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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

McKinney Falls

Travis County, Texas — about 15 ft, among the shortest.
McKinney Falls, a waterfall in Texas
McKinney Falls, Texas · Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0

McKinney Falls comprises a pair of broad 15-20-foot waterfalls where Onion Creek flows over limestone ledges within McKinney Falls State Park inside Austin's city limits. The Lower Falls sits along the paved/hike-and-bike Onion Creek Trail.

Height
15 ft
Type
Block
Access
Short Hike
Trail
2.9 mi loop
Elevation gain
170 ft
Best season
Spring; after rain for stronger flow
Land manager
McKinney Falls State Park (Texas Parks & Wildlife)
Watercourse
Onion Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check McKinney Falls State Park (Texas Parks & Wildlife) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

McKinney Falls drops about 15 feet. That makes it the 636th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 7% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Onion Creek Trail (Lower Falls) reaches it about 2.9 miles (loop) with roughly 170 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Austin. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with McKinney Falls State Park (Texas Parks & Wildlife) for closures and current conditions.

Spring; after rain for stronger flow. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More Texas waterfalls

Sources

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