Longhorn Cavern State Park: Walking on the Underground River

My family and I were special guests at Longhorn Cavern State Park, but all opinions are our own.

Every time I saw pictures from Longhorn Cavern State Park, I felt like I would be walking on the underground river with imaginary water surrounding me when I went there. The cave looks beautifully sculpted as if flowing smoothly to the mysterious end.

Disclaimer: Two Worlds Treasures contains affiliate links and is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Read my Privacy Policy for more info.

Due to an expected area-wide increase in eclipse tourists, Longhorn Cavern State Park will be accessible by advanced reservation only on October 14, 2023, and April 8, 2024. There will be no scheduled cavern tours on these days to allow guests and staff the opportunity to view each eclipse from start to finish. Book your tickets now! $150 Solar Eclipse Viewing Package. $200 Solar Eclipse Viewing Package Premium.

Have you visited Longhorn Cavern State Park? In my opinion, it’s one of the must-visit caverns in Texas.

My family and I visited Longhorn Cavern State Park on Labor Day. We arrived slightly after 10.30 a.m., and the tour was just left.

So, we explored the original administration building while waiting for the 11 a.m. tour. The Civilian Conversation Corps Company built it in 1937. 

Our Cave Walking Tour led by a retired geologist, Mr. Al ‘Jarreau.’ 

It was a big group with at least 20 people. 

Mr. Jarreau said if we came a week before, we would be one of the four people. Lucky them! 

But we came on Labor Day, so I did not expect a small number of tourists there.

Before we walked to the cave entrance, he warned us that we would walk through a passage with a height of less than 5 feet called Lumbago Alley. That’s where we had to bend down and walk for a few yards. So, people with back problems must think again before continuing the tour.

Longhorn Cavern State Park Walking Tour

My feeling was right. Longhorn Cavern State Park is called a flow cave because, over many years, running water that penetrated the limestone bedrock formed the cave. That’s why it’s much more sculpted and has a very long, fairly level.

Our first stop was closer to the entrance, where we saw one of the cave residents: Eastern Pipistrelle, the tri-color bat. They are tiny, with a size just a bit bigger than an adult thumb. 

We’re not allowed to take pictures with a flashlight since it would wake them up. They looked cute, though. 

“Mommy, can I have a bat for a pet?” whispered my son. Oh, no. Bats are not pets. Haha.

Then we continued and stopped at the Crystal City, where glittering calcite crystals lined both sides of the wall. We could walk through two passages to see this glittering calcite.

Next, we met Rocky Rockweiller, or the Queen’s Watchdog. He is the cave’s pet dog. 

Geologists estimate Rocky is 2 million years old and is naturally formed by erosion. 

The CCC guys found him further inside but put him in this place. 

Back in the 1950s, people who visited the cave used to sit on him. But today, it’s prohibited.

On top of that, we saw three other main rooms in this cave: the Indian Council Room, the Underground Ballroom, and the Hall of Gems. 

The Hall of Gems is undeniably becoming visitors’ favorite. Glittering calcite, as big as an adult’s head, dotted the walls.

This 90-minute walking tour took us 135 feet deep into the earth. 

I have a minor claustrophobia, but it didn’t bother me. The air was moving, lights illuminating different points of interesting rock formation, making inside the cave not dark.

At one point deep in the cave, the tour guide turned off the light to give us the feeling of total darkness when the CCC guys walked into this cave.
 
Then he turned on his flashlight and pointed to a wall. He wanted to tell us how “bright” the cave was when they worked with only a lantern, digging and removing more than 2.5 million cubic yards of debris and guano. 

But don’t worry. The guide will tell you to prepare yourself for the darkness.

With the temperature inside at 68 degrees year-round, this cave is an incredible retreat from the Texas summer heat and winter cold. 

And you need to watch your step from slippery spots.

Longhorn Cavern State Park: History and Legend

• Comanche tribes used to conduct meetings at the Indian Council Room and trapped horses in the cavern.
• Confederate soldiers used the endless supply of guano to make gunpowder and stored them here.
• During Prohibition in the 1920s, the cavern turned into a nightclub.
• During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps. Thanks to them who cleared out the cavern with shovels, picks, and wheelbarrows so we could visit the cave.
• The outlaws sometimes lived here. There’s a legend that Sam Bass, the infamous Texas outlaw, hid $2 million in the cave. It’s still there to be discovered.

