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| McKinney
Falls
Photo courtesy Chandra Moira Beal |
From
Austin,
take U.S. 183 south 13 miles to McKinney Falls Parkway. Just ten short minutes
from downtown Austin.
Often overlooked since it is so close to Austin,
McKinney Falls is perfect for an afternoon picnic or a quick trip to get away
for the day. McKinney Falls State Park is in the center of an early Texas land
grant that originally fell within the impresario contract of a Texan hero, Ben
Milan. Ten acres of the land were transferred to Santiago Del Valle who at that
time was Secretary of the Mexican government, and who had previously served in
the Mexican Congress. In 1835, Del Valle sold a portion of his land to Michael
Menard who helped found the town of Galveston. Thomas F. McKinney was one of his
business associates and bought the Del Valle grant in 1839. His family occupied
the land but sold almost all of it off by the time of his death in 1873. Some
of the land remained agricultural and became the City of Del Valle, the north
tract became urbanized, and the remainder is preserved in the park.
McKinney was also one of Austin's
first 300 colonists. He settled on Onion Creek and became a breeder of racehorses.
You can still see the remains of the trainer's cabin in the park. The cabin was
built in the early 1850s and served as quarters for John Van Hagen, McKinney's
thoroughbred horse trainer, until Hagen moved to New York in 1873. There were
nearby exercise and training areas. McKinney also owned a steamboat that he used
to take to Mexico to
trade horses.
McKinney Falls is at the confluence of Onion and Williamson
creeks. The water changes from calm and quiet to rapids and falls depending
on rainfall. The swimming hole is similar to Hamilton
Pool with a large circular pool underneath a rock overhang. The swimming hole
is also closed occasionally due to pollution.
In addition to
swimming, 640-acre McKinney Falls State Park has several trails for hiking and
bicycling. The 3.7-mile Onion Creek Trail is paved for hikers and bicyclists.
Swimming is allowed in Onion Creek but is at your own risk. The three-mile
Homestead Trail is unpaved and is designed for mountain biking and rough
hiking. There are shorter interpretive trails, such as the Smith Rockshelter
Trail that leads to an Indian rock shelter. A 3.5-mile paved trail runs along
Onion Creek and passes the upper falls. Another 3.75-mile interpretive trail begins
near the visitors' center and runs under huge limestone bluffs. Yet another trail
is unmarked and crosses the main falls. It also passes the historical McKinney
homestead and flour mill from the 1820s and then goes on about a mile through
cedar and mesquite. McKinney Falls State Park has camping, picnicking, and a variety
of terrain and wildlife, including half-brown, half-black rock squirrels. Pets
on leash are permitted. Wheelchair-accessible.
5808 McKinney
Falls Parkway
Austin, Texas
78744
(512) 243-1643 Smith Visitors' Center
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us
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