Devil’s Throat Cave
Trigrad, Bulgaria
A cave in the Trigrad gorge where the river plunges in a 42-metre underground waterfall, the highest in the Balkans. Guided visits end with a steep climb of about 300 steps; it stays cold inside.
In the Devil's Throat cave (Dyavolskoto garlo), the Trigradska river plunges 42 m into the so-called Thunder Hall. It is regarded as the highest underground waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula, and the hall as the second-largest cave chamber in Bulgaria. The water then vanishes into the mountain and re-emerges about 530 m further on as a karst spring. According to legend, this is where Orpheus descended into the underworld to search for Eurydice.
The cave lies in the Trigrad Gorge, whose rock walls rise around 300 m, about 1.5 km from the village of Trigrad. Visits are by guided tour only, and tours usually leave about every half hour. An artificial tunnel leads in; the circuit takes about 20 to 25 minutes, around ten of them on the 301 steep steps beside the waterfall up to the natural exit. It is a steady 8 °C or so inside all year, so bring a warm layer. July and August are the peak season, but the cave is visited all year round.
- Nearest town
- Trigrad, Bulgaria
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 41.6140, 24.3810
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Bulgaria: Vignette needed for motorways. Buy the e-vignette online before you drive on motorways. Motorway limit for cars: 140 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- ΣτραβόρεμαCampsite14 km from Devil’s Throat Cave
- Αντάμωμα ΣαρακατσάνωνCampsite16 km from Devil’s Throat Cave
- Община ДимитровградCampsite23 km from Devil’s Throat Cave
All campsites in Bulgaria · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Devil’s Throat Cave?
Devil’s Throat Cave is in Trigrad, Bulgaria, at GPS 41.6140, 24.3810. It is about 18 km from Shiroka Laka.
Can you camp near Devil’s Throat Cave?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Στραβόρεμα, about 14 km away; within 25 km there are 3 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Devil’s Throat Cave?
Devil’s Throat Cave is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: The Rhodope Mountains: marble bridges and cave gorges.
What is there to see near Devil’s Throat Cave?
Places worth a stop nearby: Yagodina Cave (5 km), Wonderful Bridges (28 km), Bachkovo Monastery (53 km) and Asen’s Fortress (58 km).
When is the best time to visit Devil’s Throat Cave?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)