The Texas Hill Country is full of hidden gems, and a trip to Hamilton Pool is the perfect way to cool off and experience one of them. Located on a nature preserve in Dripping Springs, this park is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, some of which are endangered species. It’s a perfect escape from the city for a few hours and an easy day trip from Austin or San Antonio!
Of course, the park’s main draw is its natural swimming pool – debatably the most photogenic one in all of Texas! The majestic cave made of gold-colored rocks towering overhead can make anyone feel small, and the clear blueish water completes the feeling that you’re swimming in a hidden oasis.
Visitors can sometimes swim in the pool, with exceptions for safety, like when too many of certain algae are present. Even when swimming isn’t available, a photoshoot is always an option. I always recommend checking the Travis County Parks website before you make a reservation to see if swimming is currently allowed or not. Lately, swimming, along with portions of the trail, has been closed due to falling rock hazards, so keep in mind you might not make it to certain parts of the trail that you normally see in Instagram photos.
To access Hamilton Pool Preserve, $12 per vehicle must be paid online with a credit card before arrival to secure a reservation. ADVANCED RESERVATIONS ARE ALWAYS REQUIRED – so plan ahead! Either a morning time slot (9:00 am – 12:30 pm) or an afternoon time slot (2:00 pm – 5:30 pm) must be chosen at the time of booking. Keep the receipt, because you’ll have to show it upon entry.
Once you arrive, Hamilton Pool has hiking trails that start at the visitor’s center where a small fee of $8 per person is required for entry on top of the prepaid vehicle fee (cash only, so be sure to run by an ATM before you arrive). You can bring a maximum of one vehicle with 8 people per reservation. FYI, no pets are allowed. After paying and parking, it’s less than a half-mile hike down to the pool!
The hike to the pool leads visitors through the forest: down hills, over trickling rivers, and under towering trees. Hamilton Pool is beautiful at any time of year, but the colors of the trees in the fall are unmatched. It’s like you’ve been transported to another world!
For those looking for more of a workout, there’s a longer 1.8-mile hike to the Pedernales River that takes visitors off the beaten path and away from the more popular pool area.
Once you arrive at the pool, a thin walking trail runs in a loop around the cave, with perfect photo ops on the stairs up to the cave’s highest point. But be careful, it might be a tight squeeze behind some of the rocks!
Picnic tables are also sprinkled throughout the park, so if you’re not ready to leave after a swim and a hike, feel free to stay and admire the surrounding nature while enjoying a picnic with your group.
For those outdoorsy travelers looking to get out in nature without venturing too far from home, Hamilton Pool is a great option to be immersed in natural beauty while taking a brief hiatus from the hustle and bustle of civilization (literally you have no other option because you won’t have cell service at the pool).
Be sure to check out my other guides to the Texas Hill Country to pair another nearby adventure with your trip to Hamilton Pool!
Where To Stay Near Hamilton Pool
While Hamilton Pool is an easy day trip from Austin or San Antonio, there are also lots of cool glamping options nearby that you might want to consider! Towns like Dripping Springs and Spicewood are some of the closest options. For example, Cypress Valley is an amazing glamping spot in Spicewood where you stay in treehouses and can go ziplining! Over in Dripping Springs, I love to stay at Lucky Arrow Retreat, which has fun options like yurts and breezeway cabins. You can book Lucky Arrow Retreat over on Hipcamp – if you’re new to Hipcamp, use my code READYSETJETSET for $10 off your first stay!
Beyond Hamilton Pool, if you’re interested in finding the coolest places to stay around Texas, I recommend checking out my guide to Unique Texas Getaways!
Lucky Arrow Retreat in Dripping Springs
Other Things to Do Near Hamilton Pool
If you’re looking for other nearby attractions, here are a few quick tips!
In Spicewood, you can go swimming at Krause Springs, another of the prettiest swimming holes in Texas. Over in Dripping Springs and Driftwood, you can visit the Deep Eddy Vodka’s distillery and tasting room, or other distilleries like Desert Door and Treaty Oak. Jester King Brewery is also a fun stop for beer and pizza. For more family-friendly entertainment, you can check out Dreamland for mini golf and loads more. And of course, you can grab BBQ at the famous Salt Lick.
The Salt Lick BBQ
If you’re looking for even more outdoor adventures, check out Pedernales Falls State Park, Reimers Ranch Park, and Westcave.
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