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Photo by Ben Banahan |
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Spanish
speaking guide available |
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The tours
are made possible by a partnership between the Devil’s Sinkhole Society
volunteers of the Rocksprings area and the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department. |
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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: 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. (See Nature Walks link at the left). Day Tours: afternoon tours are available. Three days notice is required. NO BATS ARE SEEN ON DAY 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.
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. Visitor’s Center/Texas
State Parks Store: exhibits, books and gifts.
We also provide tourist and accommodation information.
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Tours
of the Sinkhole
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“...bats pour
out like a tornado at dusk.” |
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To make arrangements for a tour Phone: 830 683-BATS or 830-683-2287 |
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GPS Coordinates of
Visitors Center: N 30o 0’ 56.6” W 100o 12’ 30.9” |
