When you think of bat caves in Texas, the Congress Avenue Bridge and Bracken Bat Cave probably come to mind first. There’s another place in the Hill Country, however, with a bat colony that’s over 3 million strong. Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area is a little-known park with one of the largest bat colonies in Texas. You can watch them emerge from a 350-foot-deep cavern!

With a name like “Devil’s Sinkhole,” this is one Texas park you’d probably want to steer clear from - but that would be a mistake.

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A little-known natural area located about 130 miles northwest of San Antonio, Devil’s Sinkhole is home to one of Texas’ largest colonies of Mexican free-tailed bats.

Facebook/Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area - Texas Parks & Wildlife

The sinkhole is 320 feet wide and 350 feet deep, and it harbors approximately three million bats.

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While visitors cannot enter the cavern - the person in this photo is a cave researcher - guided bat tours are offered during roosting season, which is late spring through early fall.

Facebook/Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area - Texas Parks & Wildlife

Every night, the bats emerge from the cave in search of food - and boy, do they feast! Scientists estimated the colony as a whole consumes 30 tons of beetles and moths daily.

Texas Parks & Wildlife

Tours are given from May 1 through October 31, beginning at the park’s Visitor Center and leading to a viewing platform over the sinkhole.

Texas Parks & Wildlife

Wheelchair-accessible, the tour allows guests to peer into the sinkhole and watch as the bats fly out and blanket the sky in a swirling sea of blackness.

Texas Parks & Wildlife

The tour fee is $14 for adults, $6 for children ages 4-12, and $11 for seniors 65 and up. Children under four are free. Morning tours are also offered on select days.

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Visit the Devil’s Sinkhole website or Facebook page for more information.

TripAdvisor/M J

Facebook/Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area - Texas Parks & Wildlife

Texas Parks & Wildlife

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Have you ever been to the Devil’s Sinkhole? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience! Tell us in the comments. Interested in more bat caves in Texas? Check out our previous article to learn about another.

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