One Of Texas' Most Intriguing Sights Is A Mesmerizing Geographic Wonder Near San Antonio

When driving around Texas, it's easy to want to hop on one of the massive toll roads or interstates and get to where you're going as soon as possible. But the best way to find hidden gems in Texas is to take a few backroads. This is particularly true in the Texas Hill Country. There are so many unique places to experience off the beaten path.

One of those is Natural Bridge Caverns. Now, there are several unique caves in Texas, but none quite like Natural Bridge Caverns. Not only is it one of the state's largest cave systems, it also has some truly unique formations highlighted by modern lighting and plenty of above-ground activities for the whole family. It's only 15 miles from New Braunfels (home to one of the best water parks in the United States) and just 30 miles from the underrated city of San Antonio, so it's the perfect stop to add to a family vacation.

Natural Bridge Caverns was discovered on the ranch of Clara Wuest in the spring of 1960 when four students from nearby St. Mary's University asked permission to explore what they thought was a small cave on her property. What they actually discovered was a massive cavern full of spectacular formations that stretched for 2 miles and was still growing. 

The cavern was officially opened to the public in 1964, and the family-owned attraction has been beloved by generations of Texans ever since. Even as recently as 2022, new chambers have been discovered, and activities continue to be added such as the ropes course and outdoor maze, so there's always a reason to return. Natural Bridge Caverns welcomes 400,000 visitors annually, making it one of the top attractions in the San Antonio area, especially for outdoor explorers. The geographical marvel has also earned spots as the most actively explored cavern in Texas and the longest gem panning sluice in the state.

There are two unique caverns that guests can tour: Discovery Cavern and Hidden Wonders. Discovery Cavern is the largest cavern in Texas and was the first of the two to be discovered. This tour tends to focus more on the history of the cavern's discovery. Hidden Wonders is smaller, but has more formations close to the trail. Plus, in 2023, three new rooms were added to this tour, and the focus is more on the science of the cavern. Both tours take about an hour and have plenty of steps and handrails. Prices vary depending on the time of year, but each tour is around $43 per person. But if you just can't decide, you can purchase a combo ticket and see both for around $74 per person.

Once you've explored below ground, head back up to check out the Twisted Trails zip rails and ropes course (one of the biggest in the world). Towering six stories with nearly 700 feet of suspended tracks, this course gives guests a fun and safe bird's-eye view of the Hill Country for around $30 per person. Even the little ones can get in on the action with the Tykes version of the course for kiddos under 4 feet for just $8.99 per child. The whole family will love racing each other through the checkpoints of the 5,000 square foot maze. Before you head out, let the kids mine for gems and fossils at Natural Bridge Mining Company — they get to keep what they find!