Photo: jcutrer · CC BY-SA 4.0Hamilton Pool Falls
Worth a detour
Is it plungeworthy?
A waterfall on Hamilton Creek.
The details
- Watercourse
- Hamilton Creek
- Coordinates
- 30.34201, -98.12691
About Hamilton Pool Falls
Hamilton Pool Falls is a 60-foot waterfall in Texas, on Hamilton Creek.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Hamilton Pool Falls 6.6/10 — worth a detour. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
The collapsed grotto with the 50-foot pour-off, the jade pool, and the hardest day-reservation in Texas. When Pool Creek runs after rain, the curtain falls across the dome's mouth like a bead screen.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Hamilton Pool Preserve, Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs
- Parking
- Reserved lot — a reservation is required every single day, no walk-ins
- Road
- Paved
- Hike
- 0.6 mi round trip (moderate — rocky descent to the pool)
- Heads up
- $12/vehicle online reservation plus $8/person cash at the gate; two daily slots (9–12:30 and 2–5:30). Book the day the month opens.
When to go
After rain for the waterfall, summer for the swimming — but swimming closes without notice for bacteria counts or rockfall risk. Call the info line at 8:30am day-of.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- $12 reservation + $8/person at the gate (cash)
- Dogs
- No
- Hours
- Two timed slots daily
- Warnings
- Part of the pool stays roped off under the grotto ceiling — the falling-rock risk is current, not historical.
Researched from Travis County Parks — Hamilton Pool Preserve · Wikipedia — Hamilton Pool Preserve. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Hamilton Pool Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
How tall is Hamilton Pool Falls?
Hamilton Pool Falls drops about 60 feet, in Texas.
Where is Hamilton Pool Falls?
Hamilton Pool Falls is a waterfall in Texas, at 30.34201, -98.12691.
Is Hamilton Pool Falls worth visiting?
Worth a detour — Plungeworthy rates it 6.6/10.
Gear for the trip
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