Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve

One of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had! Visited my best friend in Austin last month and was pleasantly surprised when he brought me to this lovely place. After people watching and a quick snack, I dared to climb on top of the big rock and soak under the waterfall! Oh so refreshing, enlightening, and peaceful it was. Only thing missing was my ability to swim, but I still enjoyed it thoroughly. I highly recommend HPR. :)

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful places I have visited. This place is magical and serene. We made reservations for a Saturday am time slot and it was perfect. There was no line and barely anyone there– maybe 10 people max? It was such a private experience to see the pool. We couldn’t swim that day but exploring was good for us. Just know that if you have the reservation, you don’t necessarily need to show up at the start of the time window. We got there maybe 1030 am and stayed for a little over an hour– you could easily spend the morning there. The walk down is not bad at all — could be harder for kids or people who need help but we did it in no time!

Came here on a visit from NYC, and definitely one of my favorite spots of Austin. I wouldn’t have thought something like this wouldv’e existed in the US. Many large rocks for you to take naps on. Make sure to come here on a warm day to experience the water. The water was very cold, and we went in 82 degrees weather (February). Try to stay towards the end when they close at 5pm, there is no one left and you can truly the pool, the quietness, the nature and just everything about it.
The pictures do a very good job describing it.

I have never been to any place similar to this swimming hole. It was an amazing view! We made sure to show up early so we were guaranteed to get in. There was a small line when we got there, but it was quick to get in. There is a fee of 15 dollars to get into the park, per car, and it is definitely worth it.
We first went on the half mile trail down to the river. We were the firsr ones on the trail, and if you are the first one beware of spide webs! I followed my dad lickily, but he ran into a lot of webs. The hike was very scenic and there was a nice path to follow. When we got down to the lake I saw a snake so I did not go down any further. I am not a big fan of snakes, and aren’t sure which ones are dangerous so I just steered clear.
After the hike we went to the swimming hole. There is a small sandy area where you can leave your stuff. luckily the bacteria level was normal and we were able to swim! Swimming was definitely an additional plus of the experience.
This place is beautiful! If you are in the area you should visit and fingers crossed that you are allowed to swim.

This place is a must see. Incredible swimming hole with cool refreshing water, complete with a waterfall. It is a short walk to the pool from the parking area. There is also a ½ mile trail (1 way) that takes you in the opposite direction to the river. We did both.
The place is small and I hear there can be a substantial wait to get in, and you can even be turned away if there are too many people already there. We went on a Friday morning at 9 a.m., on a school day. We waited 2 minutes for the 2 cars in front of us to pay and go in. Early Bird gets the worm I guess :-)
There are limited amenities so bring food and drink with you. There is also a $ 15 entry fee (per car), and it is cash only. Plan ahead, be early, and enjoy this gem of nature.

This is a pretty cool natural feature that would get 5 stars easily if it wasn’t for the difficulty we experienced trying 3 separate days to see this place. One day was closed for something or other, the other had its full occupancy and so was closed to others… When we finally got to the pool it was really cool, but we were not allowed to swim in the water as the park ranger told us the water had an Ecoli problem due to sewage getting into the water…
YUCK!
Great spot if not for that stuff…

Went to this pool for mothers day, weather was rainy, but that did not stop us from having a great time. Kids enjoyed swimming in the water. Will be making reservations for the summer. Would recommend.

Wow! This is a must see over & over again place!
You’ll need to make an online reservation to get into the park and bring cash for parking. I suggest bringing a picnic lunch and lots to drink, as there are miles to explore in this amazing preserve. While you’re here, you will enjoy fairy-​like settings, waterfalls, hikes down to the river, and lots of crystal clear blue water! Don’t forget your sunscreen and bathers just in case the pool is open to swim!!!

I really like coming here and seeing the pool because it’s so beautiful and it’s a nice place to take some beautiful photos with friends or just yourself. I definitely recommend coming here to check out the view because the hike is worth it and it’s not too bad. Just make sure to bring some water during the hot season!
The hike to the pool is pretty nice. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes because it can be slippery and there are lots of little rocks around so you need some firm soles. Of course, some people want to look all dressed up and cute. it’s not impossible to walk around this area, but if you’re going to wear something that won’t give you a firm foot hold then just make sure to look before you step.
The view of the pool is beautiful. I see people bringing picnic baskets and people swimming in the pool. It’s a really relaxing area and you appreciate nature for what it is. beautiful. Enjoy the view, be respectful, and relax.
The one thing I don’t like about coming here is the parking situation. People would wait such a long time because they only allow certain amount of cars in. The wait could take forever! Either come super early or during the school year. I definitely would avoid this area in the summer.

