Last updated on February 5th, 2024 at 09:23 pm
Curious about the Caverns of Sonora in West Texas?
Youâve come to the right place! We recently visited these caves in Texas Hill Country on our cross-country drive from California to Florida, and it was a great place to stop. Iâve gathered everything you need to know about the Caverns of Sonora right here.
Located just a few miles south of Interstate 10 between San Antonio and Big Bend National Park, the Caverns of Sonora are some of the most beautiful caves in the world. It is said that after seeing the caverns for the first time, National Speleological Society Co-founder Bill Stephenson said, âIts beauty cannot be exaggerated, even by Texans.â
I couldnât agree more!
These amazing caverns stretch more than seven miles, They are filled with a stunning array of crystal formations, and over 95% of them are still active (aka growing). Stalagmites, stalactites, and helictites cover the walls, ceiling, and even the floor of the cave. But these big scientific words really canât do this site justice, you simply have to descend underground and see them for yourself.
Tours
Taking a guided tour of the Caverns of Sonora is the only way to experience the caves.
There are two main tours to choose from: a one hour and fifteen-minute Horseshoe Lake tour, and the longer one hour and forty-five-minute Crystal Palace Tour. We chose the short tour, mainly because it was late in the afternoon and we needed to get back on the road. But it was plenty of time to take in the main sights of the caverns!
Tours are typically capped at 12 people, which keeps them intimate and manageable. But we got lucky and essentially got a private tour for our family of three, since we were the only ones there.
Because of the fragility of the caves and crystal formations, self-guided tours are not an option. In fact, you are not even allowed to bring a purse or backpack. Everything has to be locked in your car before you go down.
The cool thing about the Caverns of Sonora is they do not have regularly scheduled tour times; they simply send people off in groups as they gather in the visitor center. I was chatting with a nice lady who has worked there for many years and she shared that they stopped setting tour departure times looong ago because of the transient nature of their visitors.
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the caverns. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, taking the time to explain the history and geology of the beautiful formations and the caves in general, answering questions, and sharing fun anecdotes.
Youâll start the tour at the cave entrance by learning about how the caves were discovered, and then descend stairs to the crystal corridors located 155 feet below the surface. The tour takes you on a 1.75-mile trail that winds through the caverns.
Even though it was a cold January day when we visited, we didnât need jackets. The cave is a constant 72 degrees with a 98 percent humidity level. This combination makes it feel about 85 degrees inside, and that temperature sticks year-round no matter what the weather outside.
The Caverns of Sonora were formed millions of years ago, but only discovered in 1905, quite by accident when a ranch dog chased a raccoon into a twenty-inch opening in the ground. It wasnât until the 1950s that the Caverns were fully discovered and explored. They opened for public tours July 16, 1960.
On December 1, 1965, the National Park Service added the Caverns of Sonora to the National Register as a National Natural Landmark.
Discovery Challenge Tour
In addition to the regular tours, if you are feeling more adventurous you can opt to take the Discovery Challenge Tour.
The Discovery Challenge is a four-hour tour led by an experience caver. You will travel through a maze of off trail passages and rappel 50-feet down into the Devilâs Pit inside the caves. All equipment is provided. The maximum group size for the Discovery Challenge is only 6, so it will be a truly personalized tour.
Camping at the Caverns of Sonora
Located adjacent to the visitor center, the Caverns of Sonora has an RV Park and tent camping site with water, electricity, and clean restrooms with showers. There are 48 RV sites. Due to the presence of the cavern, there is no dump station available onsite.
Caverns of Sonora Hours
The Caverns are open every day of the year except Christmas Day.
- March 1 to Labor Day: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday after Labor Day to February 28 (or 29): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Cave temperature is a warm 72 degrees and 98 percent humidity. No need for sweaters or jackets!
- You will need to go down (and back up) approximately 360 steps.
- All ages are welcome on the tour.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Cameras are welcomed and encouraged.
- No food, drinks, or gum permitted inside the caves.
- Lock all purses, camera bags, and backpacks in your car, as you canât bring them down into the caverns.
- Free kennels are provided for your pets if needed.
- Snacks, drinks, and souvenirs are available inside the visitor center and gift shop.
Caverns of Sonora Address & Contact Information
GPS Location:
N- 30Âș33.297′
W-100Âș48.733′
Caverns of Sonora Address:
RR 1989 @ I-H10 Exit 392
Caverns of Sonora Rd.
1711 PR 4468
Sonora, Texas 76950
Phone number:
(325) 387-3105
Final Thoughts: Visiting the Caverns of Sonora
The beautiful Caverns of Sonora were an amazing site to see and well worth the time to stop and take the tour.
They were very easy to access, just a 10-minute drive from the freeway exit on a nice, open road. We even saw deer along the sides of the road!
Much like the Fort Worth Stockyards are a must-see attraction if you are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Caverns of Sonora is an attraction you’ll want to make a point of visiting if you are in the West Texas area.
If you are looking for something fun to do on a road trip through Texas, or if you are in this area of West Texas, do not pass up the opportunity to visit the Caverns of Sonora!
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