Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    McKinney Falls State Park

    4.0 (310 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

    McKinney Falls State Park Photos

    You might also consider

    More like McKinney Falls State Park

    Recommended Reviews - McKinney Falls State Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Old Baldy - Tree of the Year 2012
    Sean K.

    McKinney Falls State Park is a solid spot in Austin, and this was my second visit -- both times were great experiences. We're annual Texas State Parks pass holders, so we saved the $18 entrance fee and had an easy, smooth entry. One big tip: make reservations on busy weekends. This park does fill up, and they will turn people away once capacity is reached. Set expectations appropriately for the "falls." Both the Upper and Lower Falls are nice to see, but they're not majestic waterfalls by any means. Still worth checking out, just don't expect anything dramatic. One of the real highlights of the park is Old Baldy, an absolutely massive and beautiful tree in the middle of the park. It's hundreds of years old and even won Texas Tree of the Year in 2012 -- very cool to see up close. There's also a rock formation you can walk through, which is fun and memorable. Funny side note: the first time we visited years ago, the rocks were completely lined with thousands (maybe millions?) of daddy longlegs spiders. This time? Gone. (Well, we did see a few legs sticking out of a hole in the rocks.) Maybe they were hiding deeper in the rocks due to the cold. The trails are well maintained, though I do wish there was better signage, as it's not always clear where you are. That said, all the trails are moderate to easy, nothing particularly challenging. Overall, this is a great, convenient state park with interesting features and an easygoing vibe. A nice escape within Austin -- enjoy!!

    Some easy to obtain views of the water
    Harris N.

    The waterfall is reachable within minutes of walking from the parking lot to the trailhead. This makes the highlight very easy if you have kids or older company. They also have trails which are extremely easy. Overall, I'd say lower your expectations if you are used to National parks, as this is a state park (less things to do) and can be all done within half a day) there is camping available as well.

    Chris S.

    We camped here in our RV trailer for 2 nights, it had been a few years since we tent camped but the park is pretty much the same. What has changed is the area around the park. Once empty fields are now giant warehouse office complexes and apartment buildings everywhere. There is Tesla factory nearby and the sounds of jets taking off at the airport is pretty much non-stop. But the trails are nice, we saw a lot of deer out early in the mornings and several hawks and owls in flight. Our campsite was #42 and reasonably level. They only have RV sites with water and power but no sewer hookups although I noticed that all the Park Host sites had sewer. The water level had only recently increased after a dry autumn, no big waterfalls but enough to say we saw them. I did find on this trip the park staff a bit lacking. At check in they made no attempt to show us on the map where our site was, I had to ask. The public restroom near our campsite was in disrepair with a broken urinal and was not cleaned until 3 in the afternoon, floor was not mopped. We also never saw a Park Host, they made no attempt to check and clean campsites after other campers departed. The dumpster at the public restrooms in our loop was on the verge of overflowing as it had not been emptied and there weren't that many campers there so I expect it had been this way for a while. Cell phone signal is good due to location to Austin but as I said, the noise of cars and trucks, jets and the mowers at the golf course next door was a bit much. McKinney Parkway is in horrible condition due to nonstop big truck traffic, mostly dirt and aggregate haulers. The road is very uneven and bumpy, no fun when pulling an RV trailer. With all the traffic and noise we won't be coming back, there are better state parks in Texas to visit.

    Andrew W.

    First time visiting this park! It's located in southern part of Austin near the airport! We enjoyed hiking around the park and they have nice river as well as creek and water falls there! People can swim as well as do fishing there! Nature rich and beautiful experience for sure! One reminder is that they charge $6 per person so be aware of that, but it's worth the try for sure! Check it out! Cheers

    Pops
    Erica G.

    Dear lord we made it out of here! Let me just say that yall need more SIGNS. We couldn't find the trail head for the life of us until we stopped and asked someone. We went when there was no water right in the beginning of October. Super hot this day, too. Bring lots of water. Once the trailhead was found, there wasn't any great scenery. While it was a nice day of activity, I unfortunately don't think we will be back.

    Brandon H.

    Loved my experience at this park. It's hard to believe this place is close to the airport because once you enter you feel like you stepped into the wild with cool water holes and awesome trails to hike. I rented site #76 which came with a picnic table, electricity and water. Besides the occasional airplane noise this place is exceptionally quiet and peaceful. One of the main things that stuck out to me was how clean the restrooms and showers were, the whole park was clean but it was nice being able to take a hot shower in a clean facility. They also sell firewood on site which was awesome. I will be coming back to explore the trails and swimming spots next time

    waterfall
    Jocelyn H.

