Natural Bridge Caverns Discovery Cavern Tour
Description
Take a guided walking tour of Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest commercial caverns in Texas. An informative and fun guide leads small groups of people 180 feet (55 m) below the ground into the atmospheric caves for a 75-minute tour packed with history, exploration, and an intriguing explanation for the science behind the caverns’ curious rock formations. Once above ground again, enjoy the other attractions, such as the Hidden Wonders Cavern, a completely separate cavern founded 17 years after the discovery of the first cavern, ziplines and adventure courses, that are fun for the whole family.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest cavern system in the state of Texas and is the first show cavern in North America to have pure white LED lighting that illuminate the caverns. The caverns offer a guided walking tour. Your guide leads your group through this National Natural Landmark, revealing the science and history behind the magical underground rock formations. The tour takes visitors 180 feet (55 m) underground to discover cavernous hallways and rooms highlighted by otherworldly stone structures that were only discovered in 1960. Throughout the nearly mile-long (1 km) walk, you’ll see “fried-egg” speleothems that seem to drip from the ceiling. A second cavern is also available on site to your called the Hidden Wonders and other above ground activities are also available for additional costs.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- If you are late, you may incur a fee to move to a different tour time (if available)
Reviews(129)
Hi. We just finished our tour and it was one of the worst experiences. Our tour guide started with a microphone in the first stop and never used it again. We were not able to hear her and she was mumbling whole time. We tried to get close to her as possible but her words were not exact and could not hear her clearly. We did not pick up any information and really hard to understand her.
Tour guides were very good. Time was what had been promised. Learned a lot! Forgot how the up and down travel takes a toll on the body. Good sized crowd. Questions were enlightening. I thought there had been a constant 65 degree temp touted. Hmm. I sweated buckets!! Beautiful views!
We're so glad you enjoyed your time with us, Cheryl! Our cave maintains a 70-degree temperature year-round - with 99% humidity. That makes the temperature feel much warmer. We hope to see you again to show you the views on our Hidden Wonders tour!
This was our last stop on a 4 day trip where we visited all 5 caverns on the Texas Cave Trail. (Got the t-shirt!) Natural Bridge is the most commercialized of the caverns we visited. It's the only one that required us to pay an additional fee (ten dollars) to park. There are multiple gift shops and places to eat on-site. The facilities are modern and well taken care of. Our tour guide, Olivia, was a fount of knowledge about Natural Bridge and cavern in general. She was extremely concious of safety. My overall assessment of the Natural Bridge experience would be a 4 out of 5.
Thank you for such kind words, James! We're truly happy you enjoyed your stop with us on the Texas Cave Trail, especially with our tour guide, Olivia. We work hard to provide a world-class experience for all of our guests. Comments like yours make it all worthwhile! We hope to get another chance to wow you with our Hidden Wonders Cavern tour if you're ever in the area again! - The Natural Bridge Caverns Team
I went on the discovery tour and it was amazing. They take you on a tour through the cave system and are given explanations on why certain formations are named what. Just a warning, there are some steep inclines (handrails provided) and some smaller areas to pass through if your taller. If you want a more interactive experience, there are other tours that may be interested to you.
A chance to see an amazing part of God’s creation. Staff are very friendly and grounds are beautiful.
It is a beautiful cave. There was only one short stretch where it narrowed. It was mostly vast and open and there were handrails at appropriate places. We loved the tour and guide.
The cavern is beautiful and interesting. We rated it a 4 because our tour guide, Sarah, wasn’t that good. She kept telling us she hadn’t done a tour for months and you could tell because she tripped over her words a lot. Otherwise we had a great time!
Absolutely breathtaking formations. I have been to several caverns but this one topped the list. Each room had its own uniqueness.
My first time through the caverns was in 1968 and I still enjoy the tour! The price has gone way up, though. Very good formations and great tour guides. It's a walk-in / walk-out so be ready for a lot of steps both up and down. It's a little pricey (starting with $10 to park the car) so shop online for deals. The on-site concession stand and gift shop have very high prices. There's a Walmart at the I-35 exit for the caverns - stop there for bottled water and sandwiches. We didn't have an interest in the ropes course or the gem mining operation so I can't comment on those attractions.
Great time, worth doing it. We enjoyed spending time together , and the informative tour was nice. The caves were very interesting, in my opinion easy to walk through. A couple spots were slippery but take it slow and there are railings in most of the tour.
