Onion Creek Trail in McKinney Falls State Park in Austin is a great trail if you’re looking for some waterfalls, peaceful creek-side views, wildlife, and solitude. While the state park map mentions the trail length as 3 miles, we have found it clocks just a little over 3.5 miles. Here is everything you need to know to attempt this hike that loops around the park.
Read More: 9 Cool Hikes in McKinney Falls State Park
Onion Creek Trailhead
The trailhead is located near the Smith Visitor Center inside the state park. To reach the visitor center, take the park entrance road off McKinney Falls Parkway.
Onion Creek Trail Description
The trail begins as an easy paved route that will take you from the Visitor Center parking lot to the Upper McKinney Falls. This part of the trail is accessible and over 3 feet in width. Be sure to stop at Upper Falls and enjoy their dramatic site. This is also a great place to wade in the water and swim in the pool at the bottom of the falls if you have more time – bring your swimsuits!
Past the falls, you will find some picnic tables along the trail. The trail then follows the creek all the way around the campgrounds. We love the awesome views of the creek in this section. Here the trail gets a little uneven and rocky. You will encounter occasional bumps and cracks in the asphalt. This part is not very accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
As it loops around the campground, the trail connects to the Cactus Garden trail and Armadillo trail. These are two new park trails that just opened in June 2024. They make a great detour if you want an alternative to the paved trail.
It loops back past the Horse Trainer’s Cabin just past the park entrance. This cabin belonged to Thomas McKinney’s horse trainer who worked with his racehorses. The ruins are a historic site within the park and hence fenced off to preserve them. From here, you can follow the Homestead Trail to visit park attractions such as Lower McKinney Falls, Old McKinney Homestead and the Gristmill. This total hike is almost 6.6 miles round trip.
Why hike Onion Creek trail?
The trail is great for beginner bikers and a hit with families with younger kids interested in mountain biking. One particularly steep hill provides some challenge to bikers. You might need to walk your bike up this hill.
The trail is popular for birding and wildlife watching. You can spot armadillos, deer, painted buntings, butterflies, red eared slider turtles, and more on this trail. The trail is very beautiful in fall when the trees along the creek banks change color. You will also see a variety of wildflowers including the famous Texas bluebonnets on the trail during spring and summer.
The trail is mostly open year round unless heavy rains make it inaccessible. In these situations, the park will have warning signs for visitors. Dogs on leash are allowed on the trail. It has benches to rest along the way. The trail is also partially shaded especially near the banks of the creek.
Things to watch out for include high heat in the summer, poison ivy, spider webs spanning across the trail, muddy areas after a storm, and prickly pear cacti growing right along the trail. Hike this trail in the cool mornings or later afternoons and bring plenty of water.
Be sure to check out the Visitor Center either before or after hiking the trail. It has many informative exhibits about the nature, wildlife, history, and geology of the area.
Trail Distance and Time
As we mentioned, the Onion Creek trail is about 3.5 miles. It takes about 1 hour and 30 mins to complete at a leisurely pace. The trail has an elevation gain of 200+ feet. It is considered moderately challenging due to the rocky and unmaintained sections. The trail connects to the Cactus Garden trail and Armadillo trail near the camping area if you want a longer hike.
Further Reading: Best Things to do at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin
