Walk Straight Through Ancient Limestone Hills On This Texas Cavern Tour
By Katie Lawrence|Published December 16, 2021
×
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).
If you’re on a mission to discover the best cave tours in Texas, Longhorn Cavern State Park belongs solidly on your bucket list. This underground adventure takes you through a chain of ancient limestone hills, featuring jaw-dropping cave formations that will take your breath away.
Conveniently located just 90 minutes from Austin, Longhorn Cavern State Park is an ideal day trip destination.
The park is located atop Backbone Ridge - a small chain of limestone hills - and the cavern itself was created by water erosion from an ancient underground river.
Guests have a couple of different options when it comes to exploring the cave.
The most popular tour is the Cavern Walking Tour, on which you'll descend 130 feet below the surface and follow the path carved by the river. All the while, you'll pass through room after room of magnificent geological formations, from stalactites to stalagmites and everything in between.
Advertisement
Each room is like a massive underground amphitheater, and the passages connecting them have more twists and turns than the most complex of labyrinths.
The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes, and you'll be standing and/or walking for almost the entire 1.1-mile (round-trip) distance. Unfortunately, due to the terrain, the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
A 2-3 hour spelunking adventure, this tour leads you on an unforgettable adventure into the undeveloped lower level of the cavern. It involves a good amount of physical exertion, as well as squeezing through tight spaces, so keep that in mind before booking. Please note: participants must be at least eight years old, and children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
While the cave is undoubtedly the main attraction, there's plenty to see and do above ground, as well.
The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and it's rife with original architecture from the iconic era in history. One of the structures is an observation tower that boasts 360-degree views of the surrounding Hill Country landscape!
There are also several hiking trails that allow you to further explore Backbone Ridge.
Park hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday from August 16 through May 30, and 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily from May 31 through August 15. Longhorn Cavern's sister park, Inks Lake State Park, is located just down the road, so you can camp there if you're looking for an overnight adventure.
Tickets for the Cavern Walking Tour cost $18.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 4-11. Children under age four get in free. The Wild Cave Tour costs $94.95 per person. There is no general admission fee to enter the park. Visit the park’s website or Facebook page to learn more and/or purchase tickets.
Have you ever been to Longhorn Cavern State Park? If so, which tour did you embark on? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below! Check out our previous article for more Texas caves that are so worth exploring.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