Seeing that Austin/​Texas was experiencing heavy rains, I didn’t get my hopes too high for visiting the preserve during my trip… actually gave up calling their information center after the first few days…
However, on my last day in Austin, I gave it a call and found that the preserve was open! 30 minutes later, you could definitely say that I was in nirvana.
Describing the pool is really beyond words.
There’s no doubt as to why this is a destination for tourists and locals alike! While swimming was not permitted due to high bacteria counts, it was still fun to walk along the walls of the cavern and take in one of the wonders of the Texas Hill Country.
Ensure that you bring adequate water and wear sensible shoes for the trek up and down. It’s mostly dirt and rocks so it can get uncomfortable/​slippery/​muddy, especially after a good rain.

Come early to avoid a shit tons of people
come early to avoid the heat
come early to find a peaceful place
It’s like paradise on earth. The hike is around 15 min. nothing worth mentioning. It’s a nice walk through river and trees.
$ 15 for parking. If you have to wait in line make sure to turn your damn engine off! A paradise doesn’t exist because of your ignorance. And make sure not to throw your trash here. And no you can not pee nor shit in the pool as there are porta potties.

I love, love, love this place!
If you are needing a «calgon take me away» moment in your life and like to be in naturethen you too will love this place.
The main draw to the pool is well… The pool. After a short hike (fairly easy), about ¼ mile you arrive at your oasis. The waterfall and pool are beautiful beyond description. In the summer months swimming is allowed on days the bacteria levels aren’t high. Most people will bring a picnic and layout around the shoreline. The water is quite deep in areas and it is a swim at your own risk.
On today’s outing swimming wasn’t allowed and it was to cold anyways. Today we enjoyed this awesome beauty and captured memories with plenty of selfies and our canon cameras.
If you want to continue hiking there are trails going in the opposite direction which run for about a mile till you reach the perdenales river.
I believe entry was 15 a carload and cash only, $ 5 for seniors… May be worth bringing one along.
I have learned in order to enjoy this destination to the fullest it is best to arrive early. The gates don’t open till exactly 9am. Our group was the third in line. Since this was a non swimming day we were done by noon and upon exiting there were about 20 cars waiting in line to get in. The park only allows around 100 people at a time to preserve the area.
P. S. — starting May 15^th entry will only be allowed by reservation!!!

Easily worth the 30 min wait and $ 15 for parking — (be warned there is that and literally NOTHING nearby, so bring cash and patience).
The trail to the pool is downhill and slightly rocky, faint of heart be ready! But once you get to the pool it’s excellent! The water is consistently frigid, but worth at least sticking your feet in. There is another trail leading away from both the pool and parking that straddles the stream — this is equally as scenic and pristine.
Because of the remoteness of the location and length of time it takes to get to the pool, be sure to bring water and snacks. (Blood sugar dips to be expected!). All in, this place is an amazing way to spend a sunny Saturday/​Sunday afternoon.

If you are visiting this is a MUST see. The drive from Austin is about 40 – 45 minutes. You drive past a bunch of large ranches. Once you get there, you have to wait on a line to park. The Parking lot is small and fills up fast. We went on a Monday on a cooler day (65 – 70 degrees) at 1 and had no problem parking, but there were not many spots in the lot. So if you were to go on a warmer day or weekend, definitely get there early. It opens at 9−6pm. Parking is $ 15 dollars.
Once you get there, it is a short down hill walk (8 minutes) until you get to a fork. You can either walk to the right towards the pool or left towards the river.
To the right and the pool: 5 more minutes of walking and you are there. And it is awe inspiring! The rock overhang/​cave is huge! You can walk under it and towards the waterfall (that’s where you get the best pics). Or sit on the rocky «beach.» There were people tanning or admiring. The water is about 60 degrees when we were there in the middle of March, but it is so clear and clean that I went in anyway. This was the coolest thing I have seen in Texas.
To the left and the river: this walk is uphill for some parts and about 10 minutes long. It takes you to a lookout of the river. It’s cool, but nothing compared to the pool. Take or leave this walk, but it’s a nice little hike if you want to do a little more exploring.
Before you go: check online if they are open. They close for road construction, but they put it online.

