Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area lies hidden away in the western edge of the Texas Hill Country.  It contains over 1,800 acres of rugged land and home to the sinister-looking Devil’s Sinkhole, its main attraction.  It is the largest single-chambered cavern in the state of Texas and the third deepest, measuring over 361 feet deep.  This Nationally Registered Natural Landmark is home for bats that migrate to Texas every summer.  Visitors are shuttled to the site and are dared to peer into the depths of Devil’s Sinkhole and view millions of bats pour out like a tornado at dusk.  There is currently no camping allowed, but there are:

 

A Dawn Tour:  Meets at the Visitors Center at 5:30 AM for a guided tour to see the bats returning to the sinkhole from their night of ridding the area of pesky insects.  Right now there are only two (2) tours scheduled, one on August 28th, 2010 and the other on September 25, 2010.  Each adult is $20.00 and each child over 12 is $10.00.  Please call for reservations and more information.

 

Guided Nature Walking Tours offered two Saturdays a month (except for hunting season). Reservations for tours are required and special group tours can be arranged with prior notice.  Nature Walking tours meet at the Visitors Center about 10:00 am. and leave about 10:15am. 

 

Day Tours: afternoon tours featuring the sinkhole itself are available.  Visitors do not enter the sinkhole.  Three days notice is required.

BATS ARE SEEN ONLY ON DAWN AND EVENING  TOURS

 

Birding at the Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area : In addition to our three other guided tours, the DSNA is now offering birding tours.  The birding tours will be run on first and third Saturdays, by reservation. The Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area has nesting sites for the black-capped vireo, the Montezuma quail, and other birds of interest.  The birding tour involves a walk of about a mile on fairly level undeveloped ranch paths. People taking the bird tour must be ten years old or older.

The park rangers and volunteers of the Devil's Sinkhole Society encourage bird enthusiasts to give our tour a try!

 

Evening Bat Flight Tours: regularly scheduled interpretive tours available May to mid-October, Wednesday—Sunday.  Space is limited.  Call ahead for reservations.  Visitors will be shuttled to the site.  Evening Bat Tours leave about 45 minutes before the bats are expected to emerge and then return to the Visitor’s Center about two hours later.

Reservations for tours can be made in person, by calling 830-683-2287 (830.683.BATS), or e-mailing tours@devilssinkhole.org.

Photos by Ben Banahan