    Not a far drive from downtown for a getaway hike! The waterfall is a quick walk from the parking lot and quite unique. There's a few trails you can walk that are pretty flat and easy on the feet.

    Maria W.

    When I lived in Austin for a year, I would frequent this state park a lot, and almost every weekend. It is near the airport and right off of the Metropolis neighborhood on an off-beaten path. I love the falls, the random bodies of water, the creeks, and the rivers - so many waterholes in this Texas heat. My then-boyfriend appeared to love this park, he would jump from one rock formation to another. He almost fell into the water. I know, I caught myself trying to leap and fell onto the icy cold water. It was refreshing and surprisingly not painful. Beautiful scenery and if you come in the spring, you can catch some wildflowers. I've never camped or swam at the park, however, the hiking was exciting. Not too rocky or challenging. I would say most of the hiking level was moderate. I've brought Pocky to this park and he seemed to enjoy it!

    Trail
    Kudakwashe T.

    This spot is amazing. Awesome place to hike and beautiful views. The trail is a 1.5 to 2 out of 5 difficulty. There are plenty of waterfalls to see during the hikes. There fauna and nature is very beautiful. I'd recommend wearing water proof or water resistant shoes there are areas where trail may get wet, muddy, and slippery. Highly recommend this park for a nice hike. There are also EV charging stations. We drove an electric car and this was amazing because it could charge while we hiked. Great park and great park amenities.

    Kalia A.

    The park is absolutely stunning, with lush green trees providing a serene canopy and the water is a nice touch. The service here is top-notch, with friendly staff always ready to assist and a variety of activities available for all ages. From scenic walking trails and to picnic areas and benches where you can relax and soak in the beauty, there's truly something for everyone to enjoy: camping, hiking, swimming, etc.

    Turtle with fishing hook stuck in mouth
    JO O.

    Park is nice water is drying up. Stop building in Austin/Buda/Kyle it's ruining the environment and nature everywhere!!! Also looking through my pictures this poor turtle had a fishing hook and line stuck in its mouth...

    Amber D.

    We had a great time! Good parking $6 a person swimming and hiking lots of fun! Always great to be able to be out in nature

    Cactus Trail
    Kelly M.

    Great park for a long weekend or for one day to get out and get some sunshine! Lots of trails to choose from. The moderate ones were still fairly easy and a good amount of the trail was in the shade. Walked the onion creek trail and cactus trail and picnic trail. But ample parking throughout the park and found some dog stations for pick up throughout the park. Perk is near the picnic area they also had dog bowls for water that you could fill up. Overall, dog friendly park for your k-9 companion, however, they are not allowed in the water.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andrew W.
    138
    1261
    20115

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erica G.
    677
    1024
    2194

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maria W.
    347
    1330
    5474

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of JO O.
    67
    111
    14

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Amber D.
    0
    494
    6040

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of At Y.
    0
    190
    0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nick
    0
    1
    0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    An enjoyable place to spend an afternoon hiking and hanging with friends. Would recommend sunscreen as it can get sunny

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rain W.
    163
    1316
    1372

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karen 2.
    189
    3015
    3141

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 8

    McKinney Falls State Park Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - McKinney Falls State Park

    Is it crowded this time of year?

    This is a wonderful time of year to explore! Although I'm not sure about the campgrounds, but I have had many walks where I hardly saw anyone. Some days I have see a small group of home schoolers, but only occasionally!… Read more

    Is the water safe for dogs right now?

    Please don't chance it!!

    How long is the walk from the parking lot to the falls?

    It really depends on where you park.. try to get the lot closest to the falls and the walk is quite short. Maybe 2-3 min walk..

    Is it good for kids?

    Yes most definitely! When we were there a few weeks ago the Austin area had a lot of rain and they had most of the hiking trails and the upper falls closed due to severe flooding. Not a lot to do at the state park outside of bike riding, hiking… Read more

    Are dogs welcomed?

    Yes!

    View All 7 Questions

    Review Highlights - McKinney Falls State Park

    Recent rains have caused damage to the Homestead Trail, so hopping on the Onion Creek trail is your best bet.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Parks 3,450 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Pease Park - Check out this spot.

