Hamilton Pool Preserve is a Travis County nature preserve on Hamilton Pool Road near Dripping Springs, about 55 minutes west of downtown Austin. It’s known for a collapsed limestone grotto with a 50-foot waterfall and a swimming hole below it. Every visit needs a reservation, booked online before leaving home, and a booking doesn’t promise a swim.
At a Glance
- Drive time: about 1 hr from Austin, 2 from San Antonio
- Reservations: required daily; $12 per car, up to 8 people
- Entry fee: $8 adults, $3 seniors 62+, cash only
- State Parks Pass: not valid (county park)
- Hours: 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 2–5:30 p.m. slots
- Dogs: no pets, not even in the car
- Swimming: small area only, often closed
- Closed area: trail under the overhang
- Camping: no camping
- Best time: spring and fall weekdays
- Run by: Travis County Parks, (512) 854-2581
On This Page
- Reservations and Time Slots
- Swimming at Hamilton Pool
- The Grotto and Waterfall
- The Hike to the Pool
- Walk to the Pedernales River
- Nature and History
- Camping Near Hamilton Pool
- Best Time to Visit
- What Visitors Say
- Getting There
- Know Before You Go
- Nearby Parks
- FAQ
- Sources and Official Links
Reservations and Time Slots
Travis County Parks requires a reservation at Hamilton Pool Preserve every day of the year, and there are no walk-ups. Visitors book a morning or afternoon time slot online, pay $12 per vehicle, then pay entry fees in cash at the gate.
- Time slots: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (everyone out by 1 p.m.) and 2 to 5:30 p.m. (out by 6 p.m.). Each slot is a separate reservation
- What it covers: one vehicle and up to 8 people. Walkers and cyclists need a reservation too, and each motorcycle needs its own
- At the gate: up to two people can be named on the booking, and one of them must show photo ID. Bring the emailed receipt, printed or on a phone
- Booking window: the county releases dates in blocks about two months ahead. In late October 2026, dates were open through November 2026
- Sold-out dates: no waiting list; cancelled slots go back on the calendar right away
- Changes: fees are non-refundable. Reservations can be moved, or turned into a credit voucher good for one year, until midnight the night before
- Weather: rain isn’t grounds for a refund if the preserve is open. If the county closes it for safety, such as flash flooding, booking holders get an email on how to reschedule
Booking means accepting that swimming may be closed. Only reservations made on the official Travis County site are honored.
Swimming at Hamilton Pool
Swimming at Hamilton Pool Preserve is allowed only on days when bacteria levels and recent rain allow it, and only in a small area entered from the beach. The county’s own FAQ says swimming is frequently not allowed, and the preserve stays open for hiking when the water is closed.
- Where: a roped section near the beach. Visitors describe it as about a quarter of the pool. Falling rock keeps the rest off limits
- Why it closes: the county tests for E. coli at least weekly, twice a week in summer. Swimming closes after heavy rain or a high reading, and bacteria can stay high for days to a couple of weeks
- Recent closures: the county closed the water from about May to late June 2026 for high bacteria. Reviewers also found it closed after rain in September and early October 2026
- Safety: no lifeguard. The pool is about 25 feet deep at its deepest, with underwater boulders and drop-offs. Free life vests hang on a rack near the pool while supplies last
- Water temperature: below 50°F in winter and spring. The county doesn’t close the pool for cold water
Swimming status changes day to day. Call the county’s recorded information line at (512) 854-2581, updated by 8:30 a.m. daily, before driving out.
The Grotto and Waterfall
Hamilton Pool is a collapsed grotto: a limestone dome over Hamilton Creek fell in over thousands of years, leaving a half-circle overhang around a green pool. Hamilton Creek drops 50 feet off the lip into the pool.
- The waterfall: the county says it never dries up completely but slows to a trickle in dry times. Most reviewers from 2025 and 2026 saw only a trickle or no visible fall, and several say the place doesn’t match older photos
- The overhang: the trail under the overhanging cliff, which once led around the pool and behind the waterfall, has been closed since at least May 2021 because rocks keep falling. Visitors can reach the beach but can’t walk around the pool. The county is still consulting geologists
- How it formed: floods wore away softer rock under a harder limestone cap, and pieces of the overhang collapsed. Over about 100,000 years the process moved the waterfall about 3/4 mile up the canyon
The Hike to the Pool
The trail from the parking lot to Hamilton Pool is 1/4 mile each way, and Travis County Parks calls it steep, narrow and rugged, with uneven steps. Plan on about 30 minutes for the round trip, longer with a stop at the pool.
| Trail | Miles | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Parking lot to the pool | 1/4 each way | Steep rock steps, about 80 feet down |
| Hamilton Creek to the Pedernales River | 3/4 each way | Open on most days, per the county |
| Trail under the overhang | Closed | Closed since 2021 for falling rock |
The county doesn’t publish difficulty ratings; the notes above come from its trail descriptions.
