Covid-19: Caves are crowded and poorly ventilated spaces and therefore pose an increased risk for the spread of airborne respiratory illnesses like Covid-19. If you have been recently exposed to Covid-19, show symptoms or test positive please do not attend a cave tour! A full refund will be granted for all Covid-19 related cancellations. Masks are permitted but not required.
1. Make your reservation with the park
In the past, only camping reservations could be made in advance but now both camping AND day use entrance can be reserved in advance. There are a limited number of day use passes available per day so we strongly encourage anyone who is booking a cave tour to also reserve their day use or camping passes as well. Day use reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance.
Day use passes can be acquired on site but at high volume times day passes may sell out before you arrive and you could miss your cave tour. This is especially important on summer weekends, holidays and spring break. The park currently offers a 6:00am to 2:00pm day pass and a 2:00pm to 10:00pm day pass. This does not mean that you have to leave at 2:00pm if you have a 6:00am-2:00pm pass but it does mean that you need to arrive between 6:00am and 2:00pm to be allowed into the park (or between 2:00pm and 10:00pm if you have a 2-10 pass). If you have any difficulty gaining entry inform the attendant that you have a tour reservation and they will typically be able to accommodate you.
Passes can be reserved HERE.
2. What to Bring
For all tours:
Bring your vehicle when you meet us at Park Headquarters. From Headquarters you will follow us in your vehicle to other parking areas in the park and walk to the cave from there.
Long sleeves are NOT recommended, the caves are a very comfortable 72 degrees Fahrenheit all year. If it is cold outside you can wear a jacket and leave it at the cave entrance.
Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty in!
For the Discovery Tour:
Required:
-Flashlight (any kind)
-Closed-toe shoes
A helmet will be provided!
For the Adventure Tour:
Required:
-A Headlamp
-Closed-toe shoes
-Long pants
A helmet and knee pads will be provided!
Recommended:
Gloves. (We will let you cave without them but seriously, bring gloves.)
3. What Not to Bring
Obviously you shouldn't bring drugs, alcohol, weapons or pets with you to the cave, it isn't safe for the caves, your pets or the other guests. Leaving pets unattended is not permitted in the park so you will either need someone to watch them during your tour or leave them at home. Backpacks are not allowed in cave either, but you can leave them at the cave entrance. You should also consider that unless you are very careful, anything you bring with you will get dusty and dirty. Bring cameras and cell phones to take pictures at your own risk. Waterproof cameras/GoPros are great for caving!
Pets will not be allowed in the caves. There will be not exceptions to this. It is unsafe, irresponsible AND against State Park rules to leave your pet unattended! This includes in a vehicle (it's too hot!) or outside (unattended pets are at risk of attack by dangerous wildlife!)
Please make plans for your pets to be watched before your tour.
4. What To Expect
On the Discovery Tour you will be able to stand and walk most of the time with a short "crouch walk" at the entrance. Crawling is not required but there are some areas you can crawl into if you would like. The Adventure Tour requires mostly hands and knees crawling as well as some belly crawling. All of the caves at Colorado Bend State Park are undeveloped wild caves that have been left in their natural state with dirt/rock/mud floors that are often quite damp. The only light in the caves will be from our headlamps and from the sun if we are near the entrance. Be ready for an adventure!
6. When and Where
All listed tour times are the DEPARTURE TIME for that trip!
We meet at the former site of the park headquarters. When you arrive at the park you will pass a fee booth/gate. From there you proceed down the entire 6 mile park road to the campground where you can turn left to go to the current park headquarters or take a slight right to the "15 minute parking" signs in front of the old headquarters, which is where your guide will meet you. We meet (30) minutes before the departure time stated when you reserved the tour. That extra time allows for you to register as a Park guest (if you haven't already), and release forms to be signed.
Do not be late for your trip! Since we have multiple trips running each day, we can't wait for you. From there you can follow us in your vehicles to the parking areas near the caves. The entrance will be a short hike from the parking area and from there we head underground! The length of the tour varies and should be indicated when you reserve your tour.
Park headquarters is a 20 minute drive from the park entrance, please plan accordingly!
