Trails Information
Find solitude and beauty in Austin’s city limits.
- Nine-banded armadillo
Discover wilderness in the city at McKinney Falls State Park where prairie meets plateau. Hike or bike the winding trails through the woods or head to Onion Creek to relax near the falls. Watch for wildlife and keep your eyes open for remnants of the past that tell stories of those who’ve come before us.
We have an all-terrain wheelchair for use in the park; email us to reserve the chair for your visit.
Trails
Accessing the Homestead, Flint Rock and Williamson Creek Overlook trails requires crossing the creek at the Lower Falls. Use extreme caution when crossing the creek. Plan on getting your feet wet!
All trails allow hiking and biking unless otherwise indicated.
This list may not include all trails in the park.
| Trail | Distance | Time | Difficulty | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Shelter Trail | 0.6 mi. | 15 min. | Easy | Enjoy variety along this hiking-only trail! You’ll get great views of Onion Creek, walk by the huge bald cypress tree named “Old Baldy,” and feel the cooler temperatures of the prehistoric limestone Rock Shelter. |
| Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail | 2.8 mi. | 1.5 hrs. | Easy | This improved surface trail for hiking and biking parallels Onion Creek, before winding through the forest around the campground areas. Great for seeing wildlife like white-tailed deer and maybe even a coyote. |
| Picnic Trail | 0.5 mi. | 15 min. | Easy | Only hiking is allowed on this short family-friendly trail. After picnicking, you can stroll over to check out great views at the Lower Falls. |
| Homestead Trail | 3.1 mi. | 1.5 hrs. | Moderate | This hike and bike trail is one of the best places in the park to discover the past. Check out the McKinney Homestead, Gristmill and Smith Family Picnic Table. The only way to get to this trail is to cross the creek. Prepare to get your feet wet and exercise caution. |
| Flint Rock Loop Trail | 1.5 mi. | 1 hr. | Moderate | Rocky terrain leads into a quiet hardwood bottomland where you feel like you're truly away from it all. Requires creek crossing to access trail. Exercise caution! Don’t forget to bring water for you and your dog on this primitive trail. |
| Williamson Creek Overlook Trail | 1.1 mi. | 45 min. | Moderate | While this trail is only a little more than a mile, note that you have to travel along part of the Homestead Trail and Flint Rock Loop Trail to get here, so pace yourself. The views of Williamson Creek are worth the trek! Requires creek crossing to access trail. Exercise caution! |
| Cactus Garden Trail | 0.5 mi. | 15 min. | Moderate | Take this alternate route and enjoy large patches of prickly pear cactus. Don't forget to stay on the trail! |
Points of Interest
GPS coordinates shown in decimal degrees.
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | 360° Views | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Trainer's Cabin | 30.1818° | -97.7253° | View of the Horse Trainer's Cabin | Remains of the former residence of John Von Hagen, Thomas McKinney's horse trainer. |
| Upper Falls | 30.1845° | -97.7256° | View of the Upper Falls | Water cascades through natural channels within a massive bed of exposed limestone and volcanic ash. Note: Be safe around water! |
| Old Baldy | 30.1841° | -97.7237° | View of Old Baldy | This 100’ tall bald cypress tree sprouted here as Leonardo Da Vinci finished the Mona Lisa over 500 years ago. Voted Austin’s Tree of the Year in 2012. |
| Prehistoric Rock Shelter | 30.1847° | -97.7230° | View of the Prehistoric Rock Shelter | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this limestone overhang provided shelter for Native Americans for more than 8,000 years. |
| Bouldering Rocks | 30.1865° | -97.7222° | View of the Bouldering Rocks | A great place for a type of rock climbing performed without ropes or harnesses. Use only with a bouldering mat and practice safety. |
| El Camino Real | 30.1880° | -97.7209° | View of El Camino Real | The limestone beneath your feet is part of a 2,500-mile road stretching from Mexico to Louisiana called El Camino Real de los Tejas. This area has been an important river crossing for over 400 years. |
| Lower Falls | 30.1884° | -97.7210° | View of the Lower Falls | Relax to the sounds of Onion Creek as it flows over limestone ledges to the pool below. Note: Be safe around water! |
| McKinney Homestead | 30.1897° | -97.7207° | View of the McKinney Homestead | These stone walls hold the stories of a crumbling personal empire, slavery, emancipation, farming, and family life from 1850-1940. Enslaved people built this homestead for Thomas McKinney, a racehorse breeder and one of Stephen F. Austin’s original colonists. |
| Gristmill | 30.1888° | -97.7194° | View of the Gristmill | Powered by Onion and Williamson creeks, bread lovers rejoiced when Thomas McKinney established one of the first flour mills in the region here in 1852. |
| Smith Family Picnic Area | 30.1880° | -97.7183° | View of the Smith Family Picnic Area | Have a picnic at the table of the Smith family, who purchased McKinney's land in 1885 and donated over 600 acres to the state of Texas and all of you in the 1970s. |
Staying Safe
- Know your limits. Prepare for sun and heat. Wear sunscreen, insect repellent and appropriate clothing/hiking shoes.
- Drink plenty of water. Your body quickly loses fluids when you’re on the trail. Bring a quart of water per hour of activity. Don’t forget water for your dog, too!
- Tell others where you’ll be. If possible, avoid exploring alone. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Wear a helmet when biking. Check with park HQ to match the ride to your skill level. Wear a helmet to protect yourself in case of a crash. No biking is permitted on the Picnic or Rock Shelter trails.
- Wear a life jacket. Rivers and creeks can be unpredictable. We strongly suggest that all swimmers wear a life jacket to prevent drowning.
- Potentially harmful plants and animals live here. You’ll see them more easily if you stay on trails.
- Stick to the trail. When you leave the trail, it hurts habitat for plants and animals and makes it harder for future hikers to pick the right path.
Trail Etiquette
- Trash your trash. Keep the park natural. Pack out all of your trash and Leave No Trace. Only picnic in designated areas.
- Leave feeding to nature. Feeding wild animals will make them sick and more likely to harm people.
- Take only memories and pictures. Please don’t disturb or remove any of the park’s plants, animals or artifacts. No need to leave your mark here.
- We need to know about your caches. Please check with park HQ before placing geocaches within the park.
- Campfires are permitted only in designated rings due to potential for ground scarring and wildfires.
- Keep pets on leashes and out of the water for their safety, and to protect wildlife.