Trail Tips
- Shoes: sturdy closed-toe shoes. The steps get slick after rain
- Walking sticks: a stand of loaner sticks sits at the trailhead
- The climb out: reviewers split on which is harder, the steep descent or the climb back up
- Plants and snakes: reviewers in 2026 report poison ivy along the trail and water moccasins near the water
- Access: the trail isn’t suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. Call Travis County Parks at (512) 854-7275 with accessibility questions
Walk to the Pedernales River
On most days, visitors can follow Hamilton Creek about 3/4 mile through the canyon to the Pedernales River, according to the county. Several reviewers call this walk the best part of a visit now, with tall bald cypress trees along the creek and a sandy riverbank at the end.
- It closes at times: reviewers found it closed in August 2025, March 2026, September 2026 and on October 5, 2026, usually after rain
- Timing: the river walk adds about 1.5 miles round trip, so start it early in the slot
- Order: some visitors walk to the river first, then visit the pool on the way back
Nature and History
Hamilton Pool Preserve covers 232 acres and is part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, more than 31,000 acres set aside for endangered species. The endangered golden-cheeked warbler lives here, and the federal habitat rules are the reason pets aren’t allowed.
- Plants: the county counts 486 plant species, including the rare canyon mock-orange, red bay and chatterbox orchid
- Animals: the county lists fox, bobcat, porcupine, white-tailed deer and several snakes, including water moccasins. Visitors often see large catfish close to shore
- Birds: spring brings migrating birds, and cliff swallows nest above the pool. A bird list is available at the entrance booth
- History: people have used the site for over 8,000 years. Morgan C. Hamilton owned it in the 1860s, the Reimers family bought it in the 1880s, and Travis County bought the 232 acres in 1985. It became a county nature preserve in 1990
Camping Near Hamilton Pool
Camping isn’t allowed at Hamilton Pool Preserve or at next-door Milton Reimers Ranch Park, and vehicles can’t stay overnight. The closest campgrounds are a short drive away.
- Pedernales Falls State Park (about 21 miles): 69 sites with water and electricity, $20 a night plus the state park entry fee
- Krause Springs (about 28 miles, Spicewood): a privately owned swimming hole with camping. It usually closes from November 1 to mid-February
- Other Travis County parks: improved sites are $30 and primitive sites $15 a night, plus day-use fees, requested at least 24 hours ahead. A primitive site has no water, electricity or restrooms
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall weekdays are the best time to visit Hamilton Pool Preserve, with mild weather on the steep trail and easier booking. Summer brings the best chance of warm water but also early-summer bacteria closures.
- Spring (March to May): migrating birds and green canyon walls. The water stays below 50°F into spring, and rain can close swimming
- Summer (June to August): the busiest season and the warmest water. Nesting cliff swallows have raised bacteria levels in early summer in some years, and the 2026 closure ran from May to late June
- Fall (September to November): fewer people and mild hiking weather. Swimming closes after fall storms; reviewers found it closed twice in September and October 2026
- Winter (December to February): quiet, with bare trees and water in the 40s °F. The preserve stays open every day, holidays included, unless ice or floods close it
The morning slot is cooler on summer days. The county advises arriving at least an hour before a slot ends.
What Visitors Say
Hamilton Pool Preserve averages 3.8 stars across 95 Google reviews from November 2024 to October 2026, well below its 4.6-star lifetime rating from about 2,070 reviews. Most complaints come from expectations set by older photos.
- Reservations: visitors like that the limit keeps the canyon uncrowded. The harshest reviews come from people turned away at the gate without a booking
- Fees: paying twice surprises many visitors, and two adults pay $28. Many forgot the gate fee is cash only
- Swimming: about as many reviewers could swim as couldn’t. Several ask the county to waive the fee on closed days
- The waterfall and overhang: the most common letdown. Reviewers expect to walk behind the falls and find only a trickle and a closed trail
- Water: some found it clear and cold, others murky or green after rain or in dry spells
- The river walk: often called the highlight, when it’s open
- Staff: gate staff and the attendant at the pool get mostly good marks, with a few complaints about strict enforcement
Getting There
Hamilton Pool Preserve sits at 24300 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620, in western Travis County. From Austin, take TX 71 west past Bee Cave, turn left on Hamilton Pool Road (RM 3238) and follow it about 12.5 miles to the entrance on the right.
Drive times to the preserve:
- Austin: about 55 minutes (31 miles)
- San Antonio: about 2 hours (89 miles)
- Houston: about 3 hours 45 minutes
- Dallas: about 4 hours 10 minutes
- Dripping Springs or Bee Cave: about 30 minutes
A few things to know before driving out:
- Reservation first: there’s no way to book at the gate, and the county turns away cars without one
- Google Maps: a second listing named just “Hamilton Pool” shows no reservation information. Use the “Hamilton Pool Preserve” listing
- Floods: the county closes the preserve for flash floods and icy roads; it closed for a flood threat on October 1, 2026
Know Before You Go
Hamilton Pool Preserve is a small, protected canyon with few facilities and strict rules. These are the details that matter most.
- Fees and passes: $12 per vehicle online ($11 plus a $1 card fee), then $8 per adult 13 to 61 and $3 per senior 62 and older, cash only. Children 12 and under and disabled veterans (50% or more) get in free. Hamilton Pool no longer sells annual permits, and the Texas State Parks Pass, the annual pass for Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) state parks, doesn’t apply
- Same-day discount: visiting Hamilton Pool and Milton Reimers Ranch Park on the same day earns a discount on the second park’s fee. The county doesn’t state the amount
- Booking: reservations required every day; book online, keep the receipt, and bring photo ID for a named person
- Hours: open every day; morning slot 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., afternoon slot 2 to 5:30 p.m., closed between slots
- Not allowed: pets (ADA service dogs only), drones, glass, cooking or stoves, fires, fireworks, tobacco, public drinking, camping and loud music. See the county park rules
- Facilities: portable toilets and picnic tables only. No drinking water, electricity or concessions
- What to bring: water, snacks, sturdy shoes, a towel, cash and the reservation receipt. Pack out all trash
- Burn ban: a Travis County burn ban applied to all county parks in late October 2026
Check conditions first: swimming, the river walk and even the whole preserve can close after rain. Check the Hamilton Pool Preserve page or call the recorded information line at (512) 854-2581 before driving out.
Nearby Parks
Five other TrekTexas guides are within about 30 miles of Hamilton Pool Preserve.
- Reimers Ranch Park: about 2 miles east, with rock climbing, mountain bike trails and Pedernales River access, and no reservation needed
- Pedernales Falls State Park: about 21 miles west, with the falls on the Pedernales River and 69 water and electric campsites
- Krause Springs: about 28 miles north in Spicewood, a privately owned swimming hole with camping, closed in winter
- Lake Travis Parks: the county and city parks on Lake Travis to the north, for swimming, lakeside camping and boat ramps
- Barton Springs Pool: about 29 miles east in Austin, a spring-fed pool that stays at 68 to 70°F all year
- More parks within reach of Austin: Parks Near Austin
FAQ
Is Hamilton Pool a state park?
No. Hamilton Pool Preserve is run by Travis County Parks, not Texas Parks and Wildlife, so state park passes don’t apply.
How deep is Hamilton Pool?
About 25 feet at its deepest, according to Travis County, with underwater boulders and sudden drop-offs.
Can visitors go behind the waterfall?
No. The trail under the overhang and behind the falls has been closed since at least 2021 because of falling rock.
Is Hamilton Pool in Austin or Dripping Springs?
It has a Dripping Springs mailing address but sits in rural western Travis County, about 31 miles west of downtown Austin.
Is Hamilton Pool worth it if swimming is closed?
Reviewers split. Those who walked to the Pedernales River or came for the grotto itself were happier than those who came only to swim.
Sources and Official Links
Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.
- Hamilton Pool Preserve (Travis County Parks)
- Reservations (Travis County Parks booking site)
- Parks FAQ and park rules (Travis County Parks)
- Camping reservations at other county parks (Travis County Parks)
Featured photo: Ashton Brown (August 2009, from the trail under the overhang, now closed)
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