If you’re looking for a scenic outdoor adventure near Austin, TX, visiting some of the hiking trails at McKinney Falls State Park may be a perfect option for you. With over 10 miles of diverse trails winding through rocky terrain, shaded woodlands, and charming mini-waterfalls, this park is perfect for both beginner and experienced hikers.

I planned to visit McKinney Falls State Park on a whim after I had to postpone my Lone Star Trail hike so I wasn’t able to obtain a spot to camp. Since I was only visiting for the day, I challenged myself to hike all 10+ miles of trail the park has to offer.

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Overview of McKinney Falls State Park Hiking Trails

There is no specific order in which I suggest you hike the trails, just go as your heart desires. Many of the hikes in the park are beginner-friendly hikes!

I chose to park my car at the Lower Falls parking lot and start my day with the Onion Creek Loop. The Cactus Garden Trail & the Armadillo Trail intersect with Onion Creek Trail so I hiked those too.

If you want to follow along visually while you read, here is a digital copy of The McKinney Falls State Park hiking trails map.

Here are the trails in the order I hiked them:

1. Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail (2.8 miles)

• Difficulty: Easy
• Terrain: Paved
• Best For: Families, bikers, and those looking for a relaxed stroll
• Highlights: Scenic views of Onion Creek, wildflowers, and a peaceful atmosphere

I began my Onion Creek trail hike at the Lower Falls which were slow-moving and incredibly peaceful around 8:40 am. As you walk past the falls, you enter a huge picnic area that is shaded and has plenty of space for families and gatherings of all sizes. Along the edge of the picnic area are multiple coves where people were out fishing.

As with most hiking in Texas, early in the morning before the sun is fully awake is the best time to start your hike. The Onion Creek Trail has all the good sounds of nature to wake you up and put you in a cheery mood including a light wind brushing through the branches of the trees, birds singing and preparing for their day, and the sounds of the creek running.

McKinney Falls State Park has an all-terrain wheelchair for use in the park which is pretty neat! If you want to get more information or reserve the wheelchair email McKinney Falls State Park.

Along the southern point of the trail, you have the option to veer off and take the Cactus Garden Trail, which is what I did.

2. Cactus Garden Trail (0.5 miles)

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Terrain: Loose Rocks
• Best For: People who like cacti

There wasn’t anything in particular that stuck out about this trail except that it hosts an odd, super compact area of cacti. Cacti aren’t prevalent throughout the rest of the park.

The trail here is still flat and easy to traverse, but you’ll be walking on loose rocks. Make sure you have some good shoes or boots on.

This short trail connects back to the Onion Creek Trail or you can continue onto the Armadillo Trail, which is what I chose to do.

3. Armadillo Trail (0.6 miles)

• Difficulty: Easy
• Terrain: Well-compacted dirt path

The trail is fairly new to the park. The park map and website haven’t been fully updated yet to include it.

It’s a fairly short route, on a dirt path, with nothing specific separating it from the rest of the trails. I do like that the park is adding more miles to its trail list though!

Oh, and, I didn’t see any armadillos. 👎🏼

The Armadillo Trail connects back to the Onion Creek Trail. I followed Onion Creek trail back to my car at the Lower Falls Parking Lot.

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After hiking those three trails, I stopped to refill my water bottle at the Smith Visitor Center which has an outdoor drinking fountain with filtered water so you can fill up your water bottle/bladder even when the visitor center is closed. It’s located under the balcony on the falls side of the building.

Then, I drove my car up to the Upper Falls section of the park and had some lunch in my car before heading out to hike the Homestead Trail, Flint Rock Loop Trail, and the Williamson Creek Overlook Trail.

When you first enter the trail, you’re in a forest-looking entry and it just opens up to this vast stone, moon surface-like plain. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was really impressed by the potholes that had formed in the stone and the crevices where the creek feeds through when there’s more water.

Similar to the lower falls, the upper falls were barely running at this time of the year, but were still beautiful to watch. There are signs at the entrance of this part of the park warning that you may get your feet wet and have to cross the creek to access the three trails on the other side, but that wasn’t an issue at all during this visit.

