Visitors also can camp in the 6,400- acre park, traverse the trails and view bat fl ights from the Stuart Bat Cave. Feeling brave? Take the Longhorn
Cavern State Park’s 1.25-mile, off -trail “wild” cave tour, or check out one of the most beautiful show caves, the Caverns of Sonora. Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown
is one of the state’s most easily accessi- ble show caves.
★ Gone Batty In many of the caves, you’ll fi nd Georgetown INNER SPACE CAVERN
and serving as a resource for wild- fl ower viewing. In the fall, head to Lost Maples State
Natural Area, where the stage is set for the most remarkable showcase of fall foliage. Take advantage of the opportu- nities to hike, birdwatch and camp amid the rich palet e of the park’s leaves. Like Lost Maples, each of the region’s state natural areas has its own special characteristic. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area’s shining star is its pink granite dome that draws a capacity crowd who hike to the top to enjoy the views and soak up its mystery.
★
Underground Wonders With all the adventures across the
Hill Country landscape, it’s hard to believe there could be more, but look deeper and you’ll fi nd the majority of the state’s show caves are right under your feet. Boerne’s Cave Without a Name, a National Natural Landmark, is a living cavern that continues to form stalactites, stalagmites and other awe-inspiring earth-made formations. Find cliff and leopard frogs, Mexican brown bats and salamanders in Cascade Caverns, also in Boerne. Near Bracket ville, Kickapoo Cavern
State Park has a network of caverns with one big enough for guided tours.
PHOTO: KEVIN STILLMAN/TXDOT
yourself in the presence of sleeping bats. Texas is home to 31 of the 47 bat species found in the United States, and the Hill Country is where you will fi nd a majority of them, including the world’s largest known urban bat colony—an estimated 12.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats under the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. These bats migrate to Texas in February. From March to October, people from across the globe gather to watch the evening exodus of these nocturnal creatures. Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area
has a vertical cavern that 1 to 4 million Mexican free-tailed bats call home. About a million more can also be found in Kickapoo Cavern State Park near Bracketville.
★
Musical Landscape Along with its natural beauty, you
can hear the Hill Country humming with music all year long. From the Live Music Capital in Aus-
tin, legendary venues like the Broken Spoke and Continental Club continue to serve a tasty dose of rockabilly, country, retro roots, swing, progressive country and alternative rock. Experience a wide range of musical
genres—established and newly trend- ing—as an international music popula- tion converges on Austin in March for the South by Southwest Conferences and Festivals. For several days, the city yields its top gathering spots for non- stop shows (including free concerts),
scenic drives
Devil’s Backbone R.M. 32 from U.S. 281 just south of Blanco toward San Marcos follows a ridge called the Devil’s Backbone. The drive off ers great Hill Country views.
Brackettville Take R.M. 674 north to Rocksprings or R.M. 334 northeast to Texas 55. The two roads lead into scenic landscapes along the West Nueces River winding among steep cliff s and hills.
Burnet Take Texas 29 west and R.M. 2341 northwest
to Spider Mountain, which according to leg- end, was a Native American burial ground. Below the landmark is Bee Bluff , a noted fi sh- ing spot. R.M. 2342 off ers excellent views, es- pecially at the turnout near the confl uence of the Llano and Colorado rivers.
Concan/Leakey Take U.S. 83 north to Leakey, then west on
R.M. 337 and south on Texas 55; or at Leakey, east on R.M. 337 to Vanderpool (near Lost Maples SNA), and south on R.M. 187 to Sabi- nal. This is some of the most spectacular scen- ery in the Texas Hill Country. Texas 39 east along the Guadalupe River is picturesque.
Junction Follow U.S. 377 southwest as it travels along the South Llano River. An exceptional overlook is about 22 miles south at a highway rest area.
Lago Vista R.M. 1431 off ers breathtaking scenery over winding curves and hills, with frequent glimpses of the Highland Lakes. Spring is exceptionally beautiful.
Marble Falls Both R.M. 2147 (not shown on most maps), along the western shore of Lake Marble Falls, and Texas 71 through the Hill Country are memorable routes.
New Braunfels The River Road to Sattler along the Guadalupe River displays true Hill Country beauty.
For more infor ma tion about cities and attractions in the Hill Country, visit
TravelTex.com. 59
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