Saturday was CAVE DAY in Cedar Park. This is an event that is held every 6 months for the public. The public meets at the Kay Redden Park and from there they go on guided cave tours, collect maps and directions to other area caves, and to talk with local spelunkers (professional cavers) from all over Texas. It was thrilling to realize we had so many caves in the area. There was so much to do and see, we were unable to visit all the caves. Fortunately, there's another cave day in September! Can't wait!
We met up with some of Pamela's homeschool Girl Scout troop and had a private tour guide take us on a hike. The first series of caves we visited were sealed and protected against the public. It was fascinating to walk from one cave to the next, learning about sink holes, how tree roots dig into caves searching for water and how to scout possible nearby cave entrances. The hike was VERY pleasant (except for an unfortunate child who fell over a cactus) and we stopped occasionally to take snapshots, admire the clusters of wildflowers or to stoop and examne the rocks. We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather!
It was exhausting putting all these pictures together, as I had taken so many. I had to upload all the pictures from my camera into the computer and to index and identify which picture belonged where. But it was well worth it! This pictorial diary gives a glimpse into the beauty of the area we live in and the opportunities that we have to explore and admire God's beautiful creation. I anxiously look forward to caving and I earnestly look forward to more hikes with the family. What better way to spend one's day (with only the expense of gasoline and a picnic lunch) we can have so much fun with the family without breaking the bank! (Click pictures to enlarge!)
Drain Side Cave
Drain Side Cave is one of the many protected caves within the Buttercup Creek karst region of Cedar Park. Formed naturally as groundwater slowly dissolved the underlying Edwards Limestone, the cave is part of an extensive underground system that helps recharge the Edwards Aquifer. Like many caves in the area, public access is restricted to protect its fragile formations and the rare cave-adapted wildlife that depend on this unique underground habitat. During Cave Day, visitors had the opportunity to learn about the geology and importance of preserving these remarkable cave systems rather than entering the cave itself.
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| Drain Side Sink Cave |
Buttercup Creek Cave
Buttercup Creek Cave is one of the best-known caves in the Buttercup Creek Preserve in Cedar Park, Texas. Formed over thousands of years as groundwater dissolved the Edwards Limestone, the cave is part of the region's extensive karst landscape. It provides important habitat for several rare cave-dwelling species found only in Central Texas and plays a role in protecting the Edwards Aquifer. Because of its sensitive ecosystem, the cave is normally closed to the public except during special educational events like Cave Day, when visitors can learn about its geology, history, and conservation.
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| Buttercup Creek Cave |
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| off to see another cave |
Convoluted Canyon Cave
Convoluted Canyon Cave is one of the protected caves within the Buttercup Creek Preserve in Cedar Park, Texas. Its twisting passages—reflected in its name—were formed over thousands of years as slightly acidic groundwater slowly dissolved the Edwards Limestone. Like many caves in the area, it provides habitat for rare cave-adapted wildlife and contributes to the unique karst ecosystem that helps recharge the Edwards Aquifer. Because of its fragile environment, the cave is generally closed to the public except during special educational events such as Cave Day.
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| Convoluted Canyon Cave |
Ilex Cave
Ilex Cave is one of the many protected limestone caves within the Buttercup Creek Preserve in Cedar Park, Texas. Formed over thousands of years as groundwater dissolved the Edwards Limestone, the cave is part of the Buttercup Creek karst system, an area recognized for its remarkable geology and rare cave-dwelling wildlife. Like the other preserve caves, Ilex Cave is normally closed to the public to help protect its fragile ecosystem and the sensitive species that depend on this unique underground habitat.
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| Ilex Cave |
Mushroom Cave
Mushroom Cave is one of the many protected caves within the Buttercup Creek Cave Preserve in Cedar Park, Texas. Like the other caves in this karst region, it was formed over thousands of years as groundwater slowly dissolved the Edwards Limestone, creating an intricate underground network. The cave is part of a sensitive ecosystem that supports rare cave-adapted wildlife and contributes to the recharge of the Edwards Aquifer. Because of its fragile environment, Mushroom Cave is generally closed to the public except during special educational events such as Cave Day.
This is accurate and avoids inventing cave-specific features that aren't well documented. It also stays consistent with the descriptions you've added for the other Buttercup Creek preserve caves.
The Twin Creeks Historical Area has an 1800's log cabin, beautiful springs, tall trees, running water year round and even an Indian Shelter Cave. After stopping for food to take on a picnic, we parked our car and climbed down a ravine and followed the long winding trail. The trees and brooks were beautiful - crystal clear water, fish, colorful wildflowers, butterflies, and the weather was PERFECT!
We crossed over a small bridge and made our way to the cabin and there we sat and enjoyed our lunch. Afterwards, we followed the trail behind the cabin into the woods... a winding path that took us up a hill.
We ducked under branches, avoided what looked like poison Ivy and Oak, and stopped to admire the boulders and rugged terrain. The Indian Shelter Cave was breathtakingly beautiful! Flint and broken arrowheads were found in abundance! Pamela was excited to actually hold and see for herself what the Native Americans had once held in their own hands. Clustered under the overhead, were fascinating nests of Granddaddy Long-legs. Don't forget to view the video of this cave!
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| Log House - historical site |
John M. King Log House
Nestled along the banks of Cypress Creek, the John M. King Log House is one of the oldest surviving pioneer homes in northwest Travis County. The original log structure may date as early as 1859, though farmer John M. King purchased the property in 1879 and raised his family there until 1917. Built from hand-hewn logs using traditional frontier craftsmanship, the home stands as a reminder of the rugged determination of Central Texas settlers. In 1984, it was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark for its historical significance.
