Austin Cool Place Hamilton Pool

Hamilton Pool Preserve is a park west of Austin.  It is an absolutely fabulous place to hike and observe what the power of water can do.  The pool itself sits at the base of what must be a collapsed cave.  Slabs of limestone line the pool both in and out of the water.  There is usually a waterfall pouring into the pool from above, but in times of drought it can be just a series of trickles.

The trail from the parking area is pretty steep and isn't for someone not used to hiking.  At the bottom of the little valley you can turn right and take a short walk to the pool or turn left and have a half mile walk to the Pedernales River.  The trail to the actual Hamilton Pool is pretty easy and it is a relatively short walk from the bottom of the canyon.  The trail is lined with boulders and has towering cliffs on either side.

You can actually walk completely around the pool with much of the trail having the remains of the ceiling cave overhead.  At one point, the trail climbs up fairly high and goes directly behind the 80 foot waterfall that cascades into the pool.

When it is warm enough you can swim in Hamilton Pool.  The water is chilly and the pool has some boulders in it so you should not jump or dive into it.   Even though the water is a clear blue-green, the submerged rocks can be deceiving as to their depth.  If there has been significant rain the pool may be closed du to a high bacteria count.  If you plan on going to Hamilton pool and want to get in the water it is best to call in advance of your trip.

To get to Hamilton Pool, take Hwy 71 west of Austin.  Just past the town of Bee Cave, turn left on Hamilton Pool Road.  After you pass where 12 turns to the left, Hamilton Pool will be just over 5 miles ahead.  If you plan on going, go early if you go in the summer as the park can get crowded.  They shut down the entrance when the parking area is full.

Article submitted Thursday, October 02, 2008
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