Natural Bridge Caverns Trail Run
Natural Bridge Caverns Trail Run Race Description
NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS TRAIL RUN 2027
Back for Another Adventure Beneath the Hill Country!
You’ve been here before. You know what it feels like to step into the darkness of the cave, hear the excitement build, and then emerge ready to take on the trails.
Now it’s time to do it all again!
Join us on Sunday, January 31, 2027, for one of the most unique trail races in Texas—where your race begins deep inside Natural Bridge Caverns and takes you through the beautiful Hill Country surrounding the caverns.
Whether you're returning for another Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K, we're ready to welcome you back for another unforgettable day on the trails.
Experience the Only Race in Texas That Starts in the Belly of a Cave!
Your adventure begins underground as you descend into the caverns and make your way through Pluto's Anteroom before heading out onto the trails.
From breathtaking underground rock formations to rugged Hill Country terrain above, every mile brings something different. And if you've raced with us before, you already know—the cave is just the beginning!
Choose Your Challenge
5K
A single-loop course on jeep trails featuring a unique cave start and a finish behind NBC Village.
10K
An out-and-back adventure featuring a challenging hill before joining the 5K route and finishing behind NBC Village.
Half Marathon
Our ultimate challenge! Experience a diverse mix of Hill Country terrain, trails, hills, and breathtaking scenery as you make your way through the course.
Race Day Details
Sunday, January 31, 2027
Natural Bridge Caverns, Texas
Half Marathon Start: 7:00 AM
Race Day Timeline
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5:30 AM – 6:30 AM: Half Marathon Packet Pickup
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5:30 AM – 7:00 AM: 5K & 10K Packet Pickup
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6:40 AM: Half Marathon Pre-Race Meeting
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6:50 AM: Half Marathon Line-Up & Walk to Cave
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7:00 AM: Half Marathon Start
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7:10 AM: 10K & 5K Pre-Race Meeting
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7:20 AM: 10K & 5K Line-Up & Walk to Cave
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7:30 AM – 8:15 AM: 10K & 5K Starts
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9:00 AM – 9:20 AM: 5K & 10K Awards Ceremony
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10:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Half Marathon Awards Ceremony
Packet Pickup
Saturday, January 30, 2027
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Natural Bridge Caverns
We strongly encourage participants to pick up their packets on Saturday and arrive on race morning ready to run!
Race Day Packet Pickup – Sunday, January 31
Half Marathon: 5:30 AM – 6:30 AM
5K & 10K: 5:30 AM – 7:00 AM
If you pick up your packet on race morning, you will need to return to your vehicle until your scheduled pre-race meeting. Attendance at the pre-race meeting is mandatory.
More Than Just a Race
Your race experience includes:
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Finisher Medal for completing your race
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Race Awards for top finishers
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Exclusive Natural Bridge Caverns Trail Run T-Shirt
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Post-Race Food, including delicious Kiolbassa Sausage
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The unforgettable experience of starting your race inside a cave!
Coming Back for More?
Whether this is your first time joining us or you've already experienced the cave and trails, January 31 is your chance to return for another adventure.
Bring your friends. Challenge yourself to a new distance. Beat your previous time. Or come enjoy another day on the trails at one of Texas's most unique race venues.
The cave is waiting. The trails are calling.
Are You Ready to Go Back Underground?
Refund Policy
This is a trail race conducted at a unique outdoor venue. No refunds will be issued due to weather, emergencies, venue-related circumstances, or other unforeseen conditions that may affect or cancel the event.
We will issue a 50% refund, not including registration fees, if you notify us more than 14 days before the event.
Get ready for the Natural Bridge Caverns Trail Run
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Natural Bridge Caverns Trail Run Where & When
- Location: 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, Garden Ridge, TX 78266
- Race Date: 2027/01/31 07:30:00 AM (Sunday)
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Categories:
- Half Marathon Trail Run
- 10K Trail Run
- 5k Trail Run
This was my first half marathon. I have run several 5K, 10K and 15K with other race organizers and have volunteered at other races in the San Antonio area including the Bandera 100k. I'm older, newer to running, and not very fast, and when I arrived at the finish line, they were doing awards, so no one was really paying much attention to who was coming through at that point. I have to admit, I was glad to be done! I saw someone manually note my time as I came across the line as it appeared they had no tracking equipment like at the other runs I have been to. They had apparently run out of medals, so I was told to select from some agate slices that they had put on a generic black ribbon. This run was one of the most expensive ones I've done, and I didn't get the medal with the year and race on it that I saw many other people wearing. The agate was pretty, but I gotta say I was a little disappointed about that. I guess they didn't order enough medals - or shirts - I heard them tell people that they were out of shirts. I did get a shirt, since I'd signed up before the cutoff. The best part of this run was the trail. It was scenic and beautiful. It was a great way to spend the morning. The trail was technical in spots, but unless you're Jim Walmsley or equivalent, you ain't running up or down some of the steep spots on the gravel trail unless you want to fall and bust your face. The run started in the cave, which was cool, and then was on pavement for a short way at the beginning and end, but the majority of the run was on dirt jeep trails. It passed by an old homestead and an old barn and a river bottom where the temperature seemed to drop fifteen degrees and I just about froze down there. The weather was very good otherwise. I'd do it again for the scenery, but the organizers should make sure that they have medals for everyone who signs up, considering how much this run costs, even for us old and slow people who come in after the 3-hour mark.
Tonya P.
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