McKinney Falls State Park: Hiking, Swimming & Picnics in Austin, Texas

McKinney Falls State Park: Hiking, Swimming & Picnics in Austin, Texas

Sometimes the best adventures are only a few miles from home.

Instead of traveling across Texas for spring break, we decided to spend the day exploring one of Austin's natural treasures—McKinney Falls State Park. Just minutes from downtown, the park feels surprisingly peaceful, with limestone waterfalls, towering cypress trees, shaded hiking trails, and clear pools of water that invite visitors to slow down and enjoy nature.

Whether you're looking for a family picnic, a scenic hike, or simply a place to cool your feet in the water, McKinney Falls is one of my favorite nearby escapes.

A Little History

The park is named after Thomas F. McKinney, an early Texas settler, businessman, and one of Stephen F. Austin's original colonists. During the mid-1800s, McKinney built a successful gristmill along Onion Creek, and visitors can still see the remains of his historic homestead within the park.

It's fascinating to walk these trails knowing people have lived and worked here for nearly two centuries.

Sticking close to town for spring break, we went to McKinney Falls State Park for a picnic and hike.

What You'll See

During our visit we enjoyed:

• Limestone waterfalls
• Crystal-clear swimming holes
• Massive bald cypress trees
• Wild cactus growing among the trees
• Scenic hiking trails
• Picnic areas
• Beautiful creek views
• Plenty of wildlife

One of the things that always amazes me is how different the park looks throughout the year. After heavy rains, the waterfalls become especially impressive, while drier seasons reveal beautiful limestone formations carved by centuries of flowing water.

A Perfect Austin Day Trip

McKinney Falls is one of those parks that's easy to visit for just a few hours or an entire weekend. The park offers hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, birdwatching, and plenty of quiet places to simply sit and enjoy the scenery.

After spending the afternoon outdoors, we headed home with one thing on our minds...

Fresh homemade tacos!

Sometimes the simplest outings become the ones you remember the longest.

If you look closely, you can spot cactus growing on this tree.

McKinney Falls sits along Onion Creek, where thousands of years of flowing water have carved smooth limestone shelves and pools that are characteristic of Central Texas. These limestone formations create the park's beautiful waterfalls and natural swimming areas.

The water was cool and inviting.

Visitor Tips

• Wear sturdy walking shoes.
• Bring water, especially during summer.
• Swimming conditions depend on recent rainfall.
• Arrive early on weekends.
• Bring a picnic lunch.
• Don't forget binoculars if you enjoy birdwatching.

It was a fabulous way to spend our day. On our way home, we stopped by HEB to pick up fresh ingredients.

Can anyone say, homemade TACOS?

Almost Spring: Spring Gardening at The Natural Gardener in Austin, Texas

Spring Gardening at The Natural Gardener in Austin, Texas

There are certain places that always seem to announce the arrival of spring before the calendar does, and for me, one of those places is The Natural Gardener in Austin.

The moment the weather begins to warm, gardeners come out of winter hibernation. Parking lots fill, shopping carts overflow with seedlings, and everyone seems eager to start another growing season. On this visit, the nursery was absolutely buzzing with activity. It felt like every gardener in Central Texas had the exact same idea.

Preparing for Spring

This year's additions to my garden included:

• Rosemary
• Lemon Mint
• Heirloom Granny Zinnias
• Bay Laurel
• Hungarian Broom Corn

I especially enjoy growing heirloom varieties whenever possible. Besides producing beautiful plants, many heirloom flowers and vegetables allow you to save seeds from year to year, making each growing season a little more self-sufficient.

I was particularly excited to find Bay Laurel, since it isn't always easy to locate. Although it grows slowly, a healthy bay tree can provide fragrant leaves for cooking for many years.

Then there was the Hungarian Broom Corn. I'm still not entirely sure what possessed me to buy those seeds, but gardening has a funny way of encouraging curiosity. Sometimes the most unusual plants become the most memorable additions to the garden.

Why I Love The Natural Gardener

One of my favorite things about visiting local nurseries is talking with fellow gardeners. There's always someone eager to share growing tips, recommend a new variety, or simply celebrate the arrival of another gardening season.

The Natural Gardener has long been one of my favorite places to find heirloom seeds, native plants, herbs, and inspiration for future garden projects.

