6 Things To Do At And Near Natural Bridge Caverns After You Explore Underground Texas
By Katie Lawrence|Published September 01, 2021
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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).
If you’ve lived in Texas for any significant length of time, chances are you’ve visited – or at least heard of – Natural Bridge Caverns. It’s the largest show cave in the state, with endless passageways to explore and jaw-dropping mineral deposits to admire. Today, however, we aren’t focusing on the cavern itself, but the plethora of surface-level attractions that keep the fun going after you emerge from the underground. From a four-story ropes course to gem mining, Natural Bridge Caverns has it all!
The largest show cavern in Texas, Natural Bridge Caverns attractions many thousands of visitors each year with its vast underground amphitheaters and ancient speleothems.
You can embark on several different tours to experience this jaw-dropping natural wonder firsthand, but today, we're focusing on the plethora of surface-level attractions Natural Bridge Caverns has to offer.
Easily the most popular surface-level attraction at Natural Bridge Caverns is Twisted Trails.
The 60-foot-tall course boasts all sorts of obstacles, from balance beams to vertical rope climbs to nearly 700 feet of suspended track for ziplining. Not only will this high-flying adventure take you out of the underground, but it'll leave you feeling on top of the world! Twisted Trails costs $26.99 per person, or $24.99 if you purchase tickets online.
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Twisted Trails is limited to those at least 42 inches tall, but the little ones get a separate attraction designed just for them!
Featuring rope ladders, swinging bridges, and even a zipline, this miniature version of the course lets the tiniest adventurers challenge their balance and coordination in a safe, age-appropriate way. Tickets for the Tykes Zip Rail & Ropes Course cost $8.99, or $7.99 if you buy online.
All ages are sure to have a blast on the climbing walls - they accommodate multiple people at once, so you can race your friends and family to the top.
Since you'll be wearing a harness, all you have to do is let go, and a gentle glide to the bottom lets you start all over again. Tickets for the climbing walls cost $9.99 per person, or $5 if you purchase a bundle package.
Go for the gold as you pan for gems in the Discovery Village Mining Company, where everyone walks away a 49er.
Choose between gems and minerals, fossils, or arrowheads, using the handy identification charts to put names to all your discoveries. This attraction is accessible. Prices vary depending on whether you mine for stones, fossils, or arrowheads.
Families can also enjoy the "AMAZEn' Ranch Roundup," a unique maze experience with all sorts of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Three towers and a bridge help you find your way, and checkpoints let you know how much progress you've made. This attraction is accessible. Tickets for the AMAZEn' Ranch Roundup cost $9.99 per person, or $5 if you buy online.
We'd be remiss not to mention the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, the caverns' sister attraction.
The ranch, which was ranked among the top 20 wildlife parks in the nation, is home to more than 700 animals across 40 different species. You can either drive through the 450-acre park in your own vehicle or take a guided safari and learn all about the amazing creatures who call this place home.
Visit the Natural Bridge Caverns website or Facebook page to learn more about each attraction and/or purchase tickets. Click here to visit the website for the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, and here for their Facebook page.
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