The limestone crevice narrows to shoulder width. You descend 100 feet through cool shadow while the air drops 10 degrees. Then the grotto opens: a 40-foot waterfall into an emerald pool, ferns dripping from golden canyon walls. This is Westcave Preserve, 30 miles west of Austin, where guided tours keep crowds at 25 people and the microclimate feels like stepping into another climate zone.
Six Hill Country preserves within two hours of downtown Austin hide similar limestone grottos and spring-fed waterfalls. All require advance reservations. All maintain year-round flow. All stay 7-10 degrees cooler than the surrounding savanna in summer heat.
Westcave Preserve: 40-foot waterfall in a one-room cave
The preserve sits in southwestern Travis County near Dripping Springs, protecting 76 acres of canyon and upland habitat. Hamilton Creek feeds the waterfall year-round, flowing over travertine into a clear pool beneath a natural limestone overhang. The water stays cold. The ferns stay green even in August.
Guided tours leave hourly on weekends, covering one mile round-trip through the canyon. Naturalists lead groups down wooden stairs and through the narrow crevice where rock walls close in. The descent takes 20 minutes. At the bottom, the grotto opens into a chamber where mist rises from the pool and golden-cheeked warblers nest in spring.
Tours cost $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 4-15. Book 30 days ahead for March through May weekends when warbler migration peaks. The preserve also maintains a half-mile uplands trail through restored prairie, flat and accessible, with a bird blind overlooking the savanna. Wear shoes with grippy tread. The limestone stays slick year-round.
Hamilton Pool Preserve: jade-green swimming under a collapsed dome
Two miles east of Westcave, Hamilton Pool draws the crowds. The 50-foot waterfall drops through a collapsed limestone dome into a jade-green pool where swimming is allowed when water quality permits. The grotto ceiling exposes layers of golden rock. Roots dangle from the rim 40 feet overhead.
Timed entry reservations cost $12 per vehicle plus $8 per adult. The preserve fills its daily capacity by mid-morning on summer weekends. Swimming season runs May through September, but algae blooms or heavy rainfall can close pool access. Winter visits offer quieter trails and better photography light before noon.
The trail from parking to pool covers a quarter-mile with uneven limestone steps. Arrive early or book weekday slots to avoid the 200-person daily limit. For more coastal swimming options, 6 ways to swim 70°F springs where Tarzan filmed for under $50 explores Florida alternatives with similar clear water.
Gorman Falls: 65-foot travertine cascade in Colorado Bend State Park
The tallest Hill Country waterfall sits 90 minutes northwest of Austin in Colorado Bend State Park. Gorman Falls drops 65 feet over travertine ledges, fed by springs that maintain flow even in drought years. The mineral-rich water creates a green curtain of moss and ferns down the cliff face.
The challenging 3-mile trail
Reaching the falls requires a 3-mile round-trip hike over rocky terrain with a steep final descent using rope assists. The trail gains and loses 400 feet of elevation. Park rangers lead guided hikes on Saturdays, included with park entry. Self-guided access is not permitted to protect the fragile travertine formations.
Day-use entry requires advance reservation through Texas Parks and Wildlife. The park reaches capacity often during spring wildflower season from April through May. Primitive camping costs $15 per night. No swimming is allowed at the falls, but the Colorado River offers swimming holes elsewhere in the park.
Best timing for flow and crowds
Start the hike by 8:30am to beat afternoon heat and catch morning light on the falls. February through May offers peak flow after winter rains. Summer heat pushes temperatures above 95°F on the exposed trail. Bring two liters of water per person and wear sturdy hiking boots. The final descent stays slippery year-round.
Krause Springs: multi-tier butterfly garden pools
This family-run preserve 30 miles northwest of Austin features 32 springs feeding tiered pools beneath a 25-foot mossy waterfall. The water stays 68°F year-round, clear enough to see the limestone bottom. Butterfly gardens surround the upper pools. Camping sites sit in a redwood grove planted decades ago.
