Austin has nine state parks within 50 miles, and three of the closest each go a different way. McKinney Falls, inside the city limits to the south, is Onion Creek spilling over limestone ledges into pools. Pedernales Falls, 30 miles west, is a river stepping down across layered limestone. Bastrop, 30 miles east, is the Lost Pines, a forest growing back after fire. This is the outdoor half of the day. The eating half is at the end: one table on the way back from each park.
We run State Park Near Me, a directory of every state park in the country, and we are a guest here. Top of Austin asked for the parks. They supplied the restaurants.
The day, in order
Reserve a day pass online before a weekend visit, because all three parks say they often reach capacity, and McKinney Falls says it sells out every weekend and holiday. McKinney Falls and Bastrop are both under burn bans: no wood fires, though charcoal or propane is fine for cooking. McKinney Falls opens its gate at 8 a.m., Pedernales Falls opens at 8 a.m. too, and Bastrop at 6 a.m.; all three close at 10 p.m. If you go to Pedernales Falls on Thursday, October 22, its headquarters is closed, so pay at the kiosk. At both waterfall parks, the creek and the river can rise fast after rain upstream; leave the water if it starts rising or turns muddy.
McKinney Falls
The park calls itself Austin’s backyard, 13 miles from the state capitol and inside the city limits. Onion Creek flows over limestone ledges and splashes into pools, and you can swim and fish in it; you do not need a license to fish from shore in a Texas state park. Keep food, alcohol, glass, coolers, speakers and hard balls out of the Upper and Lower Falls areas, and keep pets out of the water. There are nearly nine miles of trails. The 2.8-mile Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail has a hard surface for strollers and road bikes, the Rock Shelter Trail is for hikers only, and you cross the Lower Falls to reach the Homestead, Flint Rock and Williamson Creek Overlook trails, so your feet may get wet. The visitor center, open Friday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., has an observation deck over the Upper Falls. Entry is $6 for adults.
Pedernales Falls
The Pedernales River cascades over steps of layered limestone here, and the park is clear that you may not swim or wade in the falls area itself. Swimming, wading, tubing and fishing are allowed elsewhere on the river; reaching the swimming area is a strenuous hike of a quarter mile or more down steep rock stairs with no handrail. The river can rise from a calm stream to a torrent in a few minutes, so leave immediately if the water rises or turns muddy. For an easy walk, the half-mile Twin Falls Nature Trail ends at an overlook above the falls. The six-mile Wolf Mountain Trail is the hard one, and mountain bikers have the 10-mile Juniper Ridge Trail. Entry is $6 for ages 13 and up. The office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the gates are closed from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The park closes for permitted hunters from 10 p.m. November 21 to 2 p.m. November 24.
Bastrop
Bastrop is the home of the Lost Pines, a stretch of tall pine forest found only in this region. Fires and floods have hit the park hard in recent years, and the seven miles of trail now walk you through a forest growing back with a new generation of loblolly pines. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the dining hall, the cabins and many other buildings in the 1930s. Park Road 1C is a hilly 12-mile drive through the pines to Buescher State Park, with a 30 mile per hour limit. The main lake is open but not yet stocked, so fish at half-acre Lake Mina; the park lends fishing gear. Entry is $5 for adults, and the park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The interpretive center is open Friday to Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A burn ban has been in force since October 19.
The full list
Directions, maps and the official site for each of these, plus the other six state parks within 50 miles, are on our side. The state parks near Austin page on State Park Near Me lists all nine, closest first, with a page for every park.
