Longhorn Cavern State Park – Texas State Park 29/89
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The Deets
Longhorn Cavern State Park is located in Burnet, TX, only an hour north of Austin, TX. The main attraction is right in the name; Longhorn Cavern. Entrance to the actual park itself is free, and there are just over a mile of short, easy trails to hike. The park is day use only, so there is no camping. However, Inks Lake State Park offers overnight camping only 10 minutes down the road.
There is an admittance fee to tour the caves, which can be booked here. Since a different company runs the cave tours, you will not get a discount with your Parks Pass.
The History
Longhorn Cavern State Park has a long and storied history. It has been used as a place of refuge and shelter for hundreds of thousands of years, going back to the earliest people to roam the area. It has many wild tales associated with it, including mining bat guano to make gunpowder during the civil war and serving as a hopping dance hall in the 1920s.
The CCC did many long hours of work at Longhorn Cavern State Park, including the laborious task of carting some 5,000 pounds of debris out of the cavern system that had been deposited there by an underground river. It was backbreaking work, and the result they left behind was spectacular. Aside from clearing, mapping, and lighting the cavern system, the CCC also built facilities above ground for visitors to use, including the beautiful stairway that leads down to Longhorn Cavern.
Our Experience
We visited Longhorn Cavern State Park on a particularly hot day, but it turned out to be the perfect outing. The cave temperature hovers around a cool 68 degrees Fahrenheit all year round, so don’t let the summer heat discourage you! Our cave tour guide was very friendly and incredibly knowledgeable, and we had a wonderful time exploring the cave. There were so many interesting things to see and plenty of stories to hear. The cave is definitely the highlight of the park, so don’t miss out on it.
Tickets can be purchased on-site or online. We’d recommend buying online so that you can guarantee a spot, and we’d also recommend going around noon or later. All of the morning tours were at full capacity, but the later times had plenty of space available. The lady at the counter said that most people book the early times because they want to beat the heat, but the cave stays cool so the heat doesn’t matter.
The Trails
There isn’t much in the way of trails at Longhorn Cavern State Park, but what they do have are nice. In total, the trails add up to just over a mile, and for the most part are very easy, flat, and wide. There are a few sections, however, that go over big rocky areas. Unfortunately, these parts of the trail are not easily accessible for strollers, bikes, or wheelchairs.
Our Takeaway
Longhorn Cavern State Park is one of the most unique state parks we’ve ever been to, and we highly recommend going. It’s a relatively small park that you can easily see in a day, and it’s also only a 10-minute drive to Inks Lake State Park, which has a lot to offer, including camping if you’re looking to stay awhile.
The history of Longhorn Cavern is incredible, and it makes a fun day trip that the entire family will enjoy. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a day at one of Texas’ most interesting state parks!
Prefer to see this park in action? Check out our vlog episode for Longhorn Cavern State Park.
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy
