Cave and Nature Preserves

Preserves located throughout Texas

Texas Cave Management Association owns and manages numerous caves, nature preserves, and karst regions across Texas with thousands of acres under its care.

Some of these caves are open to the public during special events, such as Robber Baron Open House in San Antonio and Cave Day in Austin. Other caves are closed to visitation to protect the endangered species that live in these caves.

TCMA does allow access for educational trips, scientific research, service projects, and more. If you are interested in visiting a preserve, please submit a request on our Contact Us page or contact the Preserve Manager directly.

Visitation closed due to COVID-19

To ensure safety and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, our preserves are closed to public visitation until further notice.

If you are scheduled to visit one of our preserves and need to sign a release and waiver form, particularly for minors who might not have a parent present, you can print and fill out one these forms.

Austin, Texas

Avery Ranch Cave Preserve

North Austin, Texas

Avery Ranch Cave Preserve

North Austin, Texas

Godwin Ranch Preserve

Georgetown, Texas

Godwin Ranch Preserve

Located in Williamson County, Godwin Ranch Cave Preserve provides habitat to endangered karst invertebrates. Due to the sensitivity of the site, visitation is limited to approved scientific research and bio-monitoring.
Read more

Lost Oasis Cave Preserve

South Austin, Texas

Lost Oasis Cave Preserve

Read more

Whirlpool Cave Preserve

Central Austin, Texas

Whirlpool Cave Preserve

This is the primary beginner cave for newcomers to UT Grotto in Austin, Texas. It has enough crawls and squeezes to give you a feel for caving, but it also has the largest room of any cave in Travis County!
Read More

Wilcox Preserve

North Austin, Texas

Wilcox Preserve

Wilcox Preserve in North Austin contains several small caves, two of which are habitat for federally endangered cave invertebrates. Visitation is limited, but volunteers can assist at scheduled workdays.
Read more
Top

Del Rio, Texas

Deep and Punkin Caves Nature Preserve

Carta Valley, Texas

Deep and Punkin Caves Nature Preserve

A popular destination for Texas cavers. Deep Cave is large and challenging, and filled with rare helictites. Punkin Cave is only accessible via rope and is frequently used for vertical training.
Read more
Top

San Antonio, Texas

Robber Baron Cave Preserve

San Antonio, Texas

Robber Baron Cave Preserve

One of TCMA's most visited caves with a rich history. It is frequently used for educational trips, research, and rescue training, and is home to the popular Robber Baron Open House.
Read more

Rolling Oaks Preserve

San Antonio, Texas

Rolling Oaks Preserve

Rolling Oaks Preserve is a five-acre tract containing four separate caves. There is an active dig project in one the caves, as well as regular work days that include visits to the caves.
Read more
Top

San Marcos, Texas

Ezell's Cave Preserve

San Marcos, Texas

Ezell's Cave Preserve

Ezell's Cave is registered National Landmark. It is a valuable and sensitive natural resource, a direct conduit to the aquifer, and home to endangered species.
Top

West Texas

Amazing Maze Cave

Fort Stockton, Texas

Amazing Maze Cave

Amazing Maze Cave is the fourth longest cave in Texas. It is a three-dimensional maze with nearly seven kilometers of passage.
Read more

O-9 Well

Ozona, Texas

O-9 Well

O-9 Well is a historically significant cave, once serving as a stop on the Ozona-San Angelo stagecoach line and during cattle drives between Mexico and Kansas City.
Read more

You can help.

Volunteer

Help Us

We are run entirely by hard-working volunteers just like you! Volunteers lead educational trips, participate in work projects, manage properties, survey and map caves, and more!
Volunteer Now!

Donate

Contribute

Your donations help acquire and protect valuable karst resources, including aquifers and endangered species. Your donations are tax‑deductible.
Donate Now!

Join Us

Become a Member

We are a tight-knit community of cavers, scientists, nature enthusiasts, and institutions who share an interest in caves. Join our family today.
Join Now!

The conservation work done by the TCMA is only possible with the support of people like you. Please consider volunteering your time, making a donation, or becoming a member.

Top