Longhorn Cavern State Park

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Parks

Texas

Nearby: Inks State Park City Recreation Center

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Longhorn Cavern State Park is a popular tourist attraction located in the Texas Hill Country.

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Summary

The park is home to a large limestone cave system that was formed over millions of years through the process of erosion and water dissolution. Visitors can take a guided tour of the cave system, which features stunning formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone.

In addition to the cave system, Longhorn Cavern State Park offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and picnicking. The park also has a visitor center, a gift shop, and a café.

Some of the specific points of interest within the cave system include the Crystal City room, the Indian Council Room, and the Hall of Diamonds. The park is also home to a number of unique species of wildlife, including the Mexican free-tailed bat and the golden-cheeked warbler.

Interesting facts about Longhorn Cavern State Park include the fact that the cave system was used as a speakeasy during the Prohibition era and as a fallout shelter during the Cold War. The park was also used as a filming location for a number of movies and TV shows, including the original "Tarzan" series.

The best time of year to visit Longhorn Cavern State Park is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. However, the cave system is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy the park's outdoor activities in any season.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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