Krause Springs

Krause Springs is a privately owned swimming hole and campground in Spicewood, in Burnet County, about 55 minutes west of Austin. The Krause family has run it since 1955, and its 32 springs feed a cypress-shaded natural pool and a spring-fed swimming pool. It closes for winter, usually from November 1 to February 15, so check that it’s open before driving out.

On This Page

• Swimming at Krause Springs
• Butterfly Garden and Grounds
• Camping
• Best Time to Visit
• What Visitors Say
• Getting There
• Know Before You Go
• Nearby Parks
• FAQ
• Sources and Official Links

Swimming at Krause Springs

Swimming is the reason most people visit Krause Springs. The owners say the springs flow all year at about 68°F, and they feed two swimming areas: a natural pool under tall cypress trees and a man-made, spring-fed pool above it. Visitors report no lifeguard on duty, so swimming is at each visitor’s own risk.

The Natural Swimming Hole

The lower natural pool sits below a mossy limestone bluff, shaded by cypress trees. It is deep in places and rocky underfoot, and it drains through Little Cypress Creek into Lake Travis.

• Rope swing: a rope swing hangs over the natural pool, and visitors also jump from a small bluff. A few reviewers saw kids jump into shallow spots, so check the depth first
• Water clarity: the most common complaint. The natural pool often looks brown or murky after heavy rain, in drought and on crowded afternoons. The owners say it can look silty when rain is low and crowds are big
• Clearer water: reviewers find it clearest early in the day, before swimmers stir up the bottom
• Life jackets: reviewers recommend them for kids who aren’t strong swimmers

The Spring-Fed Pool

The upper pool is man-made and fed by the same springs. Reviewers describe it as clearer and colder than the natural pool, with a shallow end of 2 to 3 feet that suits younger kids and a deep end of about 8 feet. The owners clean it every Thursday at 5 p.m., when the natural pool stays open.

The Waterfall and Caves

Spring water spills over a fern-covered ledge into the natural pool, and swimmers can reach small caves behind the falls. The flow depends on rain: reviewers found a trickle in dry summers and a stronger flow after the spring 2026 rains. Some visitors walk upstream to a second, smaller waterfall.

Floats and Water Rules

The owners keep the water rules short.

• Floats: there are no tube rentals, and floats and tubes must be under 5 feet. An air pump is on site
• Kayaks: small kayaks under 5 feet are allowed on the natural pool
• Glass: none anywhere on the property. Reviewers report staff checking coolers and taking glass, including food jars
• Footing: water shoes are the tip visitors repeat most. The rocks are mossy and slick, and many stairs lead down to the natural pool, which is hard for toddlers and anyone with limited mobility

Butterfly Garden and Grounds

The Butterfly Gardens near the office are the most praised feature at Krause Springs after the water, with fountains, large wind chimes, hammocks and plenty of butterflies. Since about August 2025, reviewers report a separate $3 per person garden fee. The operator’s price list doesn’t show it, so confirm it at the gate.

• Picnics: BBQ pits sit in the day-use area, and visitors can bring their own grill if it doesn’t sit on the ground. Reviewers praise the shaded stone picnic tables, and the ones near the water go first
• Fishing: allowed only on the lower part of the property, where the springs drain into Little Cypress Creek. No fishing in the pools
• Walking and biking: the owners publish no trail map, and visitors mostly walk between the pools, gardens and camping areas. Bikes are allowed, but there are no bike trails or paved roads
• History: the National Register of Historic Places lists the “Krause Spring Site” here, a prehistoric archaeological site listed in 1978

Camping

Krause Springs has two kinds of camping: first-come tent areas with no electricity, and 24 RV sites with water and electric hookups. All campers share the bathhouses, whose showers run on unheated spring water.

Campsite Types

Overnight guests pay a per-person overnight rate instead of the day fee. Prices are from the operator’s 2026 price list.

• Tent camping (first come, first served): primitive areas, meaning no hookups at the site, called East, Second Level, Third Level and West Campgrounds. $17 ages 12 and older, $10 ages 4 to 11, under 4 free. RoverPass allows up to 6 people and 1 tent per site
• RV sites (24, booked online): water and electric, with 20, 30 and 50 amp service. The price list shows $17 for an RV campsite next to the per-person overnight rates, so confirm the total when booking
• Tents with power: only on RV sites 1 to 6, booked as an RV site for an extra fee

Reservations and Camp Rules

Tent campers just show up. A May 2026 camper was told the tent areas have never filled.

• RV sites book online through RoverPass, linked from the operator’s site. Some sites book instantly; others need the campground’s approval
• Arrive before 8 p.m. The gate closes then, and nobody gets in, or back in, until morning
• Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. No generators
• Bring firewood or buy a bundle at the office. Burnet County had a countywide burn ban posted in late October 2026, so check before planning a campfire
• Raccoons raid food at night. Reviewers keep it sealed or in the car
• RoverPass’s amenity list includes a dump station

Campers like the shady, flat RV and electric sites near the main bathhouse. One regular found the primitive tent areas rocky, sloped and full of ant mounds, and reviewers rate the stone bathhouse near the office far above the basic restrooms by the pools.

Best Time to Visit

Krause Springs is open from about mid-February through October, and the best visits are weekday mornings from late spring to early fall. Summer weekends and holidays are the most crowded, and the swimming areas fill by afternoon.

