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