The natural wonders of Texas span 10 eco-regions in a state that comprises 266,807 square miles. It’s no wonder there is a countless diversity of habitats from deserts to wooded mountains, and the standouts are jaw-dropping. We've compiled a list of our favorite natural wonders in Texas to inspire you to get outside and explore this beautiful state of ours.

Best Canyons In Texas

You don’t have to set one custom boot out of Texas to see canyons as spectacular as that grand one in Arizona. Ours are breathtaking in their own right. We’ve highlighted just a couple here, and know there are many more to explore.

1. Palo Duro Canyon

Location: Canyon, TX

Wow Factor: The Grand Canyon of Texas

Cost: Palo Duro Canyon State Park entry fees are $8 per person 13 years and older and free for people 12 and younger.

This is the second largest canyon in the US, and it’s located 8 miles south of Amarillo, smack dab in the middle of the Texas Panhandle. Think of it like the hole that many skillet handles have for resting spoons or easy hanging. On that note, your hang will be glorious here. Besides the incredible views of the 800-foot-deep canyon, stark hoodoos, and curious caves, you can hike, bike, ride horses, camp, and glamp. And that’s just the tip of the canyon. This impressive canyon is easily one of the best natural wonders in Texas.

2. Caprock Canyons

Location: Quitaque, TX

Wow Factor: The Texas State Bison Herd

Cost: Caprock Canyons State Park entry fees are $5 per person 13 years and older and free for people 12 and younger.

Also in the Panhandle, Caprock Canyons State Park is almost exactly midway between Amarillo 100 miles north, and Lubbock 90 miles south. The red rock landscape is home to the Texas State Bison Herd – the only Southern Plains bison anywhere. Hikers and bikers enjoy over 90 miles of trails through the canyon’s many features, including Clarity Tunnel, an abandoned 1920s railroad tunnel that is now home to overUp to 500,000 Mexican free-tailed bats from late April through mid-October.

Best Caves In Texas

Take a deep dive into the Lone Star State’s beauty by exploring the natural wonders of our best caves. We’ve highlighted a few here. If you like what you see, take it to the next level with our Texas caves road trip.

3. Natural Bridge Caverns

Location: San Antonio, TX

Wow Factor: Largest known commercial caverns in Texas

Cost: Adult cavern tour prices start at $26.75 and vary depending on the date selected.

College students discovered these caves in 1960, which opened to tours four years later. Today the site has developed into a multi-attraction destination with features like gem mining and an aerial ropes course on the surface level. Still, the dazzle happens underground. You can choose from different tour options to customize the features you most want to see. There are even adventure tours of undeveloped sections for more experienced explorers.

4. Caverns of Sonora

Location: Sonora, TX

Wow Factor: One of the world’s most beautiful show caves

Cost: Crystal Palace Tours are $28 for ages 12 and above; $22 for ages 4 through 11; free for ages 3 and younger.

Halfway between San Antonio and Big Bend National Park, Caverns of Sonora has welcomed the public since 1960 after its development for the sake of controlled preservation. Meanwhile, Texans had been exploring this natural wonder 155 feet beneath the Mayfield family’s ranch as far back as the 1920s. Local cavers didn’t discover the spectacular crystal corridors until 1955. The Crystal Palace Tours are the most popular of its offerings, during which guided tours of small groups can wander through two miles of mesmerizing passages. An intimate and expertly guided walking tour, of 12 people or less, through almost two miles of highly decorated cave passages.

5. Cave Without A Name

Location: Boerne, TX

Wow Factor: Caverns that were simply too pretty to name

Cost: $22 for ages 13 and above; $11 for ages 6 through 12; free for ages 5 and younger.

This National Natural Landmark and living cavern extends beneath the Texas Hill Country. Prepared to be awed by its variety of formations, which include soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and more. People can take one-hour tours of its six major rooms. Music shows in the Throne Room are another big draw, offering music lovers a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Why no name? A local student won a naming contest by describing it as “too pretty” to have one. So it doesn’t!

6. Devil’s Sinkhole

Location:Rocksprings, TX

Wow Factor: Three million bats answering the Bat Signal

Cost: Reservation-only evening bat flight tours start at $14 for ages 13 and older; $11 for ages 65 and older; $6 for ages 4 to 12; free for ages 3 and under.

