Hamilton Pool swimming hole, a Hill Country blue lagoon
One of the most beautiful spots in the Hill Country west of Austin is Hamilton Pool, a turquoise swimming hole half tucked under a massive limestone ledge, from which a 50-foot waterfall sheets onto a water-smoothed boulder and into the pool. In the wet season, veil-like columns of water spill from other points along the ledge, tattooing a curved white line in the aqua water.
Yesterday afternoon we made the 40-minute drive (you must make a reservation to visit) and found dozens of people enjoying a swim in the chilly pool, which is 25 feet at its deepest. You might have to work up the nerve to plunge in.
One shivering young couple toweling off told us it wasn’t too cold as long as you kept swimming.
Thousands of years ago an underground cavern collapsed to form the pool, and huge slabs of limestone still litter the back of the grotto. You can follow a trail behind those slabs and walk all the way around the pool.
Maidenhair ferns and moss clothe the dripping stone in emerald lace.
Water streaming from crevices above resembles icicles hanging from the mossy outcroppings.
Stalactites on the roof’s rim look like teeth in a monster’s mouth as it swallows you up.
It’s a magical place. Naturally you can’t help wondering when the remaining roof will collapse. (Or is that just me?) The park website says this:
As the erosion process continues, the overhang will eventually collapse and the process will begin again, with the waterfall moving back a little with each collapse. This erosional process has been occurring for roughly 100,000 years, with the waterfall moving backwards up the canyon roughly two-thirds of a mile in that time.
Under the roof, the air is cool and moist. I imagine on a hot summer’s day it feels amazingly refreshing. But we’ve always visited in cooler months.
The waterfall never runs dry, according the park’s website, but it doesn’t always flow this heavily. After a wet winter, the flow is impressive.
David climbed down to the waterfall rock to test the waters.
Yep, it’s wet!
After exploring the pool, we hiked out to the Pedernales River, a moderately easy 1.8 miles round-trip along Hamilton Creek, which is lined with the cathedral-column trunks of bald cypress.
Gnarled roots twist and dig deep into the creekbed, anchoring the trees during inevitable floods. In the clear, glassy water, fish and turtles floated as if suspended in air.
If you go, be sure to make a reservation well in advance for either a morning or afternoon time slot, and leave pets at home as they are not allowed. And enjoy this Hill Country-style blue lagoon.
Note: Reservations are required to enter Hamilton Pool Preserve every day from March 1 through October 31. From November through February reservations are required only on weekends and official Travis County holidays.
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Digging Deeper
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It’s a gorgeous place, although coming from a part of the country prone to earthquakes I’d be worried about the potential collapse concern too.
We don’t get earthquakes here, but yeah, you can’t help thinking about all that stone overhead, silently wearing away. Ha!
You are so smart and lucky to get a lovely day. It doesn’t even look crowded. I so wish I had done my reservation for our grandchildren to visit. I am sad about the reservation system especially as on cold days I bet people are no shows. I went out there with a friend visiting from Ireland in October. I didn’t realize they were still doing reservations so late in the year. We were turned away. I’ll be sure to plan well a head in future.. The day are gone when we had this place and Westcave preserve all to ourselves. The pressure is on our parks and wild areas. We have come across the problems with reservations at State Parks when we have been camping. Spots are reserved but people never show up. What’s a few dollars.
What a shame that you weren’t able to take your Irish visitor there, Jenny. I agree that it’s a pain not to be allowed to spontaneously make a trip there anymore. But I understand the reasoning behind it: to preserve the ecosystem from overuse by us humans, who tend to love places to death. One thing I didn’t point out in my post and that you may not know is that reservations are NOT required on weekdays November through February.
Well that’s just gorgeous!
Isn’t it?
I love the idea
in a wet, beautiful place
of “emerald lace”.
It’s that lovely.
Thank you for sharing the beauty of the lagoon. I will be in Austin Bastrop area next week. My friends are spending a few days. We plan on a lagoon visit. Looks like temperature will be 90. We are coming from Michigan.
You’re welcome! Be sure to reserve admission in advance online. It’s a popular place, and the number of hikers each day is limited.