, RV sites, picnic areas, and gemstone panning. Open daily. cavernsofsonora.com; Map Portal Photo Gallery: Caverns of Sonora






HANDBOOK OF TEXAS: Profile

NATIONAL CAVE ASSOCIATION: cavern.com

TEXAS CAVE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION: tcmacaves.org; Nonprofit managing cave access, conservation, and education in Texas.

TEXAS SPELEOLOGICAL SURVEY: txspeleologicalsurvey.org; Archival maps, cave data, and karst research across Texas.

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