Over three million Mexican free-tailed bats have made their happy home in a 320-foot-wide, 350-foot-deep sinkhole about 130 miles northwest of San Antonio. Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area is a National Natural Landmark a sight to behold when its residents all head out in the evenings looking for dinner. We were only kidding about the Bat Signal. Thanks to the Devil’s Sinkhole Society, you can witness this unique Texas natural wonder. The group offers bat flight tours Wednesdays through Sundays from May 1 to October 31.

Best Waterfalls In Texas

Your best bet for finding waterfall wonders is within our beautiful Texas Hill Country. We’ve highlighted just a couple of these natural wonders in Texas. For more, be sure to check out our more expansive list of the Lone Star State’s best waterfalls.

7. Gorman Falls

Location: Bend, TX

Wow Factor: Dazzling, 70-foot, spring-fed falls

Cost: Day-use fee is $5 for ages 13 and older; free for ages 12 and younger.

Gorman Falls is the jewel of Colorado Bend State Park, which is about two hours northwest of Austin. There’s plenty to do there, like camping, fishing, and hiking over 35 miles of trails. However, among those trails, the 3-mile round-tripper to Gorman Falls is a must.

8. Hamilton Pool Preserve

Location: Dripping Springs, TX

Wow Factor: Swimming in a blue-water box canyon with a waterfall

Cost: $12 reservation fee per vehicle. Park entry is $8 for ages 13 to 61; $3 for ages 62 and older; free for ages 12 and younger.

The waterfall and everything else about Hamilton Pool Preserve may be one of the most stunning sights in Texas, and we know that’s saying a lot. This popular Texas Hill Country swimming hole is just west of Austin. You can cool off in sparkling blue waters while marveling at a waterfall that spills over this collapsed box canyon and grotto. Reservations are required before visiting, so be sure to do so with Travis County Parks & Recreation through its online system if you plan to go.

Best Overlooks & Scenic Vistas In Texas

Take a Texas road trip in just about any direction, and the views do not disappoint. If you’ve got specific scenes in mind, get started investigating and plotting your destinations with our list of best scenic drives. We have a vast range of delightful visuals across the state, and the views highlighted here represent the endpoints. Take a look, and don’t miss the opportunity to explore everything in between. You never know what natural wonders in Texas you'll drive though!

9. Padre Island National Seashore

Location: Padre Island, TX

Wow Factor: Laguna Madre, one of only six bays like it in the world.

Cost: A single day-use entrance pass is $10 for a non-commercial vehicle with 15 or fewer passengers. If you plan to stay overnight, the fee is $25 under the same parameters, and the pass is valid for seven days. Additional fee structure details can be found on the National Parks Service website.

Feeling salty? This sliver of seashore separates the Gulf of Mexico from Laguna Madre, one of only six aquatic sites in the world where the bay waters are saltier than the ocean. While a mention of “South Padre” may bring party vibes to mind, this part of the island is decidedly chill. It offers a low-key, idyllic vibe for nature lovers. You’ll love seeing all of the wildlife that thrives in this unique, protected environment. If you time it right, you can watch newly hatched baby sea turtles scrambling from the sand to their new ocean digs.

11. Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Location: Dell City, TX

Wow Factor: The four highest peaks in Texas

Cost: $10 per person.

With eight of the state’s 10 highest peaks, Guadalupe Mountains National Park can help put everything in perspective. Well, maybe not everything, but at least the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert, which is one of the most ecologically diverse landscapes of its kind in the world. Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in the state at 8,751 feet above sea level. Perhaps the most visually striking is the 1,000-foot limestone formation El Capitan, which ranks eighth in the state for height.

10. Lost Maples State Natural Area

Location: Vanderpool, TX

Wow Factor: The unique colors and rarity of the “lost” Bigtooth Maples of Texas

Cost: $6 day-use fee for ages 13 and older; free for ages 12 and younger.

Big-toothed maples put on a dazzling show of color in the fall. When you see their colors in Lost Maples State Natural Area, know that their presence here is a rarity. Texas doesn’t have a ton of maples of any variety and almost lost what it had in the Ice Age. Yet these stands are still holding strong in a warm climate despite the rest of the species thriving in cooler areas to the northwest. Thriving in place, no matter what. That seems very Texas. Maybe they’re not “lost” at all?

