7 Beautiful Waterfalls in Texas
When you think of Texas what comes to mind are the longhorns, great BBQ, and 10-gallon cowboy hats. But did you know there are beautiful waterfalls in Texas?
Even better, some of the best waterfalls in Texas flow into swimming holes (with nearby campgrounds). Making these great places to spend the day and beat the summer heat.
We put together a list of the best waterfalls in Texas that you don’t want to skip.
Let’s dive in!
Pedernales Falls
Pedernales Falls is located 30 miles west of Austin and is a great place to take the family.
The waterfall is in Pedernales Falls State Park. The park has lots of swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, and horseback riding. The waterfall itself cascades across limestone rock and is generally calm.
Keep in mind, this area is prone to flash floods, so make sure to check the weather before going.
Location: 2585 Park Rd 6026, Johnson City, TX 78636
Great Nearby Campsite: Pedernales Falls State Park Campground
Pedernales Falls State Park Campground is $20 a night and offers electric and water hookups. There are 69 sites and even offers showers for patrons.
Texas Waterfall Vibes Score: 9.7/10
Cattail Falls
Cattail Falls is located in Big Bend National Park. To get to this 80-foot waterfall you must trek the 1.5-mile trail.
Fortunately, this trail is rated as easy and takes you through the canyons of the area. The National Park Service is preserving this area and asks there to be no swimming in the pools.
Location: Ross Maxwell Scenic Dr, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834
Great Nearby Campsite: Chisos Basin Campground
Located in the national park, Chisos Basin Campground is $16 a night and surrounded by mountains. There are no hookups but there are flush toilets, grills, water spigots, picnic tables and a dump station. It’s not recommended for RV’s over 24’ due to narrow roads.
Texas Waterfall Vibes Score: 9.1/10
Hamilton Pool Waterfall
The Hamilton Pool Waterfall is located 30 miles outside of Austin. Locals have made this a very popular swimming spot.
While the waterfall doesn’t run year-round, there is always water to swim in. What makes this waterfall special is the cave that is behind it. You do have to purchase tickets to get in which can be done online to reserve your spot.
Location: 24300 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Great Nearby Campsite: Henley RV Park
Henley RV Park is a great place to stay just outside of Hamilton Pool Waterfall. It’s $40 a night and they have a weekly rate. There are trees to provide shade and the spots are spaced out. They also recently updated the grounds.
Texas Waterfall Vibes Score: 9.8/10
Gorman Falls
Gorman Falls located in Colorado Bend State Park is a must-see spot. To get to the waterfall you have to hike 3-miles but at the end is a 70-foot cascading waterfall.
The hike is fairly easy with a steep part at the end, but there are railings to assist you. It can be hot and the trail is exposed at the beginning, but deeper in the canyon becomes more like Hawaii.
Location: Colorado Bend State Park, Bend, TX 76824
Great Nearby Campsite: Colorado Bend State Park Campground
The Colorado Bend State Park Campground is a nice area with lots of trees and rivers. There are 47 sites to choose from at $20 a night. There are no hookups but they do have a vault toilet and an outdoor shower.
Texas Waterfall Vibes Score: 8.8/10
McKinney Falls State Park
McKinney Falls is located just 13 miles outside of Austin. This state park has lots of hiking, biking, fishing and most importantly swimming.
The falls doesn’t run year-round, leaving a perfect swimming hole for hot days. It’s a beautiful park with lots of trees and wildlife. This area is prone to flash floods, so please make sure to check local weather forecasts.
Location: 5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy, Austin, TX 78744
Great Nearby Campsite: McKinney Falls State Park Campground
McKinney Falls State Park Campground is a great spot for camping. It’s not far outside of Austin and close to hiking trails and swimming. It’s just $20 a night with water and electric hookups. There are lots of trees to provide shade during the hot summer days.
Texas Waterfall Vibes Score: 9.2/10
Dolan Falls
Dolan Falls is located 2 hours outside of Del Rio. These falls provide much-needed relief for the arid landscape around the Devils River.
This waterfall is a less visited area making it a perfect swimming spot if you want to get away from the crowds. What makes this area so unique is this river is one of the most pristine in Texas. Make sure to check local weather because this area is prone to flash floods.
Location: Dolan Falls, Texas 78837
Great Nearby Campsite: Devils River State Natural Area
Devil’s River State Natural Area is an incredible campground for only $10 a night. There are no hookups, so pack in everything you need. But all the spots are very spaced out making you feel like you are the only one out there. The sky is dark making it a great place to stargaze and there is lots of wildlife.
Texas Waterfall Vibes Score: 9.3/10
Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls is located in the city of Wichita Falls. The falls itself is a manmade waterfall that is as tall as a four story building. There is also a park built around the falls that’s perfect for kids and picnics.
Because of its location, it’s great for walking around town for shopping and restaurants.
Location: Wichita River Trail, Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Great Nearby Campsite: Wichita Bend RV Park
Wichita Bend RV Park is a city park that offers electric and water hookups for only $17 a night. It’s well located in the city limits making it very accessible to groceries, shopping, and restaurants. There are lots of trees to provide lots of cover from the sun.
Texas Waterfall Vibes Score: 9.1/10
Take a Waterfall Camping Trip to Texas
While spending time in Texas you should definitely visit at least one of these waterfalls. They offer the perfect outdoor activity for all ages during the hot summer season.
And often where there is water there is wildlife and plants. None of these waterfalls in Texas will disappoint.
Trip Routing to Texas
If you’re traveling with an RV, trip planning to Texas is essential. The Lone Star State is known for small country roads, not always ideal for RV travel.
We use RV Trip Wizard to route our cross country trips.
It allows us to avoid steep passes, tolls, and tunnels – making travel day way less stressful! Try RV Trip Wizard Free for 7 Days.
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OMG! I was going to tease ya’ll that you forgot our Wichita Falls! LOL! As the Wichita River is the definition of “Red Dirt” the clean water is caught in a pool above the river level and recirculated up to the top, unless the river is flooding when the the pumps are turned off. There was a big campaign back in the 80s to “Put The Falls back in Wichita Falls” and NBC’s Willard Scott was brought in to officiate the big turn on! Unfortunately we had just had a spring flood so they hid fire hoses to send water down the falls into the flooded river below! This was not all that amusing to the residents downriver whose homes were already flooding!