Day-use entry costs $9 per adult. The preserve opens at 9am daily with no reservation system, operating first-come basis. Weekdays stay quieter than summer weekends when families fill the swimming areas. No lifeguards are on duty. The preserve maintains its own rules as private property, including no alcohol and quiet hours after 10pm.
Camping runs $25 per night for tent sites with access to the springs after day-use hours end. RV sites with hookups cost more. The preserve sits on private land, so cell service is unreliable. Bring cash for entry as card readers sometimes fail in the rural location.
Reimers Ranch: Pedernales River cliff diving and boulder pools
Travis County’s 2,000-acre Reimers Ranch Park follows two miles of Pedernales River frontage where limestone cliffs create natural diving platforms and clear pools. The river flows over bedrock shelves, forming swimming holes between rapids. Rock climbers use the cliff faces. Mountain bikers ride the interior trails.
Day passes cost $10 and must be purchased online in advance during peak season. The park fills its parking capacity by late morning on summer weekends. River conditions vary with rainfall. Check USGS water gauges before visiting as heavy upstream rain can make swimming dangerous within hours.
The park allows off-road vehicles in designated areas, so expect ATV traffic on interior roads. Swimming areas concentrate near the main parking lot where river access stays easiest. Water shoes help on the rocky riverbed. For similar Arkansas spring swimming, this Arkansas spring flows 9 million gallons hourly at constant 58°F year-round maintains even colder temperatures.
McKinney Falls: Austin’s in-city double waterfall
The only waterfall inside Austin city limits sits in McKinney Falls State Park, where Onion Creek drops over two limestone ledges. The upper falls cascade 10 feet. The lower falls spread wider at 8 feet. Spring-fed flow continues year-round, though summer drought reduces it to a trickle by September.
Park entry costs $6 per person for day use. The 3.5-mile Onion Creek Trail connects both falls through riparian forest. Swimming is allowed in the lower falls pool when water levels permit, typically March through June. The ruins of Thomas McKinney’s 1850s homestead sit near the upper falls with interpretive signs.
The park stays open year-round, located 15 minutes from downtown Austin. Crowds peak Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Early morning visits offer better wildlife viewing and cooler temperatures. The trails stay rocky and uneven. Sturdy shoes are required. For gorge swimming with suspension bridges, this Vermont gorge hides a swaying bridge 30 feet above swimming pools provides a northeastern alternative.
Your questions about Hill Country waterfalls answered
When do these waterfalls flow strongest?
February through May offers peak flow after winter rainfall. Spring-fed sites like Westcave, Gorman Falls, and Krause Springs maintain year-round flow even in drought. Hamilton Pool and McKinney Falls depend more on rainfall and may reduce to trickles by late summer. Check recent rainfall totals before visiting drought-sensitive sites.
Which preserves allow swimming?
Hamilton Pool permits swimming May through September when water quality tests pass. Krause Springs allows year-round swimming in its spring-fed pools. Reimers Ranch offers river swimming dependent on safe water levels. McKinney Falls allows lower falls pool access spring through early summer. Westcave and Gorman Falls prohibit swimming to protect fragile ecosystems.
How does Westcave compare to Hamilton Pool for crowds?
Westcave limits tours to 25 people with guided-only access, keeping crowds significantly lower than Hamilton Pool’s 200-person daily capacity. Hamilton Pool’s swimming access and iconic jade-green pool draw more visitors despite higher entry fees. Westcave’s conservation focus means quieter visits but less freedom to explore independently. Both require advance reservations during peak season. For quieter coastal alternatives, forget Bar Harbor where hotels cost $350 and Camden keeps working harbors for $150 offers similar crowd-avoidance strategies.
The ferry back to reality leaves when your reservation ends. Most visitors make it with time to spare. The grotto stays cool even when the parking lot bakes at 95 degrees. That temperature difference is what you remember.