McKinney Falls State Park is a quick drive just to the south side of Austin, Texas, making it a perfect location for a spontaneous long hike or an afternoon of swimming and picnicking. We parked at the Lower Falls parking lot, explored Lower Falls, Bouldering Rocks, and then hiked 2.5 miles along portions of easy and leisurely Picnic Trail, and then onto the more challenging Rock Shelter Interpretive Trail. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this park has beautiful displays of autumn colors all throughout the park. Pets are welcome on-leash and there are plenty of amenities along the main trails. We plan to visit again in the spring when the Falls might be more full and to check out Old Baldy, a landmark 100+ year old Bald Cypress tree.

This park had gorgeous views and the river/falls was very pretty as far as Texas rivers go. There is bouldering here, but it is very advanced so I dont recommend beginners to go here specifically for that reason. For the cold nights, bring your own firewood unless you want to spend $20 on a small amount here. Its cheap to stay though. For 2 nights, it was $30. They also have an emptying station for the gray or black tank in your RV.

This park is absolutely amazing. Grade A nature, hiking, biking, swimming and staff. I bought an annual pass to Texas State Parks and its been an unbelievable bang for the buck!

Fun place to hang out...relaxing and quiet. The falls are pretty but underwhelming in size but still worth the trip. $6 per person is a high price so I think its only worth it if you are planning to enjoy for a full day. I paid it because I enjoy taking photos. The ones Im sharing were actually taken by my 11 y/o daughter

Nice spot for camping or just a day trip. Dont even think about trying to get in before 2:00 p.m. to your campsite because they forbid it. The only showerhouse open on the oak loop is Little Oak restroom and showers. Nice staff, excellent trails and the waterfalls are small but very interesting.No concessions available in the park. Aside from the constant highway noise and firearms discharge report in the afternoons and early evenings its a very nice place.

Such an awesome park. Trails were clearly marked and easy to follow. The park staff are always friendly and helpful. Covid guidelines are easy to follow, and the online reservation system made entering the park a breeze. If you like Texas scenery, this is a top notch place to visit. We didnt swim this time but the swimming hole did look enticing!!

Wonderful scenic park basically in Austin. Be sure to check out the upper falls and el camino real. Such a unique landscape. Definitely worth the admission

It’s a great park and that too so close to austin. The trails are great but small. It’s fun for half day as you can walk from lower falls to upper falls and jump over the rocky terrain. Dogs are allowed on leash but they are not allowed in water or swim area.

Only $6 for a day of fun. Good for hiking, Good for biking, good for swimming, good for dogs, good for kids, some people on the trail but wasnt busy. Could be nice is any weather.

A nice park to visit thats very close to Austin. My only criticism is the trails are poorly marked: no blazes, very little signage. Even with the provided map at the entrance, we often werent sure exactly where we were in the park most of the time. Due to the pandemic, admission is by reservation only and the public restrooms are closed.

I visited the upper falls first and then floated down to the lower falls, and honestly both locations are gorgeous! The Cyprus trees are massive and there was an abundance of wildlife! Just be aware that you arent allowed to bring coolers (I know, kinda rediculous).

We hiked/biked/played in the water at the lower and upper falls. Bigs bucks, coyotes, rabbits, wild turkeys and abundant of birds to enjoy seeing on the trails! Look for the rogue watermelon patches at the McKinney homestead. Old Baldy hike is really fun, and theres a lot of picnic tables along the way. Some of the fish can been seen along the waters bank, which was cool, as was finding the Geocaching box. Nice campfire cookouts and relaxing nights. We left you some wood. :-) Park Staff was so very thoughtful and helpful for our first stay here!

This park was great for the kids and for adults. The hiking and bike trail was really fun even though the rain got us. Our camp site was #41 and was perfect because the rest room was not too far and not too close.

I recommend going in the early AM before it gets hot. Beautiful sights and artifacts. Wouldn’t say it’s the easiest hike as it’s very steep in some areas, and slippery as you cross the rocks, but still so worth it! Take snacks and water, and if you wanna prop up and read there’s spots you can find to do that as well (: can’t wait to come back. Restrooms are VERY clean. WILL SAY HOWEVER, the water fountains outside restrooms need to be fixed. They’re leaking from two spots.

McKinney Falls State Park was one of the more lengthy hikes for me hitting up the two big trails: Onion Creek (2.8 miles) and Homestead Trail (3.1 miles) along with other trails too. There were a lot of people at the Upper and Lower Falls where you can swim in the water, but I didn’t have anyone on the trails with me! Between hikes I hopped into the Upper Falls for a refreshing dip. McKinney Falls is right by the airport so not far from Austin. To get to the northern portion of trails, you will have to cross over the falls. You will get wet! The rocks are slick, especially barefoot. I’d recommend bringing some shoes with grip to change into, or just wear throughout if they are good hiking shoes. Nice relaxing place!

A great hiking/biking trail! Tons of beautiful and open wide nature that the whole family can enjoy. Beautiful waterfalls that are picture perfect worthy. As of right now you do have to wear a mask only if youre close to other people not a part of your group.

Love love love swimming in the river here! There are so many fun natural pools to hangout in and the water is a great temperature. They also have the most picnic tables I have ever seen in one park in a beautiful shaded area next to the river. There are grills you can use, so dont forget your charcoal. We were able to maintain appropriate social distance from others the entire time, which was great. Best way to spend a hot summer day!

Bathrooms were cleaned. Signals to get to the park were not the best. Some trails were closed. Not much water in the creek this time of the year. The kids had fun anyway. Plan to stay around 4 hours.

Nice park for weekends, waterfalls amazing , beautiful place for swimming, hiking and chilling. We try to fishing here but it didn’t work ( I don’t know why ). By the way, nice , and beautiful nature. Must see

Lovely place for a hike. Plenty of people were swimming as well but dogs aren’t allowed in the water and Texas lakes and creeks aren’t really my thing when it comes to swimming. But it was very peaceful.

It was a pleasure camping here. Each spot has table and power. One dump station for RV. Reservation is required online. Recreation.gov. Peaceful and far from highway noise. I didnt get bit by any mosquito this time but she did. Clean Rr and showers.

It is so nice having a state park right in Austin and McKinney Falls is a great park. Ive gone swimming in the falls before which is always a lot of fun but I recently returned to go hiking and was pleasantly surprised. The trails were so quiet and secluded with tons of colorful wildflowers and I even saw some wildlife! There are great options for hiking, biking, swimming and camping and you have to visit if youre in the Austin area!

I have been car camping and hiking in this park. Both were a lot of fun. I have not roasted marshmallows since I was a kid. The bathrooms were clean and the showers worked well. We had a great time chilling on hammocks and taking pictures by the waterfalls.

This is a great family friendly place to visit for the day or to camp. It has two great swimming spots and plenty of picnic tables down by Onion Creek. The hike and bike trails are great. It has a small footprint for a state park but has plenty to do. The campsites are nice and have water and electric. The facilities are clean and the park rangers are friendly and helpful. If you forget anything an HEB is ten minutes away. You are in Austin, but it is easy to forget that the city is just outside the park. Reservations are a must as it is a popular place. This park is a reminder of how important it is to set aside places for protected access to the natural world. Please support Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Beautiful park, nice and helpful staff, but there was light littering and one state trooper wasnt wearing a mask and got up close and personal when asking for licenses, but was very lenient and allowed us to buy some online instead of giving us a ticket.

Nice park with great, easy hiking trails (some paved). Lots of nearby parking. Good selection of trails of various distances. The pools by the falls are a nice place to cool off, though the creek has algae blooms in places. A few good historical sites including the grist mill/residence. Some of the park facilities are under renovation. Plan to book well in advance for park reservations for to limited number admitted daily. Current earliest available date is posted today as 6/22.

As a newcomer to Austin I believed that the information stated on the state parks website would be accurate, additionally if social media outlets (specifically the McKinney Falls Twitter page) did not reflect any updated changes I would presume the website was sharing current and relevant information.Upon arriving to the park we were informed not only did we have to have a reservation but that we had to leave despite the park closing in 3 hours. We were also told reservations were mandatory and if we did not turn around a $500 fine would be given by the state police. Concerned and confused we asked could we simply pay the fee or see if someone hadnt shown for their reservation....answered no. I decided to call the park office just to clarify this information. I was given alternative information than stated on the website and reminded to read between the lines of the words highly recommended and insert mandatory, which was also alternative information than what was given at the gate.Id like to also share that a woman on her bike road past us, was not checked for a reservation and was able to continue entering. We were also informed that the ranger who gave us this information typically works in maintenance and isnt usually up front greeting visitors. Im sharing this experience because I did my due diligence by checking the website and verifying the entrance process prior to driving 90 minutes to the park. I was found it interesting that as 2 Black women we were questioned and threatened to leave, while a white woman road past without even a glance. Im disappointed in the process, the poor information, and the ability to pick and chose who these rules apply to.I truly hope others do not have this experience. I would highly recommend not to believe the documented information provide by the state parks, but to know that at least at McKinney Falls rules are suggestions and implemented at the will of the employee.

Beautiful state park in Texas. It is quite popular so do reserve before heading down.

Great State Park with some cool waterfalls. A little more trash then I would suspect but overall a great little trips. Several easy hikes with easy to attain views. Had to book in advance so make sure you book it online before you head out.

Love the view. Walking on the worn down rock going down the lower falls was awesome.

Fun park with easy hiking trails. Good for all skill levels and small children too. Be aware it does cost a little to get in, $6 per adult and our 3 1/2 was free.

This park is such a gem and within the city limits! Ive been exploring the less popular areas and trails and have experienced such beautiful solitude. I love the giant Bald Cypress trees and their knotted roots. In the spring the wildflower field is incredible. Theres a forested area right up against it with these narrow, tall trees thats so amazing at sunset. The more populated areas are great for families. There are so many lush and shade picnic areas throughout. Lovely waterfalls and swimming holes, especially the Upper Falls. I camped at site 6 in Big Oak Campground. Big sites with lots of trees and staggered placement to give the feeling of space. Ill try for site 7 next time

Enjoyed this park so much. Large spots and plenty of trails.

We had a fun time camping here. Nice trails. Clean restroom.We enjoyed the falls also.

The water was low when we went but if it is higher then water shoes are highly recommended. Trails are not marked between the upper and lower falls so it is easy to get turned around. But we didnt mind and enjoyed exploring. Gorgeous color in the fall!

Beautiful park when Onion Creek has water. Best when no one else is there, too.

I love this place. McKinney Falls State Park is located on the southwestern edge of Austin, the capital of Texas, very close to the airport. Geographically, it is located on the eastern edge of the Texas hilly area, and Onion Creek flows through the park. It used to be McKinley’s ranch in the 1800s, and later donated by his descendants to the Texas state government to build a state park. Since the park is in Austin, it brings great convenience to the citizens outdoor leisure activities. The gate of the park closes at ten oclock every night, and everyone except tent campers must leave before ten oclock.

What a beautiful state park. I definitely understand why this is a high volume of visitors. This state park is a MUST visit during Bluebonnet season, so majestic and amazing! The smell of all of the bluebonnets was WOW. I absolutely loved the falls! I was able to climb down to the lower falls with a short legged dog with ease. There were schools of fish (I believe trout) that I could see at the lower falls area, so a great place to go fishing for sure. They do have 6 remodeled cabins, Ill need to rent one of those sometime. Overall just a gorgeous place to go to enjoy nature and the outdoors.

Great state park just a bit drive away from Austin. There are a lot of trails and campsites but the best part is they are all very clean and peaceful. Well maintained trails and good signage. Love the special sites you can see while on one of the trails. Parking is ample and I love this little getaway. Definitely give it a visit if you in Austin. The entrance has a great gift shop too.

Absolutely amazing! BRING YOUR WATER SHOES! You will need them to cross the falls to be able to access the best trails the park has.

Such a fun place to camp! We live in San Marcos so the fact that this is only a 40-ish minute drive from our house is awesome! We wanted to break the covid quarantine by taking our 5 year old son to his first State Park. The Upper and Lower Falls were the perfect places to cool off in the hot Texas sun! And the improved hike and bike path (the Onion Creek trail) was the perfect way to introduce our son to trail riding. It was a good way to ease back into my bike riding as well. The bathrooms and showers were also always very clean. We loved every minute we were there. We will definitely be back!

Great camping for a tent or RV. Showers and rest rooms are available. Three trail systems to enjoy for a walk or bike ride. Plenty of picnic tables with grills and water near by. The falls are a great place to cool off in the water.

Beautiful place and right now is perfect because theres not too many people. Make sure to make a reservation online first because they Will turn you away at the gate if you do not have a reservation due to covid-19 and the governors order.

Enjoyed this park with the family. We enjoyed the trails and the limestone ledges. Its also very dog friendly.

Tried to go here today to take engagement photos, photographer was there, hair and make up was professionally done, and they wouldn’t let us in, to a STATE park, even though there were constantly people exiting the park. Will never return here. Not even a consideration or an apology from the security officer, just a shoulder shrug.

Beautiful quiet park with a swimming hole. Lots of rocks to climb and an entrance fee to get in. It can also be very crowded during the summer but it’s a great place to cool off and swim in a pond fed by a natural spring, as the water is cool year round and free of chlorine!

This is a popular and active park great for family outings. You should plan to arrive early as the park fills up quickly. I arrived at 10:30 and there were two lines of cars already waiting to get into the park. Probably because each car is stopped at the entrance to pay, so the park staff can hand out maps and answer questions. I noticed all the camping spaces were already full. The park is clean and has lots of bathroom facilities, trash bins and picnic areas. I came as a solo for an Edible and Medicinal plant walk/interactive lecture by a very fun and knowledgeable park staff member. It is a program offered by the park I highly recommend. Age group from newborn to later in life. Highly educational and fun. Even tho the park seemed busy I never ever felt crowded or unsafe. The waterfall area is fun for splashing about with pockets of water in the white limestone rock. Enjoy the waterfalls, rock climbing and picnicking. Worth a visit...or two!

Beautiful setting and in town! Cant ask for anything better. Now, with advance reservations required, its never crowded.

It is truly a beautiful place BUT it would be nice to have better signs showing where you are at so we could hit the points we wanted instead of thinking we where at one place when we were no where I wanted to see the bald tree and we did not see it on the trail that it said to take. But it is gorgeous and breath taking views and very clean and well kept. We will be back in the Spring time!

Its been a nice experience. We noticed that not everyone is following the rules, but everyone is still respectful and not getting nasty drunk. It was a great experience and a great place to visit for two hours on a very hot weekend.

My family and I had a great experience camping here. We enjoyed floating from the upper falls to the lower falls. Very peaceful. We hiked several trails and had fun exploring.

This place is so peaceful and the staff are so kind. It is an Austin gem.

This is a good nature park.And management of the place is great.No trash, river looks clean.It is good for both swimming, camping and adventure. They do have trails.It might be a seasonal thing but some parts of the river have dried up, less water flowing, but other than that its a good nature sight.

Hiking trails are easy to walk! Excellent for all hiking levels of experience. During spring you can hear birds singing and bluebonnets blooming! The sound of water is very relaxing!

Great camp sites with plenty of tree coverage. The falls are amazing to experience and there are plenty of trails to explore. Trails could be marked better and the occasional airplane and highway noise really takes away from the nature feel.

Nice place to relax and have a walk. Dogs are allowed.

The park is nice. Its a bit smaller then the other parks weve seen. The showers in the camping area do not have a bench in each stall, its only 1 bench. The other restroom/shower in the camping area was not in service. You still get cellphone service out there. The park is located near the town, so at night instead of natures sounds you can hear the cars driving on the main street. The water was nice and cold for the weather. The restrooms, cell phone service, and main street nearby are the reason why I gave it a 4 star.

Had a hard time getting to find a place for my disable mother to get around to seeing anything all the place we tried we couldnt get anywhere for her to get around and enjoy the park no way to get her around the park no where near anything to see or explore for disabled people on walkers or wheel chairs to get down near the lake, streams or water anywhere no bathrooms were open had to drive around only to drive back home to take her to use the bathroom 30 minutes home & 30 minutes back again to the park only to find out the first 2 bathrooms near the entrance were open & so we didnt know that untill we left to go home did the guy at the entrance ask why we kept going in & out again. I sure hope next time we have better luck next time . sure hate to miss out cuz of not disability access to the park.

The park is great but they really have to do a much better job of policing the trails. After hours there are a lot of off leash dogs running around and even during regular park hours, ie today at 11:00 a.m., inconsiderate people with off leash dogs. This is not your backyard people, and there are dozens of reasons your dog should stay on a close leash to be considerate of the community on the whole...

McKinney Falls is a wonderful getaway when you need peace and quiet. Its the perfect place to bring kids for swimming as well.

Loved this place... Totally recommend it.

Incredibly beautiful park. So many landscapes to explore.

This is a great day trip for Austinites, but there are 80+ campsites, so a multi-day trip will keep you occupied also. Great place for kids, interesting plant life, and good swimming. Find a shady spot and relax.

Beautiful falls!! Everyone was so kind and helpful. All the Rangers were so willing to go out of their way to help everyone. Such a great experience. A couple of the Shortcut trails we tried to take were closed off- that’s only due to cleaning and such. other than that PERFECT. SO pretty!!!

Very beautiful place, but pretty crowded. We were able to get away from people though since they were mostly at the falls.

This place is so freaking gorgeous!!!! I am so happy I finally got to see this amazing park. We did the trail which was beautiful. It was so clean and peaceful. They have an area to camp and another to spend the day. They have restrooms which are very clean. I cant wait to go back to explore this beautiful place. The fee to get in is $6 for adults and 1-12 years get in free!

Felt super safe about the number of people theyre allowing in. Everyone in the park was super aware of their surroundings and courteous about social distancing. Great place to have a picnic, take a hike, or swim!

Beautiful ️. Also, great senior rates. Free entry for 65+ with half-price camping fees.

The entry is by reservation only during the pandemic. You can swim in the pools below both falls. Early is way less crowded than after noon. Bring water. Only 1 picnic table was claimed near the upper falls. Great to have water fall parks in Austin.

Nice picturesque place to hike and soak your feet

So very beautiful! We love bluebonnets and they are just starting to bloom. We were able to have an incredible photo shoot for my daughters Quinceañera photos!

Loved walking around this outer Austin Park! It was very difficult to find the 500 year old tree called old Baldy. We never did find it even after getting directions from the park ranger station. I would suggest the park does a little better job marking trails especially for such a popular destination as the oldest tree in Texas.

We had a great time at this Texas swimming hole. The kids loved jumping off the small falls into the water. It is very family friendly. I suggest you take an umbrella or tent to provide shade and an ice chest with drinks to keep you cool and snacks to have something to eat as it is quite a hike to get to the falls and there is nowhere to buy drinks or food nearby.

We love getting to the park at opening, explore for 2 hours, then sit in the creek! Weekdays always less crowded .

I absolutely love this park and enjoy volunteering for the Go Fish! Events there, but I do have one tiny irk-ism that I feel needs to be addressed... There are hardly ANY trashcans! The Friends of McKinney Falls do a great job with cleaning up the park, but the people visiting would do better themselves if they had enough waste disposal opportunities for their use.Otherwise, although the drought has lowered the flow of Onion Creek to a trickle, the water was clear, clean and beautiful. The fall colors were stunning today!

McKinney Falls was absolutely fantastic. Water was super cool and with low humidity. Couldnt ask for a better day.

Wonderful place to visit. Great hikes, fun swimming. This is a favorite place to camp.I would strongly recommend anyone park at the upper or lower falls, visit that falls, then do a round trip hike to the other falls. Its not a challenging hike at all, but it is pretty and interesting... Especially in the spring.

Suuuch an amazing place My three year old son is in live with the lake️

This place is really beautiful, its really good for hiking and pictures. stunning views just make you wanna come back again. $6/adult and the tickets good for within the day. they provide you a map with detailed information what located where. I didnt have a lot of time during this visit so I only get to see like a corner of the park and it was so so pretty. definitely coming back and we probably gonna need a whole day to check the whole park out.

I love this park! It’s the perfect watering hole for a summer swim! Great hiking trails for my dog, and the even have interactive games occasionally! The falls are the perfect place to chill with chairs under trees and swim in a nice pool! Less busy than Barton Springs, but dogs aren’t allowed in the water!

Nice place to go for the long trails, decent in size for beginners, you will see birds and rabbits every now and than. Depending on the time of day. Does get really crowded during the summer. However when I want a nature day thats close to home this is the place I go. The only thing I will say is that you never get completely away from the sound of cars, being in the city this is expected. But never the less my go to recharge place!

Amazing park with many different trails and 2 swimming holes.

One of the most beautiful hidden Oasis parks in Austin if you havent been I highly recommend getting on a wait list at least for day entry if anything although camping is best since its a beautiful well-kept camping area with clean amenities

Took my grandson here to learn to fish. Plenty to keep a 4 year old occupied when the fish arent biting. He didnt want to leave after being there for 5 hours. As we were leaving saw two deer.

There is so much to see here. We came with 4 teens and a 3 year old. $6 13 y.o. and up to get in. It was late morning Good Friday and the line of cars to get in was backed up to the road. We didnt wait too long but to avoid parking issues Id definitely plan to get there early. Upper falls requires crossing water and we had to carry the little one across 3 water crossings which I would not recommend, but some of the other trails were more suited for little legs (Picnic Trail). The entire experience was great. There were so many different sceneries and views. We are looking forward to going back having a better knowledge of the trails and better prepared for playing in water and bringing a picnic lunch. Definitely worth planning to spend the day.

Beautifully kept with lots to explore! One of the nicest State Parks our Family has visited! We are truly excited to go back here!

Close to Austin, offers electric and water at some campsites, river nearby to beat the heat, bathrooms with showers (hot water available) and on-site wood / ice.On the other hand, its close to the airport so you hear it sometimes (sounds like thunder, but its just planes taking off), youll hear helicopters too.

Great place ! Lots to do. State park so gotta pay to get in. 6 bucks a head. But its all good. Went to lower falls. Had a blast. 2nd time around. But we will be back!!!

Very nice place for summer, going with friends and family, super cheap only $6 very recommended!

Really nice place to go for a swim. The falls makes it feel like youre out far away from the city. The water was nice and cool,not freezing cold like other rivers. Will definitely be going back.

Love this Park. It’s so beautiful to walk around & the atmosphere is refreshing

Beautiful park close to town. You pay for parking and it ain’t cheap but do your part to protect and enjoy nature. Great place to picnic and swim. Good for bouldering. Look at the trees growing in the water and walk on the rocks and pretend you are on the surface of the moon.

Beautiful natural area with many hiking trails and areas to swim/fish/view the turtles. I highly recommend this campsite if you want to reconnect with nature while also enjoying some incredibly beautiful sights!

We visited 3/3. While the both the upper and lower falls were not spectacular due to low water, they were, nonetheless lovely. The sound of gently falling water is always calming. We hiked The Homestead Trail. Near the Grist Mill ruins, we were lucky to see a mother turkey leading her rather large family across the path in front of us. Also, the blue bonnets, Indian paintbrushes and numerous other wildflowers are beginning to show their beauty. A very nice day indeed!

The water holes here are nice, spacious and a lot to do. The rules are kind of stricter than I thought but it’s whatever.

We came when it was too cold and there was no one there. But it’s a beautiful park to spend the day. Parking isn’t very far from seating area. Amazing scenery.

Gorgeous falls and a must see if youre a nature lover while near Austin area

Visiting from out of state. What a beautiful place. Spend the whole day. Clean toilets, clean trails, friendly rangers.

Very easy accessible waterfall. Water level is low right now but its a fun quick stop on the way back to the air port. Imagining it will be a lot of fun during high water time.

Summary: Super Hot in the summer, great in the fall! Want to camp? Make a reservation in advance.Details:Located south of Austin, McKinney Falls us an excellent outdoor adventure for the entire family.During the fall and winter, the falls are gushing and beautiful. In the summer the falls simmer down but never completely stop.Swimming is a great activity but can get crowded on the more popular days.