Whirlpool Cave Preserve

Been to this cave over 5 times now with the UT Grotto club. It is a great place to
start caving if you are interested in doing so. Not to easy, yet not to hard. Just right for the best caving experience! If you are interested in joining this fun adventure. Visit
and read the basics about caving and check out the calendar for upcoming cave trips. Just remember DON’T wear something that you plan on wearing again after leaving this cave. Lol my white shirt is now dirt brown! But I LOVE IT!!!

The Whirlpool Cave is a total treasure in these parts. Accessible only via private tour, it’s a unique experience that every person should and can try. Just call the number, ask for Jules, and take the tour of a lifetime.
I signed up for a tour of Whirlpool Cave (not the preserve, but the actual cave!) through the city of Austin. At first I was super nervous. I’m not claustrophobic by any means, but once you start putting on all of the spelunking gear (kneepads, headlamps, etc.) my heart was starting to race The cave entrance is covered by a thick metal hatch with slats, to allow water in and keep people out. Once the hatch is open, it’s a 9ft. climb down into a «room» where we began our descent into the cave.
Naturally, someone in the group begins to freak out before we even start and has to leave. And while the prospect of slithering on my belly to get through some tunnels is starting to «get» to me, with each tunnel and room I encounter, I start to relax. You take notice of how awesome it is that you’re in a cave and how amazingly refreshing it is to be 54 feet below 100 plus temperatures.
We land in the Travis County room, where you can observe the differences in rock texture from clay (that’s thousands of years old) to fine beach sand (from when the coastline of Texas used to be in Travis county!). Our guides Jules and Amanda informed us that the cave we were in was a direct feed to Barton Springs. In 3 days, 15 000 gallons of water can pass through where we were sitting and show up in the springs. Pretty crazy to wrap your head around.
The greatest takeaway is really how much you learn about how connected we are to this Edwards aquifer, how big a deal the drought situation can be, and how hard people have worked to keep Barton Springs the magically refreshing place that it is. So for a fascinating and educational morning you won’t and should not forget, get your kneepads on and go caving!

This Cave Preserve is practically in my backyard and despite living in this neighborhood for over 6 years and being an avid outdoors woman and curious by nature I only recently discovered this 4 acre Preserve under Mopac @ Convict Hill. For years I was curious why Search and Rescue Fire Engines were here so often. Until a Caving enthusiast friend invited me here. Turns out Travis County uses this cave for rescue training.
Now this is my favorite «within walking distance» place to explore with my pup! By definition a Preserve is not a place you should take a dog but there are no signs saying «no dogs» and there are lots of paw and hoof prints on the trail. So, if dogs are not allowed I am not the only one braking the rules:)
I have seen coyotes here and we have had problems with them killing cats and small dogs in the neighborhood so maybe not a good place to walk small dogs. But a nice off the beaten pavement track for us!