easy
1 hour
Suitable for most fitness levels; walking on uneven surfaces required
Step beneath the Texas Hill Country to witness Cascade Caverns' ancient formations and cultural history. Join the Group Daily Downunder Tour for a guided journey through 90 years of cave exploration.
For all ages! • One Hour Tour • Cave Touring since 1932! • Minimum of 14 people
Experience the awe of Cascade Caverns®, a historic site with 90 years of guided tours. Discover ancient artifacts, stunning stalactites, and unique formations like the Diamond Ceiling and Cathedral Room. Marvel at nature's artistry shaped over millions of years in this breathtaking underground wonderland. Join us for an unforgettable adventure!
1 hour
The Lipan Apache people discovered Cascade Caverns® in the 1700s. They left behind artifacts which are still visible today. In the 1840s, Kendall County youth rediscovered the cave and carved their initials into stalactites in the first room. Cascade Caverns® became the first “private-touring” cave in Texas back in the 1870’s, and we opened to the public in 1932. We continue touring the Caverns today!
Over 100 million years ago, the Caverns were an ocean bed: time and receded water left behind a trove of shells that are visible today. Many of the cave’s spectacular features grew over millions of years as water mixed with Calcite to form a wonderland of dripstone and flowstone formations known as stalactites, stalagmites and draperies. The Cavern’s formations are 95% active due to the continued flow of water.
Some of the more notable formations in the cave are: 1) Diamond Ceiling; 2) Hanging Tobacco; 3) Giant Molar; 4) Peep in the Deep; 5) Solution Domes; 6) The Skull; 7) Travertine Dam; and 8) Twin Sisters.
Five rooms comprise the 1,100 feet of the Caverns’ upper level. The First Room is the coldest room in the cave . The Lake Room is the primary home of the cascade Caverns Salamander. The Imagination Room contains the Soda Straw Rainforest, Diamond Ceiling and Hanging Tobacco. Storm Canyon is the most dramatic room in the cave and it leads to the spectacular Cathedral Room with its 50+ foot ceiling and otherworldly solution domes which were formed by aquatic vortices over millions of years. The domes are so symmetrical that they almost look man-made.
We do not offer same day reservations for tours, however tickets can be purchased in person on a first come first serve basis. In addition, we cannot take single person tours. If you are visiting solo, we encourage you to book a tour others have already signed up for.
The cave floor can be uneven and slippery; proper footwear ensures safe footing.
Temperatures inside the cave remain cool year-round, typically around 60°F (16°C).
Tours require a minimum of 14 participants to proceed; solo visitors should join existing groups.
Same-day reservations aren’t offered—arrive early to secure your spot on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rediscovered in the 1840s by Kendall County youth, the cave’s etched initials remain a direct link to early visitors.
Tours follow strict guidelines to preserve delicate formations and endemic species, supporting ongoing water-driven calcite growth.
Protects your feet and provides traction on wet, uneven cave floors.
Keeps you warm in the cave’s consistent 60°F temperatures.
all specific
Stay hydrated before and after your tour, though food and drink aren’t permitted inside the cave.
summer specific
Handy for carrying essentials during your visit and nearby outdoor activities.