The location is a little drive from Austin.
But beware there might be a 10 – 40 minute waiting line.
Then it takes 10 – 15 minutes to find a empty parking on Saturday.
But the hike down is not to bad, just watch out when it’s wet you might slip or fall so little kids might need some help.
Once you get to the bottom it’s an amazing view of nature, highly recommend!!!

Beautiful natural pool. I spent 2 hours there. It’s nice to check it out but there’s a fee to get in.
$ 15 per vehicle
$ 8 per bike
No entry after 5:30pm and must return back to the car. 0.25 miles walk to the nature pool. Id recommend wearing sneakers to walk over.
Bring water, slippers, and towel. Something you can sit or lay on. It’s kinda rocky.

Hamilton Pool is a collapsed grotto and it looks like a tropical paradise smack dab in the middle of the flat Texas landscape.
$ 15 entrance fee, 5 – 10 minute walk from the parking lot and about 45 minutes away from Austin, this is a not to be missed destination.
During the summer people utilize it as a swimming hole and lounge about in the water during long summer days. We visited in the winter when rains caused the bacteria levels to be too high and we weren’t allowed to be in the water.
We still enjoyed the beautiful sights of the limestone rocks, waterfall, pool, and mossy structures. Sunset was the perfect time to arrive to capture the best lighting for photos. Everything is golden and gorgeous. The water dripping off the edges of the collapsed grotto filling the pools was lovely. A serene and unique landscape. Don’t miss it!

This is undoubtably my favourite tourist haunt in Texas. A fool proof crowd pleaser and somewhere I don’t mind coming back to over and over again. Currently a very reasonable $ 15 entry fee per car (cash only) — and expect a short but steep 0.25 mile walk down from the car park to the pool (no dogs allowed apart from service animals — its a protected habitat so don’t be a d**k and put an ebay service vest on your Chihuahua!)
A grotto created when a retreating waterfall collapsed a cave roof has a half covered swimming hole fringed with stalactites and ferns.
It’s gorgeous in the Summer — when its hot the freezing water is still breathtakingly cold — and the crowds are kept largely at bay by the small size of the car park (they don’t let anyone else in once its full so come early if its a holiday)
It’s even more beautiful, in my opinion, in the winter when the trees are bare and there are far fewer people around — i’ve often had it entirely to myself in the mornings in Jan or Feb.
Definitely an Austin bucket list destination — its the first place I send people in town who want to get outdoors in a not-​too-​strenuous way. If you’re feeling a bit more energetic the trails winds back a mile or so the other way to the pedernales river. But the pool is the good stuff!

I’m going to have to say meh, for a few reasons, the trail is is really rough for elderly people, without any warnings, the hike felt longer then .25 of a mile due to all the climbing over rocks and such. I was even out of breath by the time I got back to the suv. My poor dad if he didn’t bring a water he would be laid out on the trail still. Then when we finally got there it just was not what the pics had looked like! The falls was barely running, and yes it was pretty but not 15 $ to get in, so thank god I dragged my parents which are «seniors» and we got in for 5 $. So to me it’s a been there done that thing, we’ve checked it out so no reason to go back!
PS. Bring water on hot days,
Don’t wear flip flops like I did,
Try not to be out of shape like I am,
Have fun

Spectacular beauty that I’m surprised to find in Texas, $ 15 entrance fee for a car and you get access to other county parks, about a 10 – 15 min hike to the pool that’s not very difficult, lots of people, we were allowed to swim because of e. coli but even if they allowed I would not have cause the water looked pretty funky lol
Great place to take lots of pictures

C’est un passage obligatoire entre austin et san antonio.
Cette reserve naturelle nous offre un paysage magnifique: un lac surplombé par une grotte ouverte, avec une cascade qui se jette dans le lac.
C’est pas descriptible, il faut le voir pour comprendre la beauté du lieu!
On peut faire le tour du lac et donc passer dans la grotte, il y a aussi une randonnée sympa d’1h aller retour qui longe la rivière.
Pour l’anecdote, attention aux serpents, nous avons du rebrousser chemin, un serpent venimeux nous coupait la route…
A la bonne periode il est possible de se baigner. C’etait interdit quand on y a été mais ça donnait vraiment envie!!!