Hamilton Pool Loop

Dogs No Dogs

Features Cave · River/Creek · Swimming · Waterfall

A short run with a major payoff. Once at the pool, enjoy the lollipop loop around the pool. If you're lucky and it's been raining, the waterfall will be flowing.

Open 9 am-6 pm. No lifeguards on duty. Swimming may be prohibited due to bacteria levels. For the current status, call 512-264-2740. Drinking water and concessions are not available. Glass bottles and public display of alcohol consumption are prohibited.

From the end of the parking lot, run through the small cactus-lined meadow. After a hundred feet or so, you'll start to drop in elevation. The descent can be a little rough but doesn't require any hard scrambling. Once at the bottom of the descent, you'll hit a fork in the road with a port-a-potty or two. Stay left and follow the creek bed to the pool.

This section is a flat and simple run. Once at the pool, you can go left or right to traverse the rim of the pool. If you go right, you'll head through the drainage area, up around the falls, and around the backside of the old sunken dome. Just before you leave the overhanging sinkhole, you'll see a little fern and mossy section where water seeps out of the limestone. After that, you're on the beach area, perfect for sunning, picnicking, and enjoying the view.

Bald cypress line the small stream draining from the pool. Watch out for snakes where the pool drains into the stream.

The land was once owned by ranchers and purchased by the country to restore this fragile ecosystem.