12. Devils River

Location: Del Rio, TX

Wow Factor: One of few pristine, ecologically intact rivers

Cost: Entry fee for Devils River State Natural Area is $5 for ages 13 and older and free for ages 12 and under.

A series of springs feed the Devils River, which varies from wide, shallow areas to deep pools to Class III rapids when the water’s high. It’s not recommended for inexperienced paddlers, and the state offers detailed advice on its website for those who tackle it. Because public access is restricted, the river is one of the cleanest in the state. That’s a good thing, as several protected species call it home.

Best Rock Formations In Texas

Step into nature’s art studio and be dazzled by the many interesting rock formations in Texas, each masterfully sculpted. Besides getting views unlike any other, the sites usually include recreation like hiking and camping. Add diverse animal and plant life to fully paint a vibrant picture.

13. Enchanted Rock

Location: Fredericksburg, TX

Wow Factor: Second largest batholith in the US

Cost: The fee to visit Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is $8 for ages 13 and older and free for ages 12 and younger. Reservations are recommended for guaranteed entry.

Over 1.1 billion years ago, underground molten magma cooled and crystallized into the pink granite, 425-foot monolith known as Enchanted Rock. This Central Texas park just 18 miles north of Fredericksburg opened within the state system in 1978 and quickly became one of its most popular. The National Natural Landmark includes over 11 miles of hiking trails. The most popular takes folks to the top of the rock – the Summit Trail. People have camped here for over 12,000 years, and still do. It’s a wonderful place for stargazing.

14. Balanced Rock

Location: Big Bend National Park, TX

Wow Factor: An epic hoodoo and pass-through view

Cost: $30, seven-day pass per non-commercial vehicle with up to 15 passengers.

Let’s just say Balanced Rock is a teaser for the vast number of rock formations and geology you will experience in Big Bend National Park in West Texas. The Rio Grande has created magnificent canyons throughout the park, which also is home to the Chisos Mountains. While there is much to do and see in the park, Balanced Rock is a must. And the trail to this hulk of a hoodoo is relatively easy and just under two miles.

Unique Natural Wonders In Texas

Many of the best natural wonders in Texas do not easily fit into categories and yet definitely deserve highlighting. While these are truly one-of-a-kind, here are several more gorgeous places worth adding to your Texas beauty bucket list.

15. Big Thicket National Preserve

Location: Kountze, TX

Wow Factor: One of the two first natural preserves in America

Cost: Free. Backcountry camping permits are required.

Just 90 miles northeast of Houston, you can see the incredible biodiversity that occurs when nine different ecosystems come together. Taking in the natural beauty by hiking the forest of longleaf pines, meandering through murky bogs, or steering a kayak through bayous beneath a canopy of bald cypress trees. This getaway is free and an absolute must-see.

16. Caddo Lake

Location: Karnack, TX

Wow Factor: World’s largest cypress forest

Cost: State park entry fee is $4 for ages 13 and older and free for ages 12 and younger.

Marvel at the mystique of a cypress forest unmatched in size, anywhere on the planet. Caddo Lake State Park is an East Texas treasure about 80 miles northeast of Tyler and straddles the Louisiana state line. You can rent canoes to try several paddling trails, stay in a historic cabin, and fish from the shore or boat.

17. Jacobs Well

Location: Wimberley, TX

Wow Factor: The second-largest, fully submerged cave in Texas

Cost: Non-aquatic activities are free. Summer swimming requires online reservation, and fees are $9 for non-residents age 13 and older; $5 for Hays County residents with ID, age 60 and older, ages 5 to 12, and service members/veterans; free for age 4 and under.

This popular swimming hole has beautiful topaz tones that create a shimmering veil over a massive underwater cave system. While the natural area welcomes guests to swim in this artesian spring during the summer months, underwater cave exploration is prohibited to all but highly skilled, permitted divers. The cave system has four chambers ranging from 25 feet deep to over 200 feet. Although the water maintains a 68-degree temperature, the park suspends swimming every fall and winter to allow recovery time for the ecosystem.

What do you think of our natural wonders in Texas? Do you agree these are the best overall, or are there others you'd add? Let us know your thoughts. If nothing else, this should be a solid starting point for exploring the most spectacular natural wonders in Texas. It might be enough to inspire a journey to see them all. If you go for it, be sure to consult our packing guide so you can be prepared!