Sunday was actually quite nice here in Austin. So I thought about a tiny state park near me that I have not been to in literally 20yrs. We packed up our stuff and headed out.
The park was nicer than I remembered it being. We made our way to the "Upper Falls" that is fed by the creek which is spring fed. Wasn't much flowing, but as a kid there was plenty of water. I was surprised it still had water in the main pools as we have had next to 0 rainfall this year.
My kids made their way to under where the falls would have been.
We then headed down stream to find a crossing to hit the other side. Whole lot of nothin but lava rock and dying trees. looks like fall colors, but the trees are just so damn dry they are dying. There were some pretty cool holes in the creek bed though. As a kid they would be filled up and you would just chill in those and drink a coke.
There were a few spots that the creek swelled a little as we hiked it.
We then hit a spot to cross where the deeper pools were. Wind blew my kids hat off into the pool and I had to crawl down and fish it out with my walking stick. Also saw a soft shell turtle near the same pool.
Shot of back side of the second pool.
We then made our way up stream on the other side. As a kid I would hike this area a lot and I could see the over hangs of rock but could not remember how I go down there except for climbing a tree down. Kids were not down with this as since it was just me and them i decided to find a spot to access it easier. I did so I would scout ahead a little and they would follow. They listened well and had a good time doing it.
Entrance once they slid down on their buts on the rocks.
We then followed the trails that ran under the rocks we were just above walking on.
.
We then climbed back up top and hiked over where we were under. The kids "scampered up a tree" like squirels and that became their favorite word the rest of the day "scampered". We walked further then dropped back down the creek side and went down to a set of winding bridges. These were new as I do not remember them as a kid. Flag stones were arranged to make stairs to ease into and off of the bridges.
I went over with my family to see my Grandmother and told her about the hike. The kids filled her in on their adventures and she loved it. She told them about how they would take trips down there before it was a park. She knew the original owners and that they had donated it.
Once it cools down I'll be taking them to Enchanted rock and a few other state parks near by (as long as they aren't burnt down by wild fires).
The park was nicer than I remembered it being. We made our way to the "Upper Falls" that is fed by the creek which is spring fed. Wasn't much flowing, but as a kid there was plenty of water. I was surprised it still had water in the main pools as we have had next to 0 rainfall this year.
My kids made their way to under where the falls would have been.
We then headed down stream to find a crossing to hit the other side. Whole lot of nothin but lava rock and dying trees. looks like fall colors, but the trees are just so damn dry they are dying. There were some pretty cool holes in the creek bed though. As a kid they would be filled up and you would just chill in those and drink a coke.
There were a few spots that the creek swelled a little as we hiked it.
We then hit a spot to cross where the deeper pools were. Wind blew my kids hat off into the pool and I had to crawl down and fish it out with my walking stick. Also saw a soft shell turtle near the same pool.
Shot of back side of the second pool.
We then made our way up stream on the other side. As a kid I would hike this area a lot and I could see the over hangs of rock but could not remember how I go down there except for climbing a tree down. Kids were not down with this as since it was just me and them i decided to find a spot to access it easier. I did so I would scout ahead a little and they would follow. They listened well and had a good time doing it.
Entrance once they slid down on their buts on the rocks.
We then followed the trails that ran under the rocks we were just above walking on.
.
We then climbed back up top and hiked over where we were under. The kids "scampered up a tree" like squirels and that became their favorite word the rest of the day "scampered". We walked further then dropped back down the creek side and went down to a set of winding bridges. These were new as I do not remember them as a kid. Flag stones were arranged to make stairs to ease into and off of the bridges.
I went over with my family to see my Grandmother and told her about the hike. The kids filled her in on their adventures and she loved it. She told them about how they would take trips down there before it was a park. She knew the original owners and that they had donated it.
Once it cools down I'll be taking them to Enchanted rock and a few other state parks near by (as long as they aren't burnt down by wild fires).
