Hike Onion Creek And Homestead Trail Loop

Austin, Texas

5.0/5

based on 1 reviews

Save

View all 6 photos

All 6 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

6.5 miles

Elevation Gain

387 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Erin Newman-Mitchell

A trail within McKinney Falls State Park that features beautiful nature, wildlife, and two waterfalls.

The Onion Creek and Homestead Trail Loop is a 6.5 mile loop hike within McKinney Falls State Park, just outside of Austin city limits. The trail is long however pretty beginner level as there are not many inclines. The trail features two waterfalls: the Upper and Lower falls which are popular swimming destinations. The trail is dog friendly, just be sure to clean up after them! The Onion Creek portion of the trail is mostly paved and good for biking. Parking is abundant and there are bathrooms at the trailheads. The trail is mostly shaded and is great for wildlife spotting.

The Upper Falls are more handicap accessible as the path to the falls is paved. The Lower Falls require a short hike over the limestone.

If you're looking for a shorter trail, I recommend the Homestead Trail which is located around the Lower Falls and is only about half the length of the Onion Creek and Homestead Trail.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Mountain Biking

Hiking

Bathrooms

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Forest

Picnic Area

River

Romantic

Scenic

Waterfall

Wildflowers

Wildlife

Swimming Hole

ADA Accessible

Hike Onion Creek And Homestead Trail Loop Reviews

John Daugherty

Hike Onion Creek And Homestead Trail Loop

09/19/21

This is a great easy hike trail. Hardest part is just getting across the water when it is flowing at a good pace.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike the Homestead Trail

The Homestead Loop hike is a 3.1 mile loop featuring the Lower Falls of McKinney Falls State Park. The hike is pretty intermediate and is mostly shaded. There are not many inclines. It is both dog- and kid-friendly. The trail does cross small streams, so be weary to bring water shoes/sandals. This is a great trail for nature spotting and for a nice hike. This hike is not handicap accessible.

Relax at McKinney Falls

McKinney Falls is separated into the Upper and Lower Falls along Onion Creek just 15 miles outside of Austin. The pin I dropped on the map gets you to the parking lot at the Upper Falls. From there it is a very short walk past the Smith Visitor Center to the falls. The upper falls offers some shady areas underneath beautiful cypress trees and an area to swim near the falls. It's not uncommon to...

Visit the Cathedral of Junk

The Cathedral of Junk is a hidden gem within the Austin City Limits, actually located in the Artists backyard. Construction was started back in 1988 by Vince Hahnemann and he still continues to add to it to this day! Climb to the top of the tower to rock out on the drum set or maybe even catch a concert or perform your own on the stage!It has switched to a $10 donation per group visiting and is...

Bike through Iconic Graffiti Landmarks in Austin

You don't have to rent a bike but it's the "Austin" thing to do. With plenty of pick up and drop off locations all throughout the city you can start the trip and end it whenever you feel like it! It's recommended to start the trip on South Congress at the bike rental located near Doc's Motorworks, only because a lot of the main pieces of art are located in the S. Congress area. Below is a list ...

Watch the Mexican-Free-Tailed Bats Emerge from Congress Street Bridge

Every evening, just as the sun sets, you can watch the 1.5 million bats take flight into the evening sky. This is great family fun and a must if you visit/are new to Austin. Parking is easy and nearby, however it is paid. There is a separate lot located in the Austin American Stateman parking lot dedicated for this event. Once you park, you are able to walk up on the bridge or relax in the gras...

Hike Mary Moore Searight Park Trail

The outer loop trail at Mary Moore Searight park is 2.1 miles and is interconnected by several smaller trails, which can be used to shorten the length of the hike. The trail is relatively easy with very few inclines and declines. The trail is mostly very thin crushed gravel and great for an easy walk/run/bike. Along with the trail, there are several large fields located around the park perfect ...

Hike Onion Creek And Homestead Trail Loop

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Hike Onion Creek And Homestead Trail Loop Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Hike the Homestead Trail

Relax at McKinney Falls

Visit the Cathedral of Junk

Bike through Iconic Graffiti Landmarks in Austin

Watch the Mexican-Free-Tailed Bats Emerge from Congress Street Bridge

Hike Mary Moore Searight Park Trail

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps