With so much to do at this Texas State Park, it was hard to choose just three.
If you’re looking for a versatile park to visit in the heart of Austin, Texas, McKinney Falls State Park is the one you should check out! It took us around an hour to get here from Smithville, Texas, and we easily spent multiple hours walking and exploring through McKinney Falls. If you want to visit this park, these are three must do things you should do.
Hike the Williamson Creek Overlook Trail
This is an absolute must! Bryce and I were completely taken aback when we were walking this trail and came to the portion of the trail that is right up against the creek. When we got to this part of the trail, we definitely were not expecting to see a 50-foot drop from where we were standing down to the creek! Now, it does take a little walking to get out to the trail; we took some shortcuts along the Homestead Trail in order to take the fastest route out to the end.
Swim at the Lower Falls
During the summer time, both Upper and Lower Falls areas get crowded fairly early in the day. I recommend getting to the park early to find the spot you want to set up at. Both Upper and Lower Falls are great for swimming, but there seemed to be more room to swim while remaining socially distanced at the Lower Falls.
Explore along the Upper Falls
Bryce and I always download the state park’s trails map before going to visit any of them. When looking at the McKinney Falls Map, we saw so many points of interest all located very close to each other. Near the Upper Falls, there is also a prehistoric rock shelter, a 100-foot tall cypress tree, and bouldering rocks for those of you that like to climb.
While these were some of our favorite things to do while we adventured through McKinney Falls State Park, there is still so much for you to do. If you like biking, there is a three-mile long hiking and biking trail. If you want to camp at the park, there are multiple cabin areas, RV spots, and places to set up a tent. McKinney Falls also has some designated picnic areas to enjoy a nice meal by yourself or with some friends.
Remember to bring snacks or a lunch and plenty of water if you plan on visiting any park! It is very important to stay hydrated and eat to keep your energy up.
Comments