Looking for an unforgettable underground adventure? Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio offers the perfect mix of exploration, history, and outdoor fun. From family-friendly walking tours to full-on spelunking experiences, this natural wonder showcases stunning rock formations and ancient geology beneath the Texas Hill Country. Whether you’re here for a guided cave tour or an adrenaline-pumping ropes course, there’s something exciting for every age and ability level.
Recommended For
Natural Bridge Caverns is ideal for:
- Families looking for educational and interactive outdoor fun.
- Adventure seekers interested in climbing, rappelling, or exploring underground in the dark.
- Nature lovers and geology buffs wanting to experience living caves and learn about their history.
- Groups planning birthday parties, scouting trips, or church outings.
Tour Options
- Discovery Tour – The most popular tour takes you through a half-mile of massive caverns, showcasing stalactites, stalagmites, and underground chambers up to 180 feet deep.
- Hidden Passages Tour – Explore areas with true darkness and marvel at rare soda straw stalactites.
- Lantern Tour – Offered daily at 9:00 AM, guests carry their own lanterns for an atmospheric journey through unlit cavern areas.
- Adventure Tour – For the physically fit, this 3–4 hour expedition recreates the original cave discovery experience—no lights, no handrails, just climbing, crawling, and rappelling. Showers and locker rooms are available afterward.
Above-Ground Activities
- Canopy Challenge – A 60-foot-tall ropes course and zip line with 47 challenges, plus a scaled-down version for younger kids.
- AMAZEn’ Ranch Roundup – A fun and family-friendly outdoor maze with elevated towers and bridges for observation.
- Discovery Village Mining Company – A hands-on gem and fossil mining experience where kids pan for treasures in flowing water troughs.
What to Know Before You Go
- The caverns maintain a year-round temperature of 70°F and are naturally damp with dripping water. A light jacket and a change of clothes are recommended.
- Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are highly recommended for all tours and activities.
History & Geology
- Formed during the Cretaceous Period under an ancient sea, the caverns are made of limestone sediment shaped by water over millions of years.
- In 1960, four college students discovered the cave system beneath a 60-foot limestone bridge.
- They found two miles of underground passages, the first half-mile of which became the Discovery Tour.
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site has revealed 10,000-year-old artifacts including tools and hearth remains.
Educational & Seasonal Programs
- All tours are guided by experts who share insights into the geology, biology, and archaeology of the site.
- Private tours can be arranged for schools, scouts, and church groups.
- Christmas at the Caverns features caroling in the caves, hayrides, and holiday lights.
Special Experience: Bracken Bat Flight
- Witness the breathtaking evening emergence of millions of Mexican free-tailed bats from the nearby Bracken Cave.
- This seasonal tour is best in summer and pairs well with a cave tour or canopy adventure.
Planning Your Visit
- Location: 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, San Antonio, TX 78266
- Phone: 210-651-6144
- Website: naturalbridgecaverns.com
Learn more or reserve your Natural Bridge Caverns tour online
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