Hamilton Pool Preserve is a natural pool that was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago. The pool is located about 23 miles (37 km) west of Austin, Texas off Highway 71. Since the 1960s, Hamilton Pool has been a popular summer swimming spot for Austin visitors and residents. Hamilton Pool Preserve consists of 232 acres (0.94 km2) of protected natural habitat featuring a jade green pool into which a 50-foot (15 m) waterfall flows.Preserve. This policy is necessary to preserve the safety of the visitors and the ability of visitors to enjoy the natural setting. Hamilton Pool is also a nature preserve with a mission to provide habitat for wildlife. Drones may be flown in nearby Reimers Ranch Park, as long as they are not flown over areas crowded with people.
WAITING LINE: Be aware that during warm weather, especially when swimming is allowed, many visitors are turned away and are not allowed entry due to overcrowding in the preserve. Please have alternative plans in case you attempt to visit Hamilton Pool and are turned away due to overcrowding. It is usually not possible to avoid the crowd, no matter what time you come to the preserve. Vehicles are not allowed to wait at the gates before our opening time because there is not enough room to form a waiting line without blocking traffic on Hamilton Pool Road. Please be respectful of local residents by not waiting in driveways or on public roads.
Hamilton Pool is nestled inside a small canyon that can only accommodate a limited number of people. During summer days and other warm weather days, especially when swimming is allowed, the number of people trying to visit Hamilton Pool greatly exceeds the number of people the canyon can accommodate. We impose a limit on the number of people who can be in the preserve at any one time. A waiting line forms and people are allowed to enter as others leave. The waiting time is often an hour. When the waiting line reaches the maximum length allowable we turn newly arriving vehicles away and do not allow them to wait in line, or anywhere on preserve grounds. More vehicles are permitted to join the waiting line at a later time when conditions allow. This practice is necessary to protect the natural habitat inside the preserve, maintain proper traffic flow on Hamilton Pool Road, and to avoid unsafe situations. Bicyclists and pedestrians must wait their turn to enter as well because it is the number of people in the canyon we are limiting. We apologize for the inconvenience, but Hamilton Pool Preserve is a member of the federal Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and we must limit the number of people inside its boundaries to protect its beautiful habitat. Hamilton Pool Preserve is a historic swimming hole which was designated a preserve by the Travis County Commissioner's Court in 1990. Located 3/4 mile upstream from its confluence with the Pedernales River, Hamilton Creek spills out over limestone outcroppings to create a 50 foot waterfall as it plunges into the head of a steep box canyon. The waterfall never completely dries up, but in dry times it does slow to a trickle. However, the pool's water level stays pretty constant, even during periods of drought.
The preserve is home to the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, and a great variety of other birds. The diverse vegetation of Hamilton Pool ranges from semi-arid species in the uplands to riparian species in the canyon. The uplands of the preserve are a juniper and oak savannah with a variety of native grasses and wildflowers. Several rare plant species including canyon mock-orange, red bay (western-most colony of this eastern species), and chatter box orchid are known to occur in the canyon areas along Hamilton Creek.
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