Best Getaways in Texas: HAMILTON POOL

On this day trip, we headed out west to HAMILTON POOL. This is located near the Hill Country outside of Austin. The best way to get there was coming from Houston is on 1-10. Take it west for about 2 hours until you exit to HWY 71 towards La grange, Bastrop, and other small towns. Along that road you will enjoy nice scnenery and a couple small shops that you can stop at. I tried a couple KOLACHE shops and found out they mean a different dessert than what we are used to in Houston. For the most part, while you are drving down this road the best thing that I can recommend is to stop along as many SCENIC VIEWS and HISTORICAL MARKES as you can. Not only does it give you a litte leg stretch, but you get some good knowledge and delight from the road you are treading. Take HWY 71 until you pass through Austin and come upon the signs that take you on HWY 290 towards Dripping Springs. When you arrive at Dripping Springs, take Ranch Road 12 to the right and then Ranch Road 3238 to the left. Be on the look out for the small sign to the HAMILTON POOL PRESERVE PARK on the right. If you get to a hilly creek and awkard road, you passed it up and have to return carefully without falling off the cliff.
Once there you will have to pay $10 per car to park at the park and explore it by foot. You can walk down to the river and explore the river towards the left, or the Hamilton pool towards the right. You can camp out or make your way back home when you are done. Follow all the rules of the Natural Preserve Park. Take care of this beautiful place and enjoy it as much as you can looking around for all the natural wildlife. You will be amazed!
When you exit the Hamilton Pool you can make your way back to Houston or you can feel free to explore Austin, San Antionio, or New Braunfels and the surrounding rivers. We went on a weekday in April and only encountered about three other families there, too. This is a great part to take wonderful pictures. On this day they starting forecasting some thunderstorms so we headed home and made it by 8pm.

Total drive time from Houston: 3.5 hours, entry fees: $10.00, Rating 10/10!