Backdoor Cave explored by Michael Mixerr again.

Backdoor Cave is one of Austin’s many caves located in Barton Creek Wilderness Park. This cave is one of the many ungated caves located in Barton Creek Preserve.  

Backdoor Cave is a relatively narrow and short sized cave that is not gated. Not many people are aware of this but Backdoor Cave is one of the few caves that are ungated in Austin. Not too many ungated caves exist these days. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for managing this cave that is known as Backdoor Cave. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=310886)

One has to complete a 25 minute walk from the entrance to reach Backdoor Cave. This cave is located west of Sculpture Falls. You will be greeted by a set of limestone boulders once you arrive. A small hole is on top of these limestone boulders from the base of a cliff. This cave is only accessible by crawling through a small hole at the entrance which leads to a horizontal crawl passage that extends 100 feet. The entrance is 15 feet in diameter. The entrance leads to upper and lower crawlways that join a small spring. (Ref: https://bseacd.org/uploads/BSEACD_AquiferBulletin_Oct2014.pdf)

Measurements for Backdoor Cave are 60 feet in length and 15 feet in diameter. The entrance is 15 feet in diameter in width. Backdoor Cave has diverse rock formations such as calcite and limestone. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog/post/underground-austin/)

Backdoor Cave has been listed as being located in the Barton Creek Greenbelt among many of the other caves around the city of Austin. (Ref: https://rootsrated.com/stories/caving-austin)

Pseudoscorpionida is known to be inhabiting this cave. These types of scorpions are known to inhabit this cave. This is the only known species of wildlife to inhabit Backdoor Cave. Adjacent to the spring is Barton Creek which where spiders and scorpions habitats.

Backdoor Cave was named after an old spring called Backdoor Spring for which this cave is located next to. A stream reportedly flows and empties out into this cave as Backdoor Spring is connected to the Edwards Aquifer. This small spring flows downstream into Barton Creek. (Ref: https://www.mountainproject.com/area/116198646/backdoor)

A 2019 news article from the SA Current lists Backdoor Cave as one of the “Beautiful Texas Caves You Should Explore Before You Die”. SA Current listed the cave as small being only 60 feet in length. (Ref: https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/beautiful-texas-caves-you-should-explore-before-you-die/Slideshow/21113842/21115990/?slide=18)

The location for Backdoor Cave is 3918 South MoPac Expressway, Austin, Texas, US 78746.