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    Mansfield Dam Park

    3.5 (32 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Mansfield Dam Park Photos

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    Liberty G.

    Disclaimer: parking costs 5 dollars per person unless you park outside the park which is a long walk. Be ready to have cash because they only take cash. This park was clean and spacious, there were restrooms available and the entrance to the park. One can bring a boat here or take a boat. You cannot rent the boats here, you would have to do it in advance. Make sure to check if there is a fee for bringing your own boat. The view once you are on the boat is amazing.

    Grilling
    Carmela S.

    I decided to have my daytime birthday party here to have a cookout and some swimming. We pulled in and paid our $10 (cash only) entrance fee and proceeded to navigate around to find a pavilion with a grill. Everything was pretty full since we arrived at noon so if you want to have one of the pavilions by the water area you should get here really early to stake your claim. Also it is a bit difficult to find your group or have your group find you so you will need to have a plan. We didn't since it was our first time there but, it worked out in the end. We grilled and enjoyed the shade of the pavilion but, make sure you look up and check the inside of the pavilion because we didn't realize there was a wasp nest that was pretty active. There are trash cans and by our pavilion was a bathroom that was pretty basic and had plenty of insect wildlife activity which you should expect. After grilling we went down to the water area and found a parking spot all the way in the back parking area. We walked along the edge looking for a spot but, didn't see any beach area which we were hoping for. Finally at the end of the walk way we found the tiny beach. We put our chairs in the sand and enjoyed the cool water on our feet. The swimming cove is nice but, you probably want to wear water shoes since it's a bit rocky and there is a lot of silt. There were tons of kids everywhere but, they were pretty tame. Also, it's nice to watch the boats go by. I really enjoyed this park and will definitely be back to cool off on hot days!

    Kevin N.

    A funny thing happens when you carefully plan an afternoon at Hamilton Pool only to drive all the way to where it is and find that thanks to the rain (thanks rain), the bacteria levels are appreciably high today, and there will be no swimming, thank you very much. Dressed as we were, all board shorts and bikinis, we headed for the lake. And on this day that meant a quick trip to Mansfield Dam Park. A couple of notes: the water is waay low right now due to our recent unrelenting heat, and know that going in. That means some spots that tend to be deep in other, rainier years will be devoid of same this time out. Also, it's a community oriented spot, and as such we were met with the dueling scents of suntan lotion and cookouts at once. Word to the wise, don't invite yourself to someone else's cookout just because it smells good. Good to know. That said, we found that one side of the park boasted a roped off swimming area, and that turned out to be perfect: not densely populated, plenty of room to swim and carry on, perfect for small groups or larger ones, kids or no. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and even sporting the back-slapping sunburn I'm rocking now, I had a super laid back afternoon. We skipped rocks on the water, floated on noodles, told jokes to each other. And it was just about perfect. Bring five bucks to get your car into the park during the day, and put your watch where you may not easily find it. 'Cause you're gonna wanna drift.

    Tara M.

    Thanks to the low water in Lake Travis it has many Islands. Awhile back we swam out to the island off Mansfield Dam Park. Swim at your own risk and if you bring your dog be sure and bring a flotation device for them if you plan to swim out to the island. We got lots of great pics that I posted thanks to our dry packs on the boogie boards or rafts. The island is not very far so you don't need swim fins. The park itself has many BBQ sites, picnic tables, paved hike and bike trails and one of the deepest boat launches on the lake. Bring cash for the 8.00 entrance fee.

    Allison P.

    Swimming out at Mansfield Dam Park is the best and cheapest way to enjoy the lake without having to rent a boat. I've been reluctant to share, because it already gets pretty crowded as it is. Lots of picnic tables and bbq pits available for a cookout. We've been known to pull our chairs right up to the water and spend the whole day just relaxing by the lake. There isn't much of a natural slope into the water, so getting in and out isn't the most graceful thing in the world. In some places the water is deep enough to just jump on in and in others, you may just want to slide in, because there are the random shallow rocks. Drinking is allowed, but it must be covered. So don't forget your Yelp koozie when heading out here!

