Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Very limited parking. But there's a nice panel display talking about the Bats. It's well lit. No bathroom/trash/water immediately in the area. You can view the flight from the platform or grassy knoll, even on top of the bridge. There's a walking path that take you down to see underneath. There is a smell.

Went to visit the Waugh Drive Bat Colony few days back. We reached there 1 hour before the sunset. There was no street parking adjacent to the bat colony so we parked at the visitor parking of the parking lot located in the middle of America Tower and Whole Foods on the Waugh Drive and walked down the Bat colony. There are 4 places from where you can witness to bat colony. 1. From over the bridge, 2. From the viewing platform at the southeast corner of the bayou bank, next to the bridge (along Allen Parkway) and 3. From the northeast bank of the bayou, near the bridge(near Memorial Drive). 4. Go for the Bat Colony boat tour. The first 3 options are free of cost. For boat tour I guess it is $30 per person. At first we went to the viewing platform. That place has a very weird smell, maybe from bat poops. During sunset thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats comes out from under the bridge and fly around for 15-20 minutes or so. Our view was obstructed by the trees so we decided to see the bat flying from the bridge. To my opinion the bridge view is far better. So before visiting the bat colony make sure it is a warm day and there is no raining. If you are in Houston and visiting you should definitely go for this place.

The bats start come fly around under the bridge just before sunset (when we were there they started flying under the bridge around 8 and sunset was 8:30) they did not come out from the bridge in the big wave as some videos and pictures showed. But they came out in much smaller clumps. It was still fun to watch them fly around full of energy and excitement!

Always a fun spot to enjoy the sunset and watch the bats! We park down at Lost Lake visitor center and then a short stroll along the sidewalk on the bayou takes you to the bridge where the bats hang out. You can walk under the bridge and smell the very pungent smell from them or walk along the upper sidewalk across the street and walk down the hillside where you can sit. We brought a blanket but others just enjoyed sitting on the grass. Others had their dogs with them or were very prepared with folding chairs and picnics. Just at sunset you'll see the bats start whirling around under the bridge and then they go pouring out along the bayou in clouds of bats. It's so cool!

Unbelievable experience. The place is quiet and has some lights under the bridge so you are safe to walk beneath it. The smell is strong so staying away is suggested, but you are really able to watch the bats living their home as soon as the night falls. Watch out for cyclists and guys in scooters that do not slow down even when there is people watching the bats show.

Parking was a little tricky. Watching them from the bridge was better than the platform. Definitely smell them before you get there. Very interesting to observe. There were several herons there trying to catch a bat for a meal but we never saw them have any success.

Tonight was my first time seeing the bat colony and it was also my niece's first time ever seeing wild bats. It was awesome and an amazing spectacular view. We came at twilight and it was stunning to see all the bats flying around and about freely. The bat poop smell is strong so I don't suggest going under the bridge. On the bright side, NO BUGS!

Unfortunately we waited 20 mins after sunset Didn't see them coming out Can hear them but they didn't come out till then