4. Homestead Trail (3.1 miles)

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Terrain: Dirt path with rocky sections, shaded

The Homestead trail was well traveled and the pathway was wide, especially the first part of the trail leading into the McKinney Homestead. I saw a lot of other hikers and their dogs (on leash only) along this trail. It was also pretty popular for bikers.

There are no benches or places to rest along the trail so keep that in mind when planning your hike. Thankfully I had my sit pad with me and I took a little break on the side of the trail during my hike.

For you history buffs out there, Homestead Trail takes you past some of the prominent historical points in the park. Each of the below stops hosts a park marker that gives more detail about each stop.

5. Flint Rock Loop Trail (2.8 miles)

• Difficulty: Easy
• Terrain: Very dry dirt and stone

Veering off onto this trail from the Homestead Trail is where the crowds started to dwindle. I only saw 5 other hikers between this loop and the Williamson Loop combined. Although I love seeing other hikers on the trail, I also appreciate some quiet solo time!

The trail was very shaded (as you can see in the pictures below) which was great as the temperatures were picking up in the afternoon.

Nothing specific stuck out about this trail, but you must hike it to get to the next one – Williamson Creek Overlook Trail.

6. Williamson Creek Overlook Trail (0.4 miles)

• Difficulty: Easy
• Terrain: Flat and narrow

Of the three hikes I did past Upper Falls, this one was probably my favorite. It’s a shorter loop, but I love a loop trail. It was also really lush and green at this time of the year. I only saw one hiker out this far so I really got to enjoy the sounds of the birds and the wind in the trees.

The Williamson Creek Overlook was pretty cool despite the water barely flowing through. I love that you can walk right up to the cliff and look down into the creekbed.

I’m not sure how I missed them on the map, but here are two more hiking trails Mckinney Falls State Park has to offer that I did not hike during my visit.

7. Rock Shelter Trail (0.6 miles)

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Terrain: Rocky and uneven

This trail is the home of Old Baldy – a 100′ tall bald cypress tree that’s believed to have been there for over 500 years!

Now, that’s pretty cool and I’m sad I missed it! I’ll definitely have to go back and check it out.

This trail will also take you to the prehistoric rock shelter, which is where this trail got its name. The rock shelter is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There is an information post at each of these sites to read more when you arrive.

8. Picnic Trail (0.5 miles)

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Terrain: Rocky and uneven

I’m actually really surprised I missed this one because I was reading blogs before I visited (like you are now, thank you!) and almost every blog talked about this trail!

This is a short, family-friendly trail that appears similar to the beginning of the Onion Creek Trail. There are plenty of places to bring the family or gather with friends, have some lunch, and then do a short hike to the falls (upper or lower!).

Tips for Hiking at McKinney Falls State Park

• Start early: The park gets busy, so arrive at opening and visit the falls right away to avoid crowds.
• Wear proper footwear: Some trails are rocky and uneven, so closed-toe shoes/sandals are recommended.
• Bring water and snacks: Texas heat can be brutal, even in cooler months. Staying hydrated is key. this park is known for its amazing picnic areas so bring some snacks and lunch too!
• Check trail conditions: The upper trails may be closed at certain times of the year due to rainfall and not being able to cross the upper falls. Be sure to check the weather and the McKinney Falls State Park website or Instagram for up-to-date information on closures.
• Respect wildlife and nature: Stay on designated trails, pack out all trash, and follow Leave No Trace principles.
• Visit during Bluebonnet season: Bluebonnets bloom all over the park and make for a beautiful experience for those visiting while they are blooming. I just missed them on my visit, but late March or early April is a great time typically.

Final Thoughts

Hiking at McKinney Falls State Park is a great choice for a day out. There are hiking trails, swimming holes, picnic areas, historic landmarks, bluebonnets, and so much more! If you’re wanting to get out of the city for a little while and get into nature, this is a great park for you. Although you can still hear the airplanes (as we’re close to the airport), and a little bit of traffic, it still feels like you’re immersed in the forest.

I’ll be happy to revisit this park again in the future.

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I’ve now officially visited 18 Texas State Parks! To read about my adventures and experiences in the other parks, visit my Texas State Parks page and click on each park for related blog posts.