    Kristen B.

    Clean facilities and a nice and easy boat ramp. I always want to know what the ramps are like so here you go boaters!

    Two Turkey Vultures flying over Mansfield Dam and Lake Àustin.

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Small community park. Easy access and well maintained. Not crowded and people are friendly. Not well known in Austin community

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    16 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Its nice for outings but the parking is far and its a hassle to carry everything down to the water areas.

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    9 years ago

    The dam is nice, water is clear, saw some fish. However lots of family with kids, it got really overwhelming and loud...

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Great park that is clean and provides easy access to the lake for boat launches, family picnics, fishing, or water fun with the family.

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    16 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Mansfield Dam Park

    Review Highlights - Mansfield Dam Park

    I decided to have my daytime birthday party here to have a cookout and some swimming.

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    McKinney Falls State Park - Bluebonnets

    McKinney Falls State Park

    4.0(310 reviews)
    18.4 miSoutheast Austin

    When we first heard about McKinney Falls State Park we liked the photos and things to do there but…read morewere generally apprehensive about paying $6 just to go to a park and swim. However, after our time there we can confidently say it's one of the best ways you can spend a few bucks here in Austin. The park itself is in a bit more of a secluded area which is nice because you truly do feel away from things. As a heads up when paying at the entrance they only take card. If you're looking to use tap to pay or cash you have to go inside in order to make that payment. The visitors center is nice though with very helpful park rangers as well as merch, drinks, and maps for you to use. Once you drive to the upper falls parking it's just a short 5 minute walk over to the swimming hole. The walk is cool as you traverse over what looks and feels like moon rock. We chose the upper falls instead of the lower falls because we heard the water here is deeper and there are less kids around. It was definitely the right choice as the water was perfect for a hot day and parts of the swimming hole are definitely 10+ feet in depth. There are a lot of places around to set up blankets and there's multiple rock formations jutting out of the water in case you need a quick break once you're in the water. The coolest part of the swimming hole is the jump you can make off the rock ledge. It's about a 15-20 foot jump and people line up in order to get there. There's also some wildlife around the pool which is cool to see. As a note, they don't allow radios or drinking and everyone was pretty respectful of that. Whether you're a young group of friends looking for a nice swim getaway or a family looking for somewhere to unwind, McKinney State Falls is a great option to beat the heat. Just make sure to layer on some sunscreen.

    I've been here several times and have explored it fairly extensively. The family-friendly trails…read moreare varied enough to keep the day interesting and the time spent at McKinney Falls is never wasted. For those seeking a bit more of a challenge, crossing the river takes more thought to avoid getting your feet wet. I've usually found there are 2-3 paths at the river crossing, being careful not to slip on any rocks. The homestead beyond the crossing can be observed and appreciated, but it's off-limits to help preserve what's left. The backcountry trails total about 6 miles and it's usually just the right length for me to get a solid hike in. There is very little elevation change, though there can be a lot of mosquitos during the warmer months. I didn't find any benches to rest at and there is no water source to refill water bottles. Given that McKinney Falls is within Austin's city limits makes this state park a gem. There is also a large day-use area near the campgrounds with about 100 picnic tables and charcoal grills the last time I counted a few years ago. Parking is plenty and the rangers are friendly. Definitely either get there early or make online reservations to reserve a time slot to enter as the park can fill up fast over weekends or holidays. Their gift shop also has a variety of items for sale, and you can get a park passport stamp there too!

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    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals

    Float On - Lake Austin Boat Rentals & Lake Travis Boat Rentals

    5.0(331 reviews)
    7.3 mi

    Loved our tour of Lake Austin with a drop off at Ski Shores for Happy Hour then a pick up an hour…read moreand a half later. Will definitely add this for our out of town visitors! Nice boats, fun and informative captains!

