Day before the wedding Megan and Eric wanted to do some site seeing and off we went.
Hamilton Pool is located between San Antonio and Austin... We had a rehearsal dinner at 5 PM so we were limited on our time .
We arrived to find a line of cars waiting. There are only about 50 parking spaces and you wait for one car to leave before you can enter. The park guide told us it was a .25 mile walk down to the pool then back and the trail was pretty rough.
We waited and stared the trek. It is a unique spot but bring sturdy shoes and water to drink.
We made it in time for the rehearsal dinner...
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The preserve is home to the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, and a great variety of other birds. The diverse vegetation of Hamilton Pool ranges from semi-arid species in the uplands to riparian species in the canyon. The uplands of the preserve are a juniper and oak savanna with a variety of native grasses and wildflowers. Several rare plant species including canyon mock-orange, red bay (western-most colony of this eastern species), and chatter box orchid are known to occur in the canyon areas along Hamilton Creek. |
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A unique natural area surrounds this pool, collapsed grotto and canyon, formed by thousands of years of water erosion. Lush plant communities, a variety of wildlife species and natural shelter attracted the area's first inhabitants. Cultural remains date back over 8,000 years. |
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Hamilton Pool Preserve is a historic swimming hole which was designated a preserve by the Travis County Commissioner's Court in 1990. Located 3/4 mile upstream from its confluence with the Pedernales River, Hamilton Creek spills out over limestone outcroppings to create a 50 foot waterfall as it plunges into the head of a steep box canyon. The waterfall never completely dries up, but in dry times it does slow to a trickle. However, the pool's water level stays pretty constant, even during periods of drought. |