Hike @ McKinney Falls State Park

ABOUT MCKINNEY FALLS STATE PARK ***THERE IS A $5 ENTRANCE FEE*** This is from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: History: McKinney Falls State Park in Travis County, in south Austin, is a 744.4-acre park acquired in 1970 from private donation and opened to the public in 1976. The headquarters of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are near this location. The park is named for Thomas F. McKinney, who came to Texas in the early 1820s as one of Stephen F. Austin's first 300 colonists. Sometime between 1850 and 1852, McKinney moved to Travis County and his property on Onion Creek, where he became a prominent breeder of race horses with his own stable and private track. He built his large two-story home, stone fences, and the first flour mill in the area with slave labor. WHAT WE'LL DO THERE Though you can swim and camp, we'll just hike. The park ranger said there are 7 total miles of trails over three of them. Depending on the mood of the group, we'll do 4 to 7 miles of hiking along... The Indian Rock Shelter Trail is one mile. Apparently there are caves along the way that were used for shelter by Indians. I'd like to do this one for sure because there is also a huge 500 year old bald cypress tree along the way. The Homestead Trail is used by mountain bikers and goes through the hills of the park. The surface is soft and rocky. Since I love hills, I'd definitely like to do some or all of this. And I'd also like to do some, or all, of... The Onion Creek Trail. This is three miles long and paved with asphalt. I don't care much for asphalt on a nature hike, but it winds along Onion Creek, which promises some very nice views, and maybe tree colors. Personally, I'd like to see the cypress growing along the creek, and maybe it'll be flowing now! WHAT TO BRING? Shoes or boots that can get scuzzy are great. A backpack with some food and water is important too. AFTER THE HIKE? After hosting hikes in the land of Dallas-Fort Worth, whence I just moved, the lot of us would eat at a restaurant close by. That we knew each other made such a rendezvous less daunting. If the group, if there is a group, feels comfortable, this is definitely an option. DIRECTIONS The park is located 13 miles southeast of the State Capitol in Austin off US Highway 183. Take McKinney Falls Parkway, off US 183 South, straight to the park entrance