    We had such an amazing time on Lake Travis thanks to Willo and Float On. Everything about the…read moreexperience was extremely streamlined from booking to filling out waivers to navigating to the marina. Willo gave superb instructions on operating and piloting the boat including an overview of relevant customs and laws while out on the water. Our group had six adults and one 2-year old and they had plenty of water safety devices for all ages. On a side note, it was wonderful to see how genuinely excited Willo was about Lake Travis once again having a healthy water level after several dry years. In terms of our experience on the lake, we got excellent advice on where to travel based on our team's interests and after following his directions it felt like we had arrived on our own private lake. We probably only saw a handful of other boats during our 3-hour excursion and that was only in passing. The boat came with a Garmin GPS that made it really easy to retrace our steps. For those wondering, there was excellent cell phone service out on the lake and we were able to use our phone GPS, make calls, and stream music. The boat had some nice integrated speakers with Bluetooth connectivity and we were able to jam out to our own tunes. There was also a cool flotation device attached to the back of the boat called the Aqua Lily Pad which we unrolled after anchoring, we had multiple adults laying on it without sinking into the lake. Overall, we could not have asked for a better experience and we would highly recommend booking with Float On.

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    Barton Creek Greenbelt

    Barton Creek Greenbelt

    4.7(283 reviews)
    11.7 mi

    Oh how I love walking the Greenbelt! It feels like you can go for miles and miles. Well, you can as…read moreit's for nearly 12 miles of trails. Our little furry guy loves a jaunt on the trail in his stroller, especially if that means stopping off for a swim along the way. Can't beat cooling off in natural watering holes during a hot summer in Austin. The Barton Hills entrance gets you to Campbell's Hole while 360 gets you to Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls. I say do it all. Maybe not in one day...save something for the next time. Definitely a precious piece of Austin that we're so lucky to have.

    Loved hiking here for the first time! We first parked at the 360 trailhead and were freaked out by…read moreall the broken glass and signs saying that it's a common smash and grab area. There were broken windows literally everywhere. The car was completely empty and we parked and started to enter, then decided to turn around because it just didn't feel right. We drove down to the other entrance on Spyglass near TacoDeli and felt much better. Residential area with street parking - perfect. We got on the trail and turned left which brought us to the new Violet Crown trailhead. We figured out how it connected to Barton Springs Pool. This was only 3 miles round trip. Next time we will go right past the falls. I am not sure there are even falls right now since it hasn't rained in a long time. The trail is easily marked and there were lots of people out. Can't wait to do more exploring soon!

    Photos
    Barton Creek Greenbelt
    Barton Creek Greenbelt
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    Lake Travis - Sunset at Lake Travis

    Lake Travis

    4.5(28 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Drove to eat dinner on Lake Travis from a meeting at Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. It was so…read morebeautiful and peaceful to watch the sun set while waiting for dinner on a floating dock. Loved watching the groups of ducks swimming and feeding the hungry catfish waiting by the dock. Lake Travis is known for everything related to water. Fishing, boating, swimming, camping. It is one of the clearest lakes in Texas. It supplies water to nearby Austin. Like fishing? If you are lucky, you can catch a variety of bass, catfish or sunfish. Remember the Alamo. Lake Travis is named after William B. Travis. During the Siege of the Alamo, Travis wrote the Victory or Death letter pleading for reinforcements. When Travis and his colleagues were defeated, killed and burned, it made him a martyr. He was only 26 when he died. "Remember the Alamo" became a battle cry for Texas Independence.

