McKinney Falls State Park Itinerary
Austin is lucky to have a Texas State Park located in the middle of the city! Make sure to reserve tickets online. There’s a high chance you’ll be turned away without a prior reservation as this state park is popular to visit. More information is on the state park website.
Make sure to ask for a state park map. You’ll need it to keep track of all of the trails within this 744 acre park!
Follow our itinerary with the map below to see how you can walk to all of the major points of interest in McKinney Falls State Park:
STOP 1: LOWER FALLS
You’ll be parking your car at Lower Falls for the duration of the day. There are plenty of parking spots here. Our first stop is Lower Falls. It’s a short, easy walk to the Lower Falls from the trailhead.
Lot of parking spots 
Trailhead for the Lower Falls
The trail will open up to a rocky, barren landscape. Keep walking to your right to reach the Lower Falls.
Head right here to see the Lower Falls
The Lower Falls is the branching point for the park. From here, you will need to cross the creek to check out the North side of the park OR take the trails down South to the Upper Falls (see map above).
IMPORTANT TIP: The entire North side of the park is ONLY accessible by crossing the Lower Falls. If you come on a day after heavy rains (as we did), you might be unable to access half of the park due to heavy water flow.
View from the bottom of the Lower Falls
We even tried to cross to the other side of the creek from the bottom of the Lower Falls, but weren’t able to!
Being unable to cross to the creek, we turned back the way we came. Head back the way you came and check out the scenic overlook on the other end of the barren rocky landscape. This side of the park will also connect you to the Picnic Trail.
Scenic Overlook 
Scenic Overlook
STOP 2: PICNIC TRAIL
The Picnic Trail is just as it is sounds – It’s a short trail with lot of picnic tables for eating.
Lots of picnic tables 
You can also join the Picnic Trail from the parking lot
Keep walking down the Picnic Trail path and you’ll see a sign for the Rock Shelter Trail.
STOP 3: ROCK SHELTER TRAIL
This trail contains two points of interest 3 and 4 – Old Baldy and the Prehistoric Rock Shelter. To reach Old Baldy, you will need to take the rocky path and bridge dow to a tree that’s been around since when Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa! The trail past the bridge was closed when we visited, so we turned around and headed back up the same way we came after this.
Follow the rock path down to Old Baldy 
Old Baldy to the right 
Old Baldy up close 
The trail past the bridge is currently closed
The Prehistoric Rock Shelter will be more difficult to find. We had to wander around for a few minutes before figuring out what it was. The shelter is located above the branch point for the trail as it winds down for the Bald cypress point of interest. The Rock Shelter is a limestone overhang that used to be a shelter for Native Americans.
Prehistoric Rock Shelter was difficult to find
Next up, the landscape changes and the trail continues to Point of Interest 1 (Horse Trainer’s Cabin). This trail will be muddy if it recently rained. The Horse Trainer’s Cabin can easily be driven to with your car if you choose to keep your shoes clean.
Trail to the Horse Trainer’s Cabin 
Point of Interest 1
STOP 4: ONION CREEK TRAIL AND UPPER FALLS
Next up, join the Onion Creek Trail from the Horse Trainer’s Cabin. You will take the Onion Creek Trail south to Upper Falls. This one is a gravel, paved trail.
You’ll pass the visitor center (which is closed during the pandemic) before the trail opens up to the falls.
Upper Falls 
Upper Falls
Take a few pictures at the Upper Falls and congratulate yourself – you made it through the whole park!
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