Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center

Updates

Posted on Mar 9, 2021

Westcave acknowledges the Governor’s order, we share his optimism, and appreciate that we have the freedom to choose what we believe is best for our staff and our guests. We are using advice from trusted health care experts and feedback from our guests to inform our decision. At this time, we a...

Posted on Jun 15, 2020

Admission and entry to Westcave is by reservation only. Please visit Westcave.org and click the "Get Tickets Now" button to see availability. Many thanks for your interest and support of Westcave!

Exclusive Access for Members Only

May 20, 2020 – May 25, 2020

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Posted on May 11, 2020

Our Preserve is currently closed to the public. Private hiking options are available to our members.

Purchase a membership today

Come Bird with Us! All level of birders welcome!

Feb 7, 2020 – May 8, 2020

Join us for a fun and informative bird hike at Westcave Preserve.

These hikes are led by a local expert avian biologist. Westcave Preserve hosts over 170 species of birds throughout the year, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, among other beautiful resident and migrant bird species...

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Posted on Jan 16, 2020

Special Friday Canyon Tours this January!

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Posted on Nov 15, 2019

Spend time with friends & family before Thanksgiving

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Thankful for Nature Days

Nov 25, 2019 – Nov 27, 2019

Get outside with friends and family before Thanksgiving!

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Posted on Oct 31, 2019

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Testimonials

a month ago

Enjoyed this beautiful area while vacationing nearby. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you to the people responsible for restoring and maintaining this little piece of paradise for everyone to enjoy!

- J R

3 weeks ago

5/29/21 Highlight of our trip. Mostly shaded hike w somewhat challenging stairs. Just beautiful!

- Julie R

8 months ago

A beautiful place to visit! Right now, they're doing "tours" (truthfully, more of an escorted hike) but they may go back to open admission post-pandemic. We went in the afternoon so we didn't see as many animals (some nice vultures, though!) but the scenery is drop-dead gorgeous. It was a pretty hot day out, but once you get going in the hike, it's all shaded.

- Dan K

Founded in 1976 as Westcave Preserve,

the mission of Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center is to inspire people to develop a lifelong practice of enjoying and protecting nature. We accomplish this through educational programs, collaborative alliances, and conservation of our beautiful 76-acre preserve.

TEACHING

While many places offer opportunities for self-led nature activities, Westcave has dedicated staff who partner with schools to teach 6,000 students annually. Students learn key scientific concepts in the best classroom of all: our 75-acre preserve in Southwest Travis County and our nationally renowned Warren Skaaren Environmental Learning Center. What makes the experience so special? At our preserve, you not only witness a place of extraordinary beauty, you observe a living laboratory. You walk through hundreds of thousands of years of geologic formations as you hike to the bottom of the canyon. And at the head of our canyon is a lush, wet grotto where you can see with your own eyes how the water cycle works.

COLLABORATING

The Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin (CiNCA) is a mighty force for good, catalyzing 50+ member nonprofits, environmental educators, health professionals and community leaders to work together on common goals. Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center has stepped up to lead CiNCA in its efforts to connect children and families to nature, because we believe forming strategic alliances and sharing ideas and resources increases our collective impact.

CONSERVING

Our preserve is located in Southwest Travis County, one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country. Protecting this beautiful land, which is home to the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and attracts birders from all over the world, has become more important than ever.It began in 1973 with the purchase of 25 acres that had been trespassed and badly abused. The last four decades have seen that land renew and flourish under Westcave's visionary care, and today our original preserve is celebrated as a natural treasure. Recently, Westcave purchased an additional 45 acres of adjacent property, which we call the Canyon Rim. Once again, Westcave is restoring the land so that it can be enjoyed by generations to come.

learn more at www.westcave.org