The Sonora Caverns are located eight miles west of Sonora, TX. This active cave is known as a Natural National Landmark. This natural cave has more than 90% of the formations in the cave “growing”. This Cavern is known world wide.
There are two tours of the Sonora Caverns. Each one shows a different area of the cave. Special tours can be taken with advance arrangements. It is a great place for school trips and science studies. Many colleges include this trip in their geological studies. The tours leave consistently and usually never have more than a thirty minute wait.
Although the caverns are the main attraction there is a great many other activities for the whole family to enjoy. They have an area for the amateur gemologist to sluice for gems. You can also buy gems at the wonderful little store. The hiker will find a great nature trail to use. It is also a great way to let the children get rid of some of that energy.
The Caverns of Sonora has a peaceful, scenic RV park. With full hookups it lets you park right in the trees near the entrance to the caverns. Here you will see lots of wildlife including white tail deer, squirrels, jack rabbits and many others. It has clean restrooms and showers. Remember you are camping in a real working cattle ranch so you may see some real cowboys.
First opened to the public in 1960, the Caverns were discovered years earlier on the Mayfield Cattle Ranch. As early as the 1920’s the people in the area knew about the caverns.
Scientists date the beginning of the caverns from 500,000 to 1 million years ago. At that time the cavern bottom had small streams of running water running through them. As erosion on the surface lowered the streams in the cavern lowered and then areas of dry rock was exposed. At some point four distinct passages emerged. Some of the passages were formed when some of these upper passages fell down into the lower levels. The water ran into crevices creating more passages. Water dripping from the surface has produced some of the most beautiful stalagmites and Helectites.
The Crystal Palace Tour takes about one hour and forty-five minutes. It is a 2.00 mile walk so be prepared with good shoes and be sure that you can walk this length without stress. This is longer of the two tours. It will include the Big Hilton Room,the entire eastern Crystal Palace branch and the passage up to Halo Lake.
With the cave a cool 71 degrees and 98% humidity the Caverns are cool in the summer and comfortably warm in the winter. Many will need a light sweater either time of the year.
The special tours offered for groups of twelve or more by reservation is one mile and can be completed in an hour. Savings for tax exempt rates for school, churches, scouts andetc. are a money saver also.Many schools have taken advantage of this tour for their science classes.
There is plenty of parking and the gift store has everything you need. The outer grounds are well maintained. Shady benchesand a large wooden porch let you just sit and enjoy nature all around you. The Sonora Caverns are a must see on your travel list.
