Hamilton Pool Preserve
A jade-green pool under a collapsed limestone dome outside Austin, entry to which must be reserved and is often refused.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Hamilton Creek drops about fifteen metres over a limestone lip into a pool that sits inside what was once a cave - the dome collapsed thousands of years ago, leaving a half-shell of overhanging rock with ferns and stalactites on the underside and the pool below. It is one of the more photographed swimming holes in the country, which is the problem: the site is small, the access road is a country lane, and Travis County has run a strict reservation system since 2016 with every vehicle requiring a booked slot, released in advance and gone quickly. Swimming is closed regularly for bacterial counts after rain, and it is possible to arrive with a reservation and not be allowed in the water.
What you actually see
- A collapsed cave dome - overhanging rock above the pool.
- A fall of about fifteen metres - over the limestone lip.
- Ferns and stalactites - on the underside of the grotto.
- A strict reservation system - every vehicle, booked in advance.
When to go
April to October; reservations release on a schedule and go fast. Half a day.
Honest expectations
No reservation means no entry, without exception. Swimming closes for bacteria levels after rain, and you are not refunded. The trail down is steep and rocky. Rockfall has closed the grotto area at times.
Nearby
Pedernales Falls is north; Austin is east.
What to pack for Hamilton Pool Preserve
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