    It's about time I review this beautiful Texas hill country lake. I first layed eyes on lake Travis…read moreexactly 50 years ago. All of our lakes in Texas( with the exception of Caddo) are man made. Travis is one in a chain of lakes snaking through the hill country and known as the highland lakes. Some of our man made reservoirs are prettier than others, depending on the surrounding natural topography,geology etc. Travis sits on top of limestone and as a result is normally very clear with a beautiful terraced and rocky shoreline. Steep hills of oak surround the circumference. It's a very long lake with hundreds of bends and coves. My initial visit was to scuba dive the clear waters,which I did in summer of 1975. There was only one other person on that part of the lake that day. Hardly any homes had been built out here and the 45 minutes drive from Austin was mostly desolate and undeveloped. Jump forward a mere 50 years and the place is unrecognizable. Every hill is covered with homes and the drive out feels like any other suburban area. Well,Travis is full again for another cycle. It's a beautiful lake and everyone that lives here and uses it is ecstatic. But more importantly,Travis is one of the main water sources here and it was threatened. This new relief will hopefully give the powers that be time to develop a better water conservation plan for the area.

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    Lake Travis - Sunset at Lake Travis

    Sunset at Lake Travis

    Lake Travis - Sunset

    Sunset

    Lake Travis - Sunset at Lake Travis

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    Sunset at Lake Travis

    Tom Hughes Park - Shoreline and view

    Tom Hughes Park

    4.2(10 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    It's called a park but, basically a parking lot with a porta John and a trail head leading down to…read morelake Travis. That's what a lot of these parks are. After decades of development it's getting harder to get to the lake free. I came here today to hike down to the lake which has gone from an almost all time low to almost full in a matter of weeks due to recent flooding.

    Yay, a "new" place to get in the water. I'm always looking for somewhere new to go cool off in the…read morewater. A friend told me about this little park, so I headed out there. Let's start with the cons: it's seriously off the beaten path- there's nothing out there. Bring everything you need- water, food, sunscreen etc. Secondly, there is literally no beach- just rocks, lots of rocks. Lastly, it is not dog, kid, or "out of shape" friendly. You have to climb around and over all those rocks to get to the water. (Oh, and there is a fee per person, if there's someone on duty). Now the pros- it is seriously off the beaten path, which means there's parking and very few people. Secondly, the water is clear and beautiful as are the views. It is near a marina, so boaters give nice waves every so often. Lastly, I loved sitting in my float just listening to the water hit the rocky shore. Very peaceful. I enjoyed it, but it's not for everyone. Let me know if you go- enjoy!

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    Tom Hughes Park - Lakes back to normal and looking good. Gonna make a lot of people happy

    Lakes back to normal and looking good. Gonna make a lot of people happy

    Tom Hughes Park - "Beach"...!?

    "Beach"...!?

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    Lady Bird Lake - DJI Day

    Lady Bird Lake

    4.6(124 reviews)
    15.2 miEast Austin

    Met friends at Town Lake also called Lady Bird Lake for the Links Family Health Expo & Walk for…read moreHealthy Living, an uplifting community event promoting wellness. The walk motivated people of all ages to stay active, highlighting the health benefits of simple actions like walking. The expo provided valuable resources from health professionals and focused on family and community well-being. The Links, Incorporated showed strong leadership, addressing health disparities and fostering long-term wellness through education and collaboration. The event was well organized, inspiring attendees to prioritize their health beyond the day.

    It is so nice to see the completion of the Wishbone Bridge. So now it will be a smooth transition,…read morewith no interruptions, as you walk the whole trail. I have been walking this trail for a long time and have really enjoyed the views and the many stops along the way. I first started coming with my furbaby. I brought my mom here over the years, and she loved it too. Let's say I have many memories here. But do you know that you can easily exit the trail at so many different spots? I think some people think you have to walk the whole ten miles. Well, let's end that myth! Also, you can start at any point you like, too. I have also started the trail on both sides of the I-35. Also, if you hear someone say "Town Lake," they are speaking of this trail. Another favorite thing about this trail is stopping at the different exits to grab a bite to eat, shop downtown, and hop back on the trail. There's so much to do on this walk, but all in all, this is the most beautiful trail to exercise or take a scenic stroll!

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    Lady Bird Lake - The bridge by S. Lamar

    The bridge by S. Lamar

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    Mansfield Dam Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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