McKinney Falls State Park is a beautiful park for those who want to enjoy nature within easy distance of city life. The park has lots of hiking trails, waterfalls, birding, and many large camping sites. How much time you can spend at the park depends on water levels. If the creek is flowing full, our kids can easily spend 2 to 3 days in this gorgeous park and its popular swimming holes.
Also Read: 17 Beautiful State Parks close to Austin, TX
You’d be surprised to know but in the late 60s and 70s, only locals knew about this place. Even before it became a park, it was a popular spot for families as well as teens to hang out and go for a swim. The park was dedicated on April 14, 1976 and has since then become one of the most popular state parks in Texas.
Fun Fact – The sci-fi film Alita: Battle Angel was filmed in McKinney Falls. The crashed URM ship scene was filmed right at the Upper falls. The rock shelter overhang is also featured in the movie.
Here is a detailed trip report from our recent visit to this state park near Austin.
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McKinney Falls State Park Location
The park is located within Austin city limits in the Texas Hill Country. In fact, it is the ONLY Texas state park within city limits! It is located to the south east of downtown Austin near the airport and literally 13 miles from the Texas Capitol building. It is spread over 700 acres and has many activities for outdoor lovers.
Both Onion Creek and Williamson Creek flow within the park and are the source of the park’s extraordinary beauty. The park is open from 8 am to 10 pm everyday. You need reservations to enter the park as it is very popular. The swimming areas especially get quite busy in summer months.
The park address is 5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy, Austin, TX 78744.
Camping at McKinney Falls State Park
Before you plan a camping trip here, consider that it’s located close to Austin. While we enjoy tent camping here, you can hear city sounds like cars driving in the distance and airplanes flying overhead. It can feel loud and bothersome if you’re after a sense of isolation and being in nature.
That said, the camp sites here are large and clean as well as set daily apart from other sites. The campground has a clean bathroom and showers too. The park also has cabins but they get full months in advance.
McKinney Falls State Park Attractions
This small park has enough attractions to keep you coming back for more, especially when water flow is high. The park is located at the confluence of Onion and Williamson Creek and is in a beautiful setting. Here are our favorite things to do in McKinney Falls State Park. Be sure to bring floats, towers, and water shoes and enjoy your visit.
See Upper and Lower McKinney Falls
The highlight of the park is the two waterfalls that it is named after. Hiking between the two waterfalls is lots of fun and an easy 1 mile hike – perfect for families with kids. At the end are the gorgeous waterfalls! The water is often ice cold – even in hot summer months.
So is Upper or Lower McKinney Falls better? Lower falls are more easily accessed via the parking lot as soon as you enter the park. The falls are also more full and make a bigger splash making them perfect for swimming. The pool at the bottom of lower falls is shallow and so ideal for younger kids. Lower falls also has a gravel beach area. All that translates to more crowds and less secluded swim holes at the lower falls.
Upper Falls are perfect for those who want to try something different and skip the crowds that hang right by the park entrance. However the falls have deeper water so be careful. While the water is often deep enough to swim here, be careful of algae that grows when the creek is not flowing. The easy paved Onion Creek Hike and Bike trail will take you to the Upper Falls.
Also Read: 17 Amazing Waterfalls worth visiting in Texas
Check out the exhibits at the Visitor Center
McKinney Falls State Park Visitor Center is pretty impressive. They have many exhibits explaining the geology, ecology, and history of the falls. They also have many activities to capture everyone’s attention including a walk through bat exhibit.
The center is a good place to understand the origins of the limestone formations visible in the creek bed. The park’s unique geology is a result of the volcanic activity of the now extinct Pilot Knob volcano.
You will find several interpretative exhibits narrating the life history of Thomas McKinney after whom the park is named. The center is also a good place to stop and get a map and talk to a ranger. The center’s observation deck has a good view.
