Last updated: January 16, 2023
Place
McKinney Falls State Park
Photo/NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, six miles south/southeast of downtown Austin (as the crow flies) or 13 miles southeast of downtown Austin, Texas (by road)
Significance:
McKinney Falls State Park provides a good impression of the diverse ecosystems traversed by travelers along El Camino Real de los Tejas.
Designation:
Certified site; Texas State Park
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
2 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Trailhead
McKinney Falls State Park is an oasis on the outskirts of Austin, featuring wildlife, hiking trails, and--the main attraction--a series of limestone ledges and pools over which Onion Creek flows. One particular site within the park along Onion Creek served as a key crossing point along El Camino Real de los Tejas. The park is named for Thomas F. McKinney who came to Texas in the early 1820s as one of Stephen F. Austin's first 300 colonists. Sometime between 1850 and 1852, McKinney moved to Travis County and to his property on Onion Creek, where he built a large two-story home, stone fences, and the first flour mill in the area.
Site Information
Location (5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, six miles south/southeast of downtown Austin (as the crow flies) or 13 miles southeast of downtown Austin, Texas (by road))
Available Facilities
Primary activities are camping, hiking, mountain biking, road biking, picnicking, fishing swimming, and wildlife observation.
Exhibits
Information on Thomas F. McKinney and the history of the park's land use is interpreted in the Smith Visitor Center.
Safety Considerations