It is an amazing geological formation surrounded by beautiful trees and birds. The overhang is quite large by Central Texas standards and can provide refreshing shade on a hot day.ĭistance: 1.20 Miles Duration: 45 minutesĪs a Houstonian visiting the Austin area, I was thoroughly impressed by Hamilton Pool. The pool here is larger than at nearby Westcave Preserve and the trail here actually circles the entire pool, half of the loop under the rock overhang. ![]() As layers of rock collapsed an overhang developed and water cascades into the circular pool below. Hamilton Pool is formed by a collapsed grotto. But given the recent rains, the water quality had temporarily degraded and no swimming was allowed, which cut down on the crowds a great deal. As expected, there were more people around the pool's perimeter, after all, this is what most people come for. The turnaround point at the river features a bench in the shade for some rest or quiet contemplation.ĭoubling back, I headed to Hamilton Pool itself. Paradoxically, some of the steeper sections of the trail occur right before it reaches the Pedernales River. One spot along this section is quite narrow and requires a sideways shuffle. The trail loops completely around the overhang of the grotto. All told there is about 400 feet of elevation gain on the trails. Although the trail descends toward the river, it undulates as it heads towards the mouth of the creek. The trail surface is packed dirt and rock. The cooler air and water source provide a humid atmosphere that is perfect for Cypress and ferns that line the banks of Hamilton Creek. Since the stream bed is well sheltered in the canyon, the air here is cooler than just a few hundred feet away at the top of the canyon rim. The trail heads northwest and parallels Hamilton Creek as it flows towards the Pedernales River. I chose to go left first to avoid a small group that went in the opposite direction. To the left is the longer and less traveled part of the preserve. To the right lies a short quarter mile walk to Hamilton Pool. The path descends slightly towards a "T" in the trail. The trails begin at the waypoint "Trailhead" at the preserve parking area. Several spots along the trail allow for close access to the creek, like this one near a small waterfall.
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