Take This Lantern Cave Tour In Texas For A Magical Underground Adventure
By Katie Lawrence|Published May 23, 2019
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
While Texas has no shortage of aboveground activities to keep the family entertained this summer, there’s another world hiding beneath the surface. We’ve mentioned Natural Bridge Caverns several times, but never this particular excursion. The Lantern Tour takes you on an unforgettable adventure through some of our state’s most uncharted territory, nothing but a small iridescent orb lighting the way.
This eye-catching orange dinosaur has become quite a famous symbol, marking the entrance to one of the most visited attractions in Texas. Natural Bridge Caverns is our state's largest underground cave system, attracting countless visitors - both locals and tourists - each year.
In addition to cave tours, you can zip line, walk through a maze, mine for gems, eat, and shop.
Several grandiose rooms feature awe-inspiring geological wonders that have been around for centuries and still aren't finished growing yet. Knowledgeable guides offer information about the cavern's history and how it's evolved over time.
While there are several different excursions to choose from, we'll be highlighting the ethereal Lantern Tour.
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Arrive bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to embark on the first tour of the day at 9 a.m. Traverse the cavern passages with only a small lantern illuminating the darkness, just like the original spelunkers did so long ago.
Over the course of 75 minutes, you'll descend nearly 200 feet below the earth's surface. Spanning 3/4 mile of underground corridors, this amazing tour showcases the cave in an entirely different light - pun intended.
Pricing for the Lantern Tour changes daily, so click here to check before heading out.
Craving an even more heart-pounding experience? Put on a hard hat and embark on an Adventure Tour, where you'll rappel, crawl, climb, and slide through some of our state's most uncharted territory.
Participants should be physically fit, as the difficultly of this tour is moderate to hard. It takes 3-4 hours and costs $115-$140 (advanced reservations are required.)
Address: 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, San Antonio, TX 78266. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday + Sunday.