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| walking to the Indian overhead |
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| in the mouth of the overhead |
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| Shade was a cool relief |
Indian Shelter Cave
The Indian Shelter Cave at Twin Creeks Historical Area is a natural limestone rock overhang that provided a sheltered campsite for Native Americans for thousands of years. Located near dependable springs and Cypress Creek, it offered protection from the weather while providing easy access to fresh water, game, and edible plants. Archaeologists have found stone tools and other artifacts at similar shelter sites throughout Central Texas, helping tell the story of the region's earliest inhabitants. Today, the shelter serves as an important reminder of the area's rich Native American heritage and is preserved for education and future generations
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| found flint arrowhead |
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| Cypress Creek - Cedar Park, Texas |
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| prehistoric looking trees near the cave |
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| A great field trip for a homeschool group |
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| wild mushroom |
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| Spiders along the way |
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| beautiful wildflowers |
Video of Indian Cave! It was right after 3 p.m. when we made it to Avery Ranch Cave. The line was long. Like the other underground caves we had seen, THIS one we got to climb into! We felt lucky to have been the last group of people to enter the cave. In fact, as the family photographer, I ended up being the last one out of the cave and bumping my head!
The cave won't be open again to the public until September.
We had to crawl down a ladder single file, careful to not bump our heads as we ducked under the cavern wall. After we stepped off the ladder, we descended down some steep steps into the cavern. WOW! It was well worth the exertion!
Immediately I could feel the warm humidity as I climbed deeper into the cave. My pictures do not give this cave justice! You would have to be there to experience this. In fact, I had to use Photoshop to doctor up the pictures as some of the photos were just too dark.
All in all, we wrapped up the day after 6 hours of steady hiking and cave exploring!
Update (2026)
Looking back nearly twenty years later, this remains one of my favorite family outings in Central Texas. Before attending Cave Day, I had no idea that hundreds of caves existed beneath the Austin area. What started as a fun homeschool field trip became the beginning of a lifelong fascination with Texas caves, geology, archaeology, and the remarkable underground world hidden beneath our feet.
Why Are There So Many Caves Around Austin?
Central Texas sits on thick layers of Edwards Limestone, a rock that slowly dissolves as slightly acidic rainwater seeps underground. Over thousands—even millions—of years, this process carved tunnels, sinkholes, underground streams, and caves throughout the region.
Many of these caves are connected to the Edwards Aquifer, one of the most important groundwater systems in Texas. The aquifer supplies drinking water to millions of Texans while feeding springs, creeks, rivers, and unique cave ecosystems.
Why Many Caves Are Closed
Visitors are often surprised to learn that many caves in the Austin area remain locked and protected.
Some caves contain fragile formations that can take thousands of years to grow but can be broken in seconds. Others provide habitat for rare cave-adapted species found nowhere else on Earth, including tiny spiders, beetles, salamanders, and other invertebrates that have evolved to live entirely underground.
Protecting these caves helps preserve both their geology and their unique wildlife for future generations.
Sinkholes: Nature's Doorways Underground
One of the first things we learned during our hike was how to recognize sinkholes.
A sinkhole forms when underground limestone slowly dissolves, creating empty spaces beneath the surface. Eventually the ground above settles or collapses, forming a depression that may lead directly into a cave.
Our guide also pointed out places where tree roots disappeared into cracks in the limestone, often following moisture deep underground. Once you begin noticing these clues, you realize just how much of Central Texas is connected beneath your feet.
Twin Creeks Historical Area
The Twin Creeks Historical Area combines history and nature in one beautiful location.
Hidden among mature trees are natural springs that have flowed for centuries, making this area attractive to both wildlife and Native Americans long before permanent settlements were established. Today visitors can still enjoy walking trails, flowing water, limestone bluffs, and one of the area's most fascinating archaeological features—the Indian Shelter Cave.
Indian Shelter Cave
Unlike deep vertical caves, an Indian shelter cave is a large natural rock overhang that provided protection from rain, wind, and the Texas sun.
For thousands of years these shelters served as temporary campsites where Native Americans cooked meals, crafted stone tools, and rested while traveling across Central Texas.
Archaeologists have discovered stone flakes, broken spear points, arrowheads, and other artifacts beneath many shelter caves, offering valuable clues about the people who once lived there. These sites are protected, and artifacts should always be left where they are so future generations can continue learning from them.
Avery Ranch Cave
Avery Ranch Cave was one of the highlights of Cave Day because visitors actually had the opportunity to enter the cave.
After carefully climbing down a ladder and descending into the chamber, the temperature and humidity changed immediately. The cave remained surprisingly cool and damp compared to the warm Texas afternoon outside.
Like many limestone caves, Avery Ranch was formed over thousands of years as groundwater slowly dissolved the surrounding rock, creating rooms and passageways hidden beneath the surface.
Photographs can never fully capture the experience of standing underground surrounded by natural limestone walls shaped one drop of water at a time.
Cave Wildlife
Although we didn't see many cave animals during our visit, Texas caves are home to an incredible variety of specialized wildlife.
Many cave species spend their entire lives underground and have adapted to complete darkness. Some have little or no eyesight, relying instead on touch and chemical senses to navigate their environment.
These delicate ecosystems are one reason cave conservation is so important throughout Central Texas.
Why Cave Day Matters
Programs like Cave Day give families an opportunity to safely experience caves that are normally closed to the public.
Just as importantly, they teach visitors how fragile these underground environments really are. A single footprint, broken formation, or piece of litter can remain for decades inside a cave.
Leaving caves exactly as we find them helps preserve these remarkable places for future explorers.
From Curiosity to Lifelong Interest
That single Cave Day sparked an interest that eventually led me to attend meetings with local cavers, learn more about the Edwards Aquifer, and appreciate just how much history lies beneath Central Texas.
Sometimes all it takes is one family outing to discover an entirely new world.
More Bass!