    Pease Park

    4.7(122 reviews)
    7.0 miOld Enfield, Downtown

    Pease Park is one of Austin's most beautiful parks. Full stop! It has been thoughtfully designed…read moreand enjoyable green space to frequent. Stretching along Shoal Creek, the park offers a mix of shaded walking and biking trails, open lawns, and beautifully restored natural areas. It is hard to believe when you are in the park that you are in the heart of central Austin. The park is especially family friendly, with a large playground, splash pad, treehouse style observation area, and plenty of seating. While we were at the park a school was hosting a picnic for its students. The northern portion of the park is even more quiet and scenic, with winding trails, limestone bluffs, and creek views. It's a great area for dog walks, leisurely strolls, picnics, workouts, or just relaxing under the trees. The park is well maintained and welcoming to all ages. This park is very special.

    Such a gem of a park. Big, beautiful, and genuinely fun for all ages. The giant troll made from…read morenatural and recycled materials alone is worth the visit -- it's impressive and so unique. The stream nearby adds a peaceful touch, and the overall design of the park feels really intentional and creative. Kids will go crazy for the massive playground and all the interactive installations. The hanging net sphere is a must, you can lie inside and bounce around, and honestly the adults were just as into it as the little ones. There are also food vendors including ice cream, so you can easily spend a whole afternoon here. One of the most well-done parks I've been to. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    Pease Park
    Pease Park - Treehouse view from below, the walk way to upper level is on the left side.

    Treehouse view from below, the walk way to upper level is on the left side.

    Pease Park - Observation globe top view

    See all

    Observation globe top view

    Barton Creek Greenbelt

    Barton Creek Greenbelt

    4.7(283 reviews)
    7.0 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
    Barton Creek Greenbelt

    See all

    Mount Bonnell - View at Mount Bonnell

    Mount Bonnell

    4.4(518 reviews)
    10.0 mi

    Mount Bonnell is one Austin's top tourist attractions. You climb about a hundred stone steps to…read morereach the top. You see folks coming down steps on the opposite side and your sense of what you might see at the top grows and grows. Alas, you reach the top. Was the climb worth it? Absolutely! When you reach the top, OMG the views are so spectacular! You cannot imagine how beautiful the views are until you actually see them. You see panoramic views of Lake Austin, multi-million residences on the lake and scenic view of Austin. One word...spectacular! We have been at Mt. Bonnell at sunrise and sunset and both views have something special to offer. Sunrise has peacefulness and light dances on Lake Austin. Sunset turns the overlook into connectiveness, where folks you met a few minutes ago or maybe not have met experience this quiet together as the sun retreats. While this location is quite popular, you still have vestiges of human life - graffiti on signage. Mount Bonnell has welcomed visitors since the 1800s and remains one of the city's oldest and most beloved natural landmarks. Austinites beam with pride regarding Mt. Bonnell

    Mount Bonnell is a local gem, a perfect date spot or somewhere to just enjoy the sunset. It's a…read moreshort walk up the stairs (maybe about 100 steps) from the parking to the pagoda-like terrace that overlooks some very scenic homes and has an excellent view of sunrise and sunset. I never actually did the full hike, only just went up to enjoy the scenery. It's less than 15 minutes from major Austin eateries and local spots, so it's a true gem within the city area as opposed to some hikes that are 30 minutes or an hour away. No bathrooms or garbage bins here is the one downside. Take your trash with you!

    Photos
    Mount Bonnell
    Mount Bonnell
    Mount Bonnell

    See all

    Northwest District Park

    Northwest District Park

    4.3(21 reviews)
    11.5 miAllandale

    Northwest Park near Burnet Road is nicely placed into a residential area. The park covers a very…read morelarge green space. While a great deal of the park is open to the public, some parts of the parks grounds are under construction specifically the pool area (according to a construction worker on site, construction has been ongoing for a 1.5 years). The grounds appear to be well manicured. Large, shaded oak trees are the focal point of the park. The park's amenities are a standout. Northwest park features playgrounds, pickle ball, tennis courts, picnic tables, and a scenic pond. The park appears children friendly except for the portion under construction. There's also a walking path around the park and Shoal Creek running along the edge. Overall, Northwest Park is a versatile, green space where recreation, nature, and community converge.

    I thought I would update my review from three years prior because of the new changes taking place…read more The entire area surrounding the pool has been completely fenced off due to construction. The entire parking lot to the pool has also been closed down. You can still park on the side of the pool or all the way behind it. Considering how big this project is, I think it's safe to assume that it's going to be closed for the entire summer of 2025. The rest of the park is still available for use, although all the property next to the pool is fenced off. So you may wish to skip this as your pool choice this year and try again next year.

    Photos
    Northwest District Park - Historical sign in front of the park's pool.

    Historical sign in front of the park's pool.

    Northwest District Park
    Northwest District Park

    See all

    McKinney Falls State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...