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Caves of the Edwards Aquifer
Texas has some unusually beautiful and interesting show caves to offer. Several other caves are now open to guided "Wild Caving Tours."
Cascade Caverns
Located between San Antonio and Boerne, Cascade Caverns' tour follows the main 244-m-long passage, which steadily enlarges until ending in a large room highlighted by the historic cave's namesake - an impressive waterfall. www.cascadecaverns.com
Cave Without A Name
Located northeast of Boerne, Cave Without A Name has a short trail but is a wonderful cave. A staircase spirals down a pit and opens into a 7-m-high by 12-m-wide passage decorated with large speleothems. The trail ends after 186 m at a large stream passage. www.cavewithoutaname.com
Caverns of Sonora
Near Sonora off IH-10, Caverns of Sonora is internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful caves in the world. Its basic layout is a complex 3-dimensional maze formed along a few parallel or near-parallel fractures. Most of the passages are lined with sparkling speleothems. www.cavernsofsonora.com
Inner Space Cavern
In Georgetown off IH-35, Inner Space Cavern is a large, complex cave with many beautiful formations and interesting displays of Pleistocene-age mammal bones. Visitors enter the cave on a cable car ride and the trail is smooth and sloping, about 550 m (1,800 ft.) long.
Longhorn Cavern
Between Burnet and Marble Falls off Hwy 281, Longhorn Cavern has few formations but lovely wall sculpting and large calcite crystals. At different times the cave was a Comanche hideout, a black powder factory, a dance hall, a restaurant, and a church. www.longhorncaverns.com
Natural Bridge Caverns
Near New Braunfels off IH-35, Natural Bridge Caverns is the largest Texas show cave and one of the most impressive because of its size and beauty. The cave has massive formations, including totem poles, fried eggs, stalagmites, and a flowstone floor. www.naturalbridgecaverns.com
Wonder Cave
In San Marcos off IH-35, Wonder Cave is unusual in that it is formed along a fault in the Balcones Fault Zone. The cave is historic in that it is the smallest and oldest continuously operating of the seven show caves in Texas and is now part of the Wonder World theme park. www.wonderworldpark.com
Bracken Bat Cave
Just outside San Antonio, off IH-35 near Garden Ridge, Bracken Cave is home to the world's largest bat colony. Each year, some 20 million Mexican Free-tailed bats gather there to give birth and rear their young. Their emergence from the cave each evening is one of the most spectacular sights in nature. You can see this breathtaking bat colony by becoming a member with Bat Conservation International.
Frio Bat Cave
South of Concan, the Frio Bat Cave houses the 2nd largest Mexican Free-tailed bat population in Texas. There are 2,000 feet of cave, with an estimated 10 million bats. The interpretive tour guide will share his knowledge about bats and the history of the cave dating back to the Civil War. You can watch as hawks and falcons catch bats for their evening meal.
