The Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center is a renowned environmental organization located in Round Mountain, Texas. Situated on 24814 Hamilton Pool Rd, this wildlife-rich conservation sanctuary is home to a stunning canyon waterfall, a wet grotto, and savannah trails. With a focus on preserving and educating about the natural beauty of the area, the center offers guided tours that provide insight into the diverse ecosystem and its inhabitants. Whether you're interested in exploring the cave, marveling at the grotto, or simply taking in the scenic views, Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center offers a unique and enriching experience for nature enthusiasts of all ages.
Reviews
Natural gem of Central Texas. I've lived in Austin for 20 years and just discovered this nature preserve. It's a very unique beautiful microclimate. Temperature is 10 degrees lower than ambient temp. The tour is targeted toward adults and teens, and the hike has a lot of stairs but not very long. Enjoy!
Absolutely worth the two-hour drive to hike this magical place. What a hidden gem in the Hill Country! Cypress trees, a grotto, a water fall and more! We signed up for the 9 a.m. guided hike, and there were all ages on our tour. We will definitely be back.
This was an amazing experience. The hike was not terrible there were some elevation changes ,a bunch of stairs, but overall just beautiful. Highly recommend going before the whole area changes.
Booked a 9:00 a.m. tour. Our guide was Amanda and she was great! She gave us a lot of details about the area and the flora and fauna. We hiked down some natural steps to the grotto and the cave. Amanda gave us plenty of time for photos. Took about an hour and 40 minutes. There were about 25 people total in the group. It was pretty hot by the time we got back, so if you are visiting in the summer, I recommend an early tour. There are restrooms on the left side of the parking lot. When you get there you need to go into the main building and check in at the desk. The main building has a lot of interesting information and photos. It was a beautiful hike and I definitely recommend it.
This place was totally worth the drive out there! You have to make reservations in advance because the hike to the cave is a guided tour. But you are welcome to walk back from the cave at your own pace. They recommend you get there 15 mins prior to start time so you can check in, look around, take a restroom break, or just prep before we head out. The hike down to the cave is not bad. It's mainly all downhill, and there are frequent stops for the guide to talk about the history and the nature in the reserve. The guide was really nice and really knew her stuff! The view of the cave is breathtaking!! The hike back is not bad, but it is uphill, so be prepared for that. They also have some trails for nature walks that you can take on your own. These trails have 2 bird watching spots where you could sit all day and just try and spot all the different birds they have there! Overall, this place was definitely a good pick for our weekend trip!!
Did this hike in the morning before the summer heat. We climbed like a million stairs (exaggerating but it felt like million 😜) to get to the cave. Very informative and beautiful. Make sure to visit in the early hours during the summer and bring enough water. You. Will. Need. It. This is a must visit because pictures don't do it justice.
Love the canyon tour and the uplands walk. Beautiful nature/wildlife experience and great tour guide. I'm from Houston, so it's good to get away sometimes to remind myself that Texas can be beautiful. Worth the entrance fee for sure - you are supporting protection of the limited nature preserves we have!
It was a hot day but the tour was worth it! Very informative- expected it to be a bit bigger but the tour guide took the time to explain and share his knowledge- you could feel his passion as an educator.
Natural gem of Central Texas. I've lived in Austin for 20 years and just discovered this nature preserve. It's a very unique beautiful microclimate. Temperature is 10 degrees lower than ambient temp. The tour is targeted toward adults and teens, and the hike has a lot of stairs but not very long. Enjoy!
Booked a 9:00 a.m. tour. Our guide was Amanda and she was great! She gave us a lot of details about the area and the flora and fauna. We hiked down some natural steps to the grotto and the cave. Amanda gave us plenty of time for photos. Took about an hour and 40 minutes. There were about 25 people total in the group. It was pretty hot by the time we got back, so if you are visiting in the summer, I recommend an early tour. There are restrooms on the left side of the parking lot. When you get there you need to go into the main building and check in at the desk. The main building has a lot of interesting information and photos. It was a beautiful hike and I definitely recommend it.
Location
24814 Hamilton Pool Rd, Round Mountain, TX 78663, United States
Hours
- Monday Close
- Tuesday Close
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Wednesday
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
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Thursday
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
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Friday
09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
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Saturday
09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
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Sunday
09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
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