Caverns of Sonora - Sonora Texas

 

050626 I have never heard of Sonora before, let alone the caves. I discovered this place while looking for an overnight spot between El Paso and San Antonio. Turns out that this place is a working ranch and has a living cave on the property. Officially discovered in 1955, the cave was developed and protected, then opened for tours in 1960. When I pulled in, there was only one other RV. I was greeted by Peacock calls and Turkeys on the green making their way across the campground.

I was assigned a space with 30 amp hookup and water for only $20 dollars and was informed they had a tour scheduled in an hour. So I backed into my spot, got set up and went to meet the tour.

Our tour guide Elija covered the safety details of the tour that would take us almost 2 miles, 360 stair steps down 155’ into a living cave. Off we went, a young couple from Houston and myself down onto the cave. Elija was very knowledgeable. Soon we were learning about all the different speleothem forms; Stalactite, Stalagmite, Columns, Drapery, Helictites and flowstone. Half way
down the low ceiling path opened up into a vast underground room. We were cautioned not to touch the cave walls or any speleothem, even though we were only inches away, because the oils on our fingers would destroy the formations. I never thought of a cavern being live, but it is a slow moving natural act of growing and changing.

After the big room, we continued our descent  at a slow pace. There were lights installed in sections, Elija turned them on and off as we went. We entered an area with underground pools of blue water and in one section Elija used a black light to show how some of the speleothem glowed in the dark, it was beautiful and photographs just do not show how amazing it is.

When we reached the last room, we agreed to turn off the lights and take our rest in complete absolute darkness. It was amazing how dark it was. I could not see my hand in front of my face. It was quiet too, just small cave noises.

After we were all rested we started our ascent to the surface, I assumed we would just retrace our steps, but we took a totally different way up, saw more of the cave and it seemed to me there were not as many steps going up.

We emerged about 200 yards from where we went in, right next to the gift shop. Imagine that! I bought a shot glass, post cards and of course stickers. Oh and some home made fudge.

I got all the questions for the Earth Cache from Elija and posted my find. After I ate dinner, I stepped out to take a walk and saw the wild turkeys again showing off their feathers and I could hear the peacock over by the gift shop squawking “fuuuuudge, more fuuuudge.”

I left at 1000 on the dot and used the dump station at the rest stop off I-10 in Sonora, then headed east towards San Antonio.

Here is a link to my Photo Album.