17 Incredible Natural Wonders In Texas That Defy Explanation

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.