Float on Onion Creek or jump in the falls
Floating on the creek is a popular activity when the creek is flowing. However the water level has not been that high in recent years. Jumping from the top of the waterfalls is popular both at Upper and Lower falls. You need to climb on top of the rock in the middle of the waterfall to jump. However this is quite risky and people have had to be airlifted to the hospital after landing on a sharp rock instead of in the water – jump at your own risk!
Hike the park trails
While the Upper and Lower Falls trails are the most popular hiking trails within the park, it also has many other great trails such as Homestead Loop Trail and Rock Shelter Trail. The trails involve negotiating tree roots, rocks, and narrow paths as well as stairs in some areas.
Also Read: 9 Best Hiking Trails in McKinney Falls State Park in Austin
Rock Shelter trail is one of our favorites as it connects both the waterfalls and takes visitors along the famous Old Baldy tree. At the end of the trail, you will find the Smith Rock Shelter – a natural limestone overhang. It is located on the National Register of Historic Places and was used by the indigenous people from 500 BC to 18th century.
However most of them are easy for those with average fitness levels. The trails are not accessible or for baby strollers. Some of the trails involve creek crossing so be sure to wear water shoes. The park is so small that you can easily hike all the trails in one trip.
Also Read: 16 family-friendly hiking trails in Austin TX
Or enjoy mountain biking
The park also has some bike trails. Almost all of them are fairly easy and not a challenge for serious bikers but quite good for families looking for beginner mountain biking trails. They go around a couple of big hills. The trails have cacti needles on them, so be sure to bring a patch kit.
The paved 3 mile trail that circles the area is a great way to get some exercise while visiting this park. A longer 6 miles trail starts from the other side of the lower falls. You will need to cross the creek to get to this trail.
Hike to Old Baldy
The park is home to a 500 year old Bald Cypress tree called Old Baldy. It dates back to the time when Texas’s Spanish Missions including the Alamo were being built. The tree is 102+ feet tall and beautiful; it provides soothing shade in the hot summer months. The tree branches reach towards the sky – it is an incredible sight. To reach this enormous tree, follow the Rock Shelter Hiking Trail along the wooden stairs and bridge.
Birding and Wildlife Watching
The park is a great spot to spot birds and wildlife in Central Texas. You will find lots of turtles in the park including the distinctive red eared sliders. We usually find them sunning on the rocks along Onion Creek trail. Other turtles to spot include snapping turtles and Guadalupe spiny softshell turtles. Water snakes can also be observed at the park.
There are also many deer in the park. Racoons, squirrels, hare, and armadillos can also be spotted here. Birding is popular here. You can spot the colorful painted bunting in the park’s woodlands. Fishing is also popular here – you can catch minnows.
Learn about the historic structures within the park
The area that comprises the state park has an interesting history. It is named after Thomas McKinney – one of the earliest settlers of Texas. He was amongst Stephen F Austin’s original 300 colonists and moved to San Felipe de Austin in 1823.
He later established a ranch on Onion Creek which today is within the park. Throughout the park you will see historic buildings and ruins such as the McKinney Homestead, his horse trainer’s cabin, and the remains of a gristmill that was powered by the creeks. You can also see original iron bars from the dam used to divert water to the gristmill near the lower falls.
Photograph the spectacular falls
McKinney Falls is a beautiful place for photographers. The limestone formations surrounding the falls look dramatically beautiful on a gray overcast day. Thunderstorms can make the creek flow fuller creating beautiful images. The falls also look stunning at dawn or dusk in the golden hours. Fall foliage at the park is also stunning – peak occurs around mid November to November end.
Lookout for bluebonnets in spring
If you visit in spring, you will find the whole park covered in bluebonnets. The park also preserves a Bluebonnet Meadow where you can watch these beauties and take a photo with our beloved state flower.
Also Read: 18 Best spots to see bluebonnets in Texas
Enjoy camping close to Austin’s city life. Spend an afternoon by the water. Pick a shaded spot to enjoy a streamside picnic. Go for a swim in Onion Creek. Go bouldering and see the hoof marks on the El Camino Real. McKinney Falls State Park is gorgeous and won’t disappoint you!