Friday, October 15, 2021

Exploring Helotes Cave. One of San Antonio’s lesser known caves.

Helotes Cave is located 4 miles north of Helotes, Texas on the Scenic Loop Road to Leon Springs. Helotes Cave is located on the summit of a high hill about 100 feet southeast of a roadside park. The entrance is a 12 foot deep swallow hole with a huge bottom leading into a single chamber that is 20 x 30 feet and 5 feet high. (Ref: BULLETIN NUMBER 10, APRIL 1948)



 

Various small sinkholes in the floor indicate a possibly traversable labyrinth below. Helotes Cave is know for boasting a wide variety of sinkholes. There is possible a lower level as indicated by these sinkholes. (Ref: https://www.texasspeleologicalsurvey.org/PDF/TSS_Volume1/TSS%201(4)%20compressed.pdf)



 

The Government Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver (Cicurina vespera) is known to inhabit Helotes Cave. The Historic Range is unknown, but is likely similar to Current Distribution, with the exception of caves that have been destroyed or adversely impacted by development, other human activities, and non-native species like fire ants. It was later found the individual in the Helotes cave represented a new species. (Ref: https://www.edwardsaquifer.net/species.html)

There is a huge colony full of Harvestmen that inhabit Helotes Cave. The volume of Harvestmen in Helotes Cave is very high. (Ref: https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0054988/00001)

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