Natural Bridge Caverns Hosts Rare Tours of Flooded Aquifer

As the Natural Bridge Caverns have become flooded with water, the staff is hosting a special and very rare tour opportunity for visitors to experience the beauty.

The heavy rains of spring have brought both good and bad to the Hill Country. One incredible upside now, though, is that the Natural Bridge Caverns are hosting a special tour for visitors to take in the beauty of the flooded caves. As the aquifer may be gone after two weeks, as the San Antonio Express-News reported, those interested should jump at the chance now.

The Glen Rose Aquifer, which is underneath the caves, doesn’t normally have high water table. Recent rainfall has “sent large amounts of groundwater seeping into the aquifer, causing the water to rise slowly into the caverns’ lower chambers.” The Aquifer itself is usually about 200 feet below the lowest cavern point, so it proves just how much rainfall we’ve received this year. The change in landscape is especially remarkable if you’ve visited the Natural Bridge Caverns before and can see the contrasting effect.

After the heavy rains on June 2 in particular, the water level rose 1.5 feet. This special tour will last about 75 minutes, and strollers and wheelchairs are not recommended for traveling because there are various stairwells.