|
|
|
|
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/park/mckinney/
June 2001
Chapter courtesy of Chandra Moira Beal and La Luna Publishing
See Austin, Texas
More Splash
Across Texas
Texas Hill Country
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Austin
Hotels
More
Hotels |
|
|