Ending the Day with Organic Burgers

After wandering the nursery for most of the morning, we had worked up quite an appetite and headed over to TerraBurger on Guadalupe Street.

Finding parking near The Drag can sometimes be an adventure in itself, but the food made it worthwhile. We enjoyed organic burgers, organic soft drinks, and fresh ingredients from top to bottom—a perfect ending to a day spent thinking about fresh food and healthy living.

There really is something special about spring in Texas. The gardens begin waking up, seed packets start disappearing from store shelves, and every trip to the nursery fills me with ideas for another growing season.

The sun broke out today and we (my sister, the kids, and I) headed for Natural Gardener. The place was a beehive. Everyone had spring fever. I picked up Rosemary seeds, more heirloom Granny Zinnias (I adore these flowers), and Lemon Mint.

I was very pleased to find the BAY LAUREL. I hadn't located any seeds this year and had also read these were hard to sprout. (Bay Laurel can be slow and somewhat unpredictable to grow from seed, which makes finding healthy plants or viable seeds especially exciting for gardeners who enjoy growing culinary herbs.) 

Don't ask what possessed me, but I picked up these Hungarian Broom Corn seeds at Whole Foods later today.

What to Plant in Central Texas During Early Spring

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Herbs
• Zinnias
• Marigolds
• Beans
• Squash
• Cucumbers
• Sunflowers

After the nursery, we worked up an appetite and checked out Terra Burgers off of Guadalupe (the Drag.)

Parking's a hassle, but it was well worth it. The burgers were very yummy and EVERYTHING was organic, down to the cola's and the condiments.

Yep, EVERYTHING...

THE END...


(no pun intended)

More to Plant: My Texas Spring Garden of Herbs, Flowers & Vegetables

Today, I received from Seed Savers Exchange my order of Herb Chives, English Lavender, and Salvia flower.

Planning My Texas Spring Garden: Herbs, Flowers & Vegetables

Spring gardening always fills me with optimism. Every seed packet holds the promise of fresh vegetables, colorful flowers, and a season full of surprises.

This week my order from Seed Savers Exchange arrived, and I couldn't wait to start planning where everything would go.

This year's additions include:

• Herb Chives
• English Lavender
• Salvia
• Sunflowers
• Organic Red Potatoes
• Radishes
• Green Beans

Why I Love Growing Herbs

Herbs are some of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow.

Chives return year after year with very little attention and are wonderful sprinkled over baked potatoes, eggs, soups, and salads.

English Lavender not only produces beautiful purple blooms but also attracts bees and butterflies while adding wonderful fragrance to the garden.

Salvia is another favorite because hummingbirds absolutely love its colorful flowers.

Sunflowers are ready to transplant, but I can't decide where to put them yet.

Watching the Garden Wake Up

My organic red potatoes had already begun sprouting, and the mystery green beans that unexpectedly appeared in one of my marigold pots continued to grow.

Gardening always has a few surprises.

The organic radishes had already started blooming and going to seed, reminding me how quickly cool-season vegetables react once Texas temperatures begin climbing. Rather than viewing that as a disappointment, I looked forward to saving the seeds for another growing season.

The organic radishes are blooming and going to seed. I'm wondering if the weather is getting too warm for them now.

The organic red potatoes I had picked up at Whole Foods are sprouting beautifully.

These are the mystery green beans that had sprouted in my pot of Marigolds.

Spring Weather in Texas

If there's one thing every Texas gardener learns, it's to never trust the calendar.

One week we're running the air conditioner with temperatures near 80°F.

The next week we're digging jackets back out as nighttime temperatures drop into the 40s.

Spring gardening in Texas is always a balancing act between taking advantage of warm weather and protecting tender plants from one last surprise cold front.

Like most gardeners across the state, I found myself hoping for rain—but not another freeze.

Every spring teaches a little patience, and every season brings another opportunity to learn.

What to Plant in Early Spring in Central Texas

• Chives
• Lavender
• Salvia
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Beets
• Sunflowers

We've been enjoying 80 degree weather all week, but now our temps are dropping. Our lows will be dropping to the mid 40's with a high of 50's and 60's. This is the type of weather that drives me crazy. We've been running our air conditioner all week, and now it's getting cold again.

We have a 70% chance of rain tomorrow and Thursday. 209 out of Texas' 254 counties are under a burn ban. HOPING for rain, but not hoping for a freeze!