McKinney Falls State Park

Great park with lots of picnic spots and some pretty cool terrain.
Warnings:
1) get a reservation for Friday and Saturday night camping.
2) Get here earlier than later on the weekend — the line goes out to the main road and then some in the afternoon on the weekend.
3) when camping, each person has to pay the $ 6 entry fee for each day they camp. The $ 70 pass will come in handy if you’re going to be doing a lot of camping or parkhopping while in TX.

It’s nice to have a semi-​wilderness area so close to a major metropolitan area, but you have to think of McKinney State Park as «nature lite.» Onion Creek and the two sets of falls offer a short, pleasant hiking experience and in the summer it’s nice to be able to spend some time in the cool water.
However, most of the park is accessed via paved roads and there are way too many campsites and picnic tables for such a relatively small area. Add to that the Park staff’s quickness to close the Upper Falls and most of the park whenever there is inclement weather and it all makes for a disappointing adventure.
The one thing you should definitely not miss is the chance to skip rocks across the creek. There are plenty of flat, circular rocks that are perfect for skipping. Enjoy.

This place is absolutely beautiful. You do have to pay to get in because it is an official state park. It’s $ 6 per person. Eek. Should be per car IMO.
The park itself is wonderful. There are lakes that families come and swim in. A huge waterfall that I just sat on a rock and admired. The hiking trail was perfect. We did get lost though and ran into a couple that we saw prior to who said they were lost too!
There are restroom faculties near the parking area from what I saw. Nothing once you walk Into the natural area.

A nice park to take the family. Practically every location is accessible via car and lots of paved trails. Plenty of drive up camp sites. There is no Primitive camping sites so if your trying to rough it, this wouldn’t be the park. It does have a nice stream to falls to enjoy a good swim in. Don’t forget to walk the coolest trail, which is an ancient native American hidden trail that still survives in existence today. Check it out & enjoy!

I was here in July for a few nights so it was HOT but I come from Florida so I took it like a champ. At least I was out of the swamps of New Orleans…
There’s a small fee to enter ($ 6/​person), which they are pretty strict about. The sites are great, a raised flat area designated for your tent and are pretty spacious and private enough. Full hookup with water and electric (so you can put that fan in your tent). Showers and flush toilets are also available.
There’s also a swimming hole with a waterfall in the park! So refreshing on a hot summer day. All this for less than $ 10, I’m totally singing McKinney Falls’ praises.

We went on a 3 day camping trip with 4 adults, 6 children (3 teens, 1 tween, and 3 children) during one of the hottest days of the year thus far (heat index advisory in full effect!). We had so much fun that we didn’t even notice the heat.
PROS:
1. Campsites are clean, spacious and semi-​private (not too far from neighbors but plenty of trees/​shrubs to give privacy). There is a 16×16 even tent pad with electric and water hook up. We were able to use a G5 connection to hook up two box fans at night to keep us nice and cool!
2. Plenty of shade everywhere!
3. Bathrooms were VERY VERY CLEAN. I cannot stress how impressed I was that the facilities were so clean every day and on a busy end-​of-​summer weekend to say the least.
4. So much to do! The park has weekend activities planned out every month. There was yoga, guided hikes, bird watching, archery (loved!), live music, etc.
5. Then there are daily unplanned activities like taking a dip in the Upper falls and Lower falls, Homestead trail and Onion Creek trail hiking, fishing, etc. Make sure to take swimming shoes.
6. Park rangers and staff were really helpful and nice!
7. The park feels secure. There is a good sized presence of rangers making their rounds around the park but it is not overwhelming. With that being said, the rangers have no problem writing out tickets to offenders (mostly issues related to the consumption/​display of alcohol in the park which is prohibited).
8. The park and trails were clean!
9. Pet friendly but must remain on leash and attended at all times (that should be a no brainer).
10. Not far from the city. There are at least 4 gas stations or super markets within a 3 mile radius of the park.
11. Maps and trails are marked accurately so you do not get lost hiking, looking for landmarks, or searching for facilities. There is also a phone number listed that is answered 24 hrs a day in case of problematic issues that might arise (this came in handy when we lost the gate code to re-​enter the park at night).
CONS:
1. Need more shower facilities. There are only two showers per facility and sometimes there is a line.
2. While we enjoyed the hike down to the little beach area at the Upper Falls, there really should be a semi-​carved walkway or rails leading down to the beach. The hike down was a little much for the elderly and/​or small children and it really is the only place that small children can swim. However, the lower falls does have a larger shallow beach area for small children to swim the only caveat to this is a long walk over large limestones that hinder use of strollers, walkers or wheelchairs.
3. Since the park is close to the city, we heard one or two low flying planes at night but this was not enough to really interrupt our experience.
4. Pets can come along but are not allowed in the water. As a side note, the park was very clean but when we went on a hike, some idiot did not pick up their pets poop and allowed «little bean-​filled presents» to dot the trail every couple of feet during the entire 2.8 miles. I seriously think that the poor dog has some sort of bad digestive issue since it pooped about 50 times! CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR ANIMALS PEOPLE!
5. The Smith visitor center and Rock Shelter are still closed from the flooding although we accidentally stumbled upon the Rock Shelter during our hike (some had taken down the tape and fence closing it off).
6. The swimming areas can get very full with day visitors especially during the summer weekends but hey that’s just something that comes along with public parks.
All in all, we LOVED our trip and would definitely come again. The fees are reasonable and well worth it ($ 6 per per over 12 years of age and $ 20 per camp night). The annual pass would probably benefit some people ($ 70 for unlimited visits, car load of people, and camp discounts). There is so much to do and so little time!

I’ve only been once. When I went the river was flowing nicely and it was very serene. I didn’t try to swim, but I did take some pretty photos of the place. The car entrance fee is expensive in my opinion and yes I know it’s a state park. Still, it would be nice if it were less to get in.

Pretty beautiful inner-​city state park!
Small fee to enter, but it’s definitely worth checking out! Very beautiful and peaceful!
If you’re planning on swimming, make sure that’s allowed the day you’re going. They often prohibit or just discourage swimming because of currents!

I honestly had no idea that I literally lived down the road from such a cool place. When my parents were in town we decided to check it out one afternoon. It is $ 6 a person to get in and all that goes back into the park. You can also purchase a state park pass for the year and that will get you into any state park in Texas.
The park is pretty large and has trails for hiking, swimming holes and camping areas. There are about 10 – 12 nice looking cabins. The cabins sleep 4 people and have a kitchen area with a sink and running water. I noticed that most of the cabins are shaded well for gathering and hanging out. There were lots of RV hook ups and places for tent campers. I particularly liked the tent sites as they had designated flat ground on the sites for the tents. I can definitely see the benefit in that.
There is also an upper falls and lower falls area. We went to the upper falls first. I went on 6÷2÷2015 after all the rain we had in April and May and the falls did not really look like the pictures on Unilocal at the time. There was so much water flowing swiftly at the upper falls that you could not walk across the rocks and there was a warning sign up advising that it was a dangerous area. We did wade a bit and enjoyed the site. Around the bend from the upper falls there was an area with tons of picnic tables and grills, which would have been perfect for a family picnic or gathering. We then ventured on to the lower falls. It was so cool walking down to them and almost like I was on different planet because of how huge the rock was you walk on. The lower falls were beautiful and flowing about too. We were able to get in the water and cool off here. There were actually quite a few people around doing the same thing. The water was so cool and refreshing. As we walked and drove around I also noticed that they have an amphitheater, chow hall/​dining room and an exploring exhibit that can be reserved.
If you are looking for a nice family outing at the park and want to stay within the city I would absolutely recommend McKinney Falls. I would also recommend it to anyone looking to camp or rent the cabins. My parents are already talking about getting a cabin on a future visit in the fall.

McKinney Falls is one of my favorite places to swim in Austin. Right now the water is at its highest so it’s ideal for swimming both in the Upper and Lower Falls. A lot of people jump in both, however I’m just a fan of wading and swimming. The falls are gorgeous! I would not encourage weak swimmers to swim at the Upper Falls because the current is stronger than you think and one time someone drowned while we were there because they underestimated the strength of the water. I personally think that this isn’t a good hiking spot because the hikes aren’t long or challenging. Perfect for a picnic lunch and 3 – 4 hours of relaxation.

The park itself and trail was ok. Texas is just SO effin hot and i know it’s a given. Anyways now that i have vented about the weather here, let me say the trails were short, the longest one is 2.8 miles.
There many sections full of wet mud (i guess because of recent flooding/​rain?), the lower and upper falls are nice. But not spectacular or worth going out for. And the trails were ok. I think most people go here for the Falls and picnic/​beach than go for hiking trail and i see why. It’s not a great hiking trail. We went because 1) it was one of the things to do in Austin list on trip advisor and my friends 2) we wanted to go hiking/​do something outdoorsy.
The park was ok. Then $ 6 per person entry is kind of stupid. maybe charge the per car as entry fee.

Lovely state park. Good for a nice stroll or picnic.
We went on an unusually rainy period in Texas so the water was extremely high. There was a raging waterfall and rapids due to all the water. Therefore there was no swimming or many visitors.
Still the area was quiet and peaceful. We saw a few deer & cool looking birds. It was simply perfect for a morning walk. The trails we’re a bit muddy due to the rain but still manageable. We walked a good three miles and enjoyed every moment. The flowing waters are normally calm and suitable for swimming but that day it was more like a raging waterfall. The visuals were cool but we were very careful not to get too close to the edge. There were ‘caution’ signs everywhere and the rocks were slippery.
The park appeared to be well maintained as well. It’s awesome to have such an amazing public park for recreation within the city limits. Camping, site seeing, swimming or exercising the park has something for you!

If only Texas wasn’t in a drought. Its incredibly sad to look how awesome this place could be. While you walk to the lower falls, you can easily see how much of this area used to be covered by water. While both falls are very pretty and nice looking, they are no longer amazing falls. The lower falls is much smaller and seemed to be filled with a lot of kids. The upper falls is much larger and open but not as people friendly.
All in all, it was a ton of fun. I wish I knew more about the area. It costs $ 6 a person to get in so if you are making the trip, you might as well make it a day and bring some lunch. We walked around for 2 hours and saw almost everything there and then left.
No complaints though, beautiful place

This is an awesome park that’s perfect for a casual walk and sight seeing. You’ll encounter some small water falls, shallow running waters, and little obstacles.
The falls here aren’t anything as spectacular as Niagara, but for what Austin has to offer, it’s a still a great addition to the park. To get to these falls, I recommend using the paper map provided to you as you drive in. There are parking spots that allow you to shorten your hiking distance if all you want to see is the falls.
I recommend parking near the upper falls and taking a short hike to the falls. This short hike is directed by a pathway through some bushels and will also lead you to some smaller streams and areas of shallow water. You might have to climb over some small boulders too.
During my last visit, I had to take off my shoes three times to cross three shallow waters to get to the lower falls. A bit of a warning while crossing through the shallow waters — the limestone rocks are extremely slippery! The algae makes the rocks even more slippery. Take small steps, go slow, and don’t underestimate your abilities. Two out of four people in my group got wet from slipping (including myself!). There might be some dry months where this may not be a concern but bring a towel and a zip-​lock bag (for your phone) just in case you do slip and get wet.
Overall, this is a great park for sight seeing and easy hikes.
FEE:
$ 6 for ages 13 years or older (as of April 2015)
Free for ages 13 years or younger
TIPS:
–Don’t jump and land on these rocks bare foot. Limestone rocks are super hard!
–When crossing waters, be-​careful not to slip and fall.
–Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.
–Bring a towel in case you get wet.
–Don’t litter! Share the park for all others to see.

This park is very nice and clean. We walked down to the lower falls and then the upper falls and it was very nice views with lots of happy people playing in the springs. I heard it could get very busy on the weekends so I would suggest taking a hike during the week because you’ll feel more alone and enjoy the sounds of the falls in the distance.
The picnic and play ground area was very clean with bathrooms close by.
Tip. By the annual park pass for $ 75 and get a car load of people in each visit. After a few visits you paid for it.

We enjoy camping and hiking in scenic parks. You pay the standard camping overnight fee (20/​night) and standard daily fee per person (6/​person/​day); these are the same fees you pay at any state park. I’m surprised by people’s confusion or annoyance over this; the parks need funding for maintenance and employees and these fees are crazy low. We camped in the water/​electric section this weekend and there are some pros and cons.
Pros:
–Easy drive from Houston compared to other state parks (the ones worth going to like Pedernales, Los Maples, etc. are further out than is doable on a Friday-​after-​work to Sunday trip).
–Friendly, informative staff.
–Well-​maintained campsites; we did Pedernales a few months ago and had some trouble getting our tent staked down. Here, they have a designated tent area that made staking down the tent a breeze.
–Distance-​wise, I love the bit of exercise and time it takes to get to the upper and lower falls (3 miles round trip).
–Distance from Austin makes day trips for locals easy.
–Dog-​friendly (leashed).
Cons:
–It’s so close to the city that you actually hear highway and LOUD airplane traffic at night as well as ambulances being dispatched; I personally come to parks to get away from the city and its noise.
–The «hiking» trail is a paved walking trail. There’s really no way to hike here, which leaves much to be desired; I like a little bit of a challenge when on a trail…
–Super high traffic area because of its closeness to Austin, which is where I think a lot of the trash is coming from people are mentioning. Was a bit crowded at the upper and lower falls on Saturday.
–Campsites aren’t super private.
We’ll probably come back for quick weekend trips but for longer trips will stick with Pedernales.

This one time, I was just a youngin’ and I didn’t appreciate the outdoors. My grandma would always make it a point every summer to take my brother and me to state parks nearby. She’d call them «mini road trips.» She’d arrive in her big ass car, with her legit walking stick carefully packed in the back seat, a plethora of cherry cokes and we’d go for a drive through the Texas hill country. Now what kind of elderly woman in her 70s takes her only grandchildren on outings like this? A really really awesome woman who drove to all 49 states in North America, that’s who.
I had not been back to McKinney Falls since I was a kid. And on a recent, surprisingly warm winter day we visited McKinney Falls. It was insanely packed and we were surprised. The falls are pretty and you can swim in them if you dare. I don’t recommend this if you are not a strong swimmer, as several people have sadly drowned in recent years. There are many trails to walk or bike on, and camping and fishing are allowed here. We saw many people spread out having picnics, enjoying the beautiful day, as well as families biking with their kids.
Is this the best park ever? No, but it is a decent choice that’s in Austin with easy access and plenty of outdoor space away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

It’s really kinda awesome that you can overnight in a state park eight miles from Downtown Austin, so McKinney falls deserves three stars just for that. The falls themselves are lovely if not spectacular (both the upper and lower waterfalls only drop about six or eight feet, with abundant water during fall/​winter but probably very little the rest of the time). The rest of the park has nice tree and exposed rock views.
Winter is probably the best time to go here, with burn bans unlikely, few bugs or snakes, relatively sparse crowds and abundant campsites. Sadly, rough camping near Onion Creek was nixed after a 2013 flash flood, so overall availability has been appreciably reduced. Campsites with water and electric ($ 20) can be procured on top of the very reasonable ($ 6) daily entrance fee.
The hiking trails are mostly paved, and hence accessible to a wide range of fitness/​commitment levels. The park feels oddly «wild,» despite its location inside of William Cannon Drive. Other reviewers have complained of excessive trash, but we noticed nothing out of the ordinary (and, btw, if you see excessive trash in a state park, pick it up rather than complain about it).
Noise and booze policies plus common sense tell you to drink out of plastic cups and keep your beer hidden in cars and tents (it is actually legal to drink in your «housing» but not elsewhere in your campsite, so be discreet and you’ll be fine). There’s a park sweep starting at the 10PM knock-​it-​off hour, so you may be gently told by patient rangers to keep it down, lest a second visit bring citations. Not that this happened to us, or anything like that. Pets are allowed, but adhere to the on-​leash policies (see: scolding by rangers, above).
Technical notes: reservations can by booked online, entry fees can now be paid with plastic, and, for the love of dog, buy your firewood in advance if you are camping. Gathering is prohibited and the stuff they sell at the park HQ is exorbitantly expensive ($ 1.50 per piece). Make a stop at Harley’s Firewood in North Austin before heading out, and you’ll pay less than half that.
On the whole, this is a great nature diversion that requires zero effort to book or reach, equally useful as a day trip or overnight expedition. Unless one is deeply committed to the prospect, a weekend may more than exhaust the park’s charms.

To start the new year (pun warning) on a good foot me and the husband went for a hike. We decided to give Mckinney Falls a try and Im so glad we did! Its a great park, the falls were running from all the rain and it was a sight to see. Not so much a challenging hike, there is a bit of an incline on some parts. But the views are great, and it is pet friendly.
There is also camping both RV and tents and swimming in the lower falls. Since we live in South Austin its so close by I am pleased to know we have this great park nearby for outings. And I cant wait for the Spring to camp and swim!

3.5 stars because I love to be outside and TX state parks are awesome!
A great park in Austin proper. There are so many green spaces around the city, think of this park as one more option. It’s small so making this a day trip destination or camping for a day or two is just enough time to take it all in.
Campsites and shower facilities were clean and well maintained.
The hiking/​biking trail around he park was cute. Well paved, benches for resting every once in a while, and not challenging in any way. This makes it totally doable for a family hike or bike ride even with little ones in tow.
What happened to the other 1.5 stars? Well, the water situation was disappointing. First, there wasn’t a lot of it and the water that was in the lower falls had a scent to it (think the smell of New Orleans streets… eeeeh).
Second, something in the water in the upper falls that left bites all over my legs and feet. The whole crew was scratching for days after swimming up there :-/​
This is a great small park that I would definitely return to, but I would be a bit hesitant about getting back in for a dip.