Recently, Colorado Bend State Park has been experiencing record setting visitation, especially on Saturdays/Holidays and especially in the afternoon. Please allow extra time for your trip to the park as you may be delayed at the entrance.
We are easy to find, just look for "cave guide" t-shirt!
Rescheduling, Cancellations and Refunds
Our tour reservations work the same way concert tickets do. Once you have purchased a spot on a cave tour you own it and the tour will depart at the scheduled time whether all of the ticket holders show up or not. Many of our tours fill up completely and holding on to a reservation until the last minute and then not showing up deprives others of the opportunity to reserve that tour.
No refunds will be given for participants who fail to show up for their tour. It is the reservation holder's responsibility to arrive prior to the departure time so that they may be signed in and ready to depart with the the rest of the group. The tour group will depart for the cave at the scheduled time without late or absent attendees.
We will offer refunds or opportunities to reschedule bookings 14 days or more prior to the scheduled date of the tour. Once it is less than 14 days before the date listed on the booking no ticket will be refunded or rescheduled.
On rare occasions a tour will be canceled by Nichols Outdoor Adventures due to unforeseen circumstances, usually related to unsafe weather. When this occurs, a full refund will be offered to all reservation holders.
We will cancel a tour if there is an immediate threat of danger above ground (ie thunder, lightning and or flooding over the road). We can still cave if it's drizzling or raining with no thunder. Our caves will get some water but, since we are a "wild" tour company, we'll crawl right through it! The caves don't flood significantly enough to cause concern for our safety, just plan to get pretty muddy.
Since we will only cancel for dire circumstances, we will still meet at headquarters 30 mins prior to the trip, and the tour guide will call the tour at the scheduled time. Thunder will be our main concern. Remember, if you can hear the thunder, you are close enough to get struck by lightning!
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my pets?
Pets are not allowed on any of our tours and should never be taken into any cave, ever. It isn't safe for your pet and it isn't safe for the cave. No exceptions. Leaving pets unattended is not permitted in the park so you will either need someone to watch them during your tour or leave them at home.
What temperature is it?
Very comfortable! Inside the caves it is usually around 72 degrees.
Are there animals in the caves?
A variety of animals and invertebrates live in or frequent caves. We most commonly see crickets, bats and daddy long-legs (in the summer) with the occasional raccoon, porcupine or other small mammal. With the very rare exception of venomous snakes (which you should always keep an eye out for here in Texas), none of them are any danger to you. However, you are a significant danger to them. No wildlife encountered in a cave should ever be deliberately handled, harmed or interacted with. Failure to respect the cave wildlife will result in you being asked to leave the cave.
Will we crawl? How far?
No crawling is required on the Discovery Tour, however it will be necessary to crawl on hands and knees for most of the Adventure Tour. It's fun, trust us!
Do you provide pads?
Yes! We provide knee pads for the Adventure Tour.
How long will we be in cave?
The scheduled duration of each trip starts from the time we depart from park headquarters. Aside from the drive to the parking area, gearing up and hiking to the cave entrance, the rest of the scheduled time will be in cave.
Where do we meet?
We meet at the Park Headquarters, which is marked on the official park map. Your tour guide will be waiting outside wearing a "cave guide" t-shirt!
When do we meet?
We meet THIRTY MINUTES before the scheduled start time of the tour to make sure there is time to fill out waiver forms and sign in with the park. The scheduled start time for the trip is when the tour group will depart from the park headquarters. The tour will depart on time, if you are late you risk missing the trip (no refunds)!
Will the weather effect the tour?
Tours are rain or shine, however if the weather becomes dangerous we may cancel the tour. A full refund will be provided.
Can we schedule a tour that isn't on the calendar?
Yes! Contact us at Info@CBcaves.com if you wish to inquire about a tour date/time that is not currently listed on our calendar. We may be able to accommodate you, especially if you have a large group!
Can I go to the caves without a guide?
No! It is illegal to do any caving outside of a guided tour without special permission from the State Park. Many of the caves at the park are dangerous and you could be injured or killed. In addition, unsupervised visitation usually leads to vandalism which is a criminal offense.