Longhorn Cavern State Park Basic Information

• There is no entrance fee to Longhorn Cavern State Park. Everyone can use the picnic facilities and picnic pavilion, visit the historic building, and hike the trails for free.
• Access to the underground portions of the park by paid guided tour only.
• There are three Longhorn Cavern State Park tours: a Walking Tour, a Wild Cave Tour, and a Photography Tour.
• Entrance fees for the Walking Tour are as follows (contact the park for the latest updates at 1-800-792-1112):

Regular (12+) – $22.25

Child (4-11) – $18.25

Infant (0-3) – FREE

Military & Veterans (with ID) – 10% discount

Texas SP Pass holder – 10% discount

Texas Parklands Passport holder – 10% discount

• Hours of Operation:

Daily: 9 am to 6 pm, May 31 to mid-August.

Weekdays: 9 am to 5 pm, mid-August to May 31.

Weekends/Holidays: 9 am to 6 pm, mid-August to May 31.

Closed Christmas Day.

Regular weekday hours are in effect on Veterans Day. 

Cavern Walking Tours are every hour from 10 am to 3 pm* during weekdays.

Cavern Walking Tours are every fifteen minutes from 9.30 am to 4 pm* on the weekends.

*Tour times are subject to change

• Receive a Special Group Rate for a group of 20 or more people.
• Snack bar next to Tickets and information booth.
• There’s a Gift Shop, too.
• Texas State Park pass holders receive a 10% discount on tours, merchandise, and food. However, discounts do not apply to group rates or sale items.
• For all park information, click here or call 512-715-9000.

Tips for Visitors:

• Wear comfortable, closed-toes, rubber-soled shoes.
• There is no online reservation for individuals or groups of less than 20 people for a walking tour. Tickets are available at the front desk based on first-come, first-served.
• Use the restroom or fill up a water bottle before the tour starts.
• Go during low season for a small group on the Walking Tour.
• Ticket prices do not include gratuities. Do not forget to tip the tour guide to show your appreciation since they worked hard to give you a fun experience.

Longhorn Cavern State Park Camping

Unfortunately, there are no campgrounds or cabins in Longhorn Cavern State Park. The park is for a day use only. You can camp at their sister park, Inks Lake State Park, 6 miles north on Park Road 4.

Longhorn Cavern State Park Hike

Take a leisurely hike along the Backbone Ridge trail system. It’s a one-mile loop for everyone in the family. It is a well-marked trail with informative placards detailing the wildlife and plants. 

Directions to Longhorn Cavern State Park

Longhorn Cavern State Park is in Burnet County. It is approximately six miles west and six miles south of Burnet on Park Road 4, off of Highway 281. 

Address: 6211 Park Road 4 S, Burnet, TX 78611. Ph.: (512) 715-9000.

Distance from big cities:

• Austin: 1h 20m to the southeast
• San Antonio: 2 hours to the south
• Dallas: 3h 30m to the northeast
• Houston: 3h 40m to the southeast

Longhorn Cavern State Park Map

HISTORIC BUILDING IN LONGHORN CAVERN STATE PARK

As mentioned above, we visited the original administration building built by the CCC in 1937, right next to the new one. We were just impressed with their work. Here are pictures from the historic building.

As usual, we reminded our son about CCC, created by F.D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. I think it’s invaluable for him to know that part of the country’s history.

The CCC men also built the picnic area, the Officer’s Quarters, and the Watch Tower.

We enjoyed our visit to the park, walking on the underground river. 

My son wishes to do the Wild Cave Tour once he’s 11. 

I want to do the Photography Tour because I didn’t take good pictures on this trip. 

My husband would like to do the tour one more time with only five people in the group. So, it’s more personal, and you can listen to all the information, stay longer at every point, and have a deeper Q&A with the tour guide.

Have you been to Longhorn Cavern State Park? What is your favorite thing there? 

If you haven’t been there, mark your calendar for the best time to Longhorn Cavern State Park. It makes a good stop on your way to Fredericksburg. Or, visit the cavern when you stay at Inks Lake State Park.

About an hour and a half drive to the southwest of Longhorn Cavern, you can visit another beautiful cave in the Texas Hill Country. It’s called Cave Without A Name in the city of Boerne.

Nearby Texas State Parks, Historic Sites, and State Natural Areas:

• Inks Lake State Park
• Pedernales Falls State Park
• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
• Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site

I’m so happy if you go check the cave after reading this. In the meantime, don’t forget to pin the following image for your future reference. Thank you!