McKinney Falls State Park Winter Waterfall Trails & Onion Creek

About this adventure

Located just 13 miles southeast of downtown Austin, McKinney Falls State Park is a stunning natural oasis featuring limestone ledges and rushing waterfalls along Onion Creek. In winter, cooler temperatures make hiking the 2.8-mile paved Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail and visiting the Upper and Lower Falls comfortable for families with young children. Kids can search for fossils in the exposed limestone creekbed, visit Old Baldy—a 500-year-old bald cypress tree—and earn a Texas Junior Ranger badge. Family Experience & Accessibility: • Stroller Accessibility: The Onion Creek Trail is hard-surfaced asphalt suitable for strollers and bikes; rocky creekbed areas require foot exploration. • Nursing & Rest Spots: Covered picnic pavilions, park benches, and modern restrooms with baby changing counters near the headquarters. • Age Suitability: All ages; kids 12 and under enter free. • Sensory Tips: The soothing roar of falling water and rustling cypress canopies provide a calming outdoor experience.