• Spring (mid-February to May): the season opens about February 15. The 68°F water feels cold on cool days, and spring rain strengthens the waterfall
• Summer (June to August): peak season, when the cold water is the draw. On weekends, arrive at the 9 a.m. opening or come on a weekday
• Fall (September to October): quieter. One swimmer in mid-October 2026 put the water in the mid-60s and found the air the cold part
• Winter (about November 1 to February 15): closed. Google Maps has shown Krause Springs as open during the closure, and two visitors in December 2025 drove out to a locked gate, so check the operator’s site first

What Visitors Say

Krause Springs averages 4.6 stars across 2,547 Google reviews, and the 400 most recent, from June 2025 to October 2026, average the same. Visitors love the cold water and the shade, and the complaints are consistent.

• Water: the cold spring water gets the most praise. Murky water in the natural pool is the top complaint, behind about 10 of the 15 one-star reviews in that set
• Butterfly garden: praised in about 60 reviews. Some visitors spend an hour or two there
• Crowds: weekends and summer afternoons get packed; weekdays and mornings are calm. No reviewer reports being turned away for capacity
• Price: most call $11 fair for a full day. A few say it isn’t worth it when the water is brown, and one regular objects to the garden fee
• Footing: slippery rocks and many stairs come up in about 30 reviews
• Bathrooms: the main stone bathhouse gets praise. The restrooms by the pools are basic, with short stall doors that don’t lock
• Staff: most reviews praise the family and staff. Several from August to October 2026 describe a rude gate attendant
• Families: a long-time family favorite. Kids love the rope swing and the caves behind the waterfall

Getting There

Krause Springs is in Spicewood, just off TX 71 west of Austin. From Austin, take TX 71 west, turn right on Spur 191, then right on County Road 404 and follow it to Krause Spring Road. The address is 424 County Road 404, Spicewood, TX 78669.

Drive times to the entrance:

• Austin: about 55 minutes (37 miles)
• Marble Falls: about 25 minutes
• San Antonio: about 1 hour 50 minutes
• Houston: about 3 hours 40 minutes
• Dallas: about 4 hours 10 minutes

A few things to know before driving out:

• Rideshare: Uber and Lyft don’t accept requests from Krause Springs back to Austin, so arrange the ride home ahead of time
• Parking: free and on site. Reviewers call it plentiful

Know Before You Go

Krause Springs is private property with its own rules, and the Texas State Parks Pass doesn’t apply. These fees and rules matter most.

• Fees: day visits cost $11 for ages 12 and older, $6 for ages 4 to 11, and nothing under 4. Overnight guests pay $17 and $10, and an RV campsite is $17. Photo shoots cost $30 plus entry. Prices rose for 2026, from $10 a day and $15 overnight. Confirm on the Pricing and Policies page
• Payment: the owners’ packing list starts with cash. Whether cards are taken isn’t published
• Booking: no reservations for day visits or tent camping. RV sites book online
• Hours and season: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Closed for winter, usually November 1 to February 15
• Pets: none. Service animals need management approval and current vaccinations, stay leashed, and can’t go in the pools or restrooms
• Glass, drones and smoking: no glass or drones. Smoking only in the parking lot or at a campsite
• Alcohol: the operator’s site doesn’t address it beyond the glass ban. Call the office before bringing any
• Weapons: no open carry
• Facilities: restrooms near the upper pool, the parking lot and the pavilion; cold spring-water showers. The way down to the natural pool is not wheelchair friendly
• What to bring: water shoes, cash, a float under 5 feet, food and drinks in non-glass containers, a trash bag, bug spray and life jackets for young swimmers

Nearby Parks

Five other TrekTexas guides are within about an hour of Krause Springs.

• Hamilton Pool: about 46 minutes south, a Travis County preserve known for its grotto and waterfall
• Reimers Ranch Park: about 50 minutes south, a Travis County park on the Pedernales River for hiking, biking and climbing
• Pedernales Falls State Park: about 52 minutes southwest, with river falls, trails and camping
• Inks Lake State Park: about 53 minutes north, with lake swimming and camping
• Lake Travis Parks: the county and city parks on Lake Travis, just south of Spicewood, for swimming, camping and boat ramps
• More parks within reach of Austin: Parks Near Austin

FAQ

Is Krause Springs open right now?

It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from about mid-February until it closes for winter, usually November 1. Check the operator’s site before driving out, since Google Maps has shown it open during the closure.

Has Krause Springs dried up?

No. The owners say the springs flow all year, even in extreme drought, and the property doesn’t close for drought. The waterfall can slow to a trickle in dry spells.

Does Krause Springs take reservations?

Only for RV sites, which book online through RoverPass. Day visits and tent camping are first come, first served.

Can visitors bring food and coolers to Krause Springs?

Yes. Outside food and drinks are welcome, BBQ pits sit in the day-use area, and glass is the main thing not allowed.

How cold is the water at Krause Springs?

About 68°F all year, according to the owners. The upper spring-fed pool feels colder than the natural pool.

Is Krause Springs a state park?

No. It’s a privately owned property run by the Krause family since 1955, so the Texas State Parks Pass doesn’t apply.

Sources and Official Links

Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.

• About Krause Springs (operator)
• Krause Springs FAQ (operator: hours, season, pets, swimming, fishing, fires)
• Pricing and Policies (operator)
• RV Sites and Tent Camping (operator)
• Directions (operator)
• Krause Springs on RoverPass (RV and tent booking)
• Burnet County (burn bans)
• Krause Spring Site (National Register of Historic Places, NPS)

Featured photo: Ashton Brown