If you’re looking for a great place to visit in Austin, Texas, Mckinney Falls State Park may be the place for you. This state park is situated at the confluence of Williamson Creek and Onion Creek, and is administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The park is home to the oldest bald cypress tree in Texas, known as the Old Baldy tree, which is estimated to be 500 years old. Other attractions include a National Register of Historic Places-listed rock shelterand the homestead of Thomas McKinney. The park is also located on part of the 300-year-old El Camino Real de los Tejas, a trail once traveled by American, French, and Spanish pioneers.
McKinney Falls State Park is a state park that is located just outside of Austin. It has many activities, including hiking trails, swimming, and other outdoor recreation. Onion Creek flows over limestone ledges and splashes into the pools below. Visitors can spend the day swimming, playing in the water, or enjoying the views of nature and the rushing waterfalls.
The park also has campgrounds and picnic areas. It has 81 campsites with electricity and water and six screened shelters. All campsites have a parking pad and a fire pit. They are spacious and well-shaded, and some have lantern poles. The park is heavily wooded, and the roads are paved.
McKinney Falls State Park is a great place to take kids camping, and is only a short drive from Austin. You can even take your bikes and hike on the paved Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail. The trail is about three miles long and is lined with wildflowers in some areas.
The park is also home to an IMAX theater. Visitors can see the park’s past with educational exhibits. The entrance fee is $6 per day, while a Texas State Parks pass costs $70. Senior and disabled citizens can also access the park at reduced or free rates. There are also free or reduced-rate camping options for families and other groups.
The park is home to many species of wildlife. White-tailed deer, raccoons, armadillos, cottontail rabbits, and fox squirrels are there for your enjoyment. Birds found in the park include the greater roadrunner, the scissor-tailed flycatcher, and the painted bunting. You can also find the Yellow-crowned night heron and the Snowy Egret. Other animals in the park include the Guadalupe spiny softshell turtle, red-eared slider, and Blanchard’s cricket frog.
The park has two swimming areas, the Upper and Lower Falls. There are plenty of spots for swimming and cliff jumping. Both are open eight hours a day.
