The best waterfalls near Austin, Texas are Lower McKinney Falls, Chalk Ridge Falls, Post Oak Falls and 6 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Lower McKinney Falls, about 6 miles south of Austin.
For more waterfalls around Austin, browse the nearest towns: Austin, Buda, Johnson City, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Lake Dunlap, Bulverde, Belton. You can also see every waterfall on the Texas waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 9 publicly accessible Texas waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Austin that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Lower McKinney Falls
6 miles south of Austin. Our top pick near the city 4.4 out of 5 from 30 reviews.
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Lower McKinney Falls is about 5.6 miles south of Austin, near Austin. Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 30 Google reviews, and 67% of them give it five stars.
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2. Chalk Ridge Falls
53 miles north of Austin. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 38 reviews.
Bell County, TX 76571 (GPS 31.0177, -97.5248)
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Chalk Ridge Falls is about 53 miles north of Austin, near Belton. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 38 Google reviews, and 76% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention easy to find, kids, and well.
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3. Post Oak Falls
66 miles northwest of Austin. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 5 reviews.
San Saba County, TX 76877 (GPS 31.0056, -98.4593)
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Post Oak Falls is about 66 miles northwest of Austin, near Lampasas. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 5 Google reviews. Reviews most often mention kayak rental and park.
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4. Slumber Falls
43 miles southwest of Austin. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 18 reviews.
Comal County, TX 78132 (GPS 29.7555, -98.1389)
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Slumber Falls is about 43 miles southwest of Austin, near New Braunfels. Visitors rate it 4.4 stars across 18 Google reviews.
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5. Gorman Falls
70 miles northwest of Austin. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 121 reviews.
San Saba County, TX 76853 (GPS 31.0582, -98.4823)
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Gorman Falls is about 70 miles northwest of Austin, near San Saba. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 121 Google reviews, and 75% of them give it five stars. In short: "With a 200 foot elevation gain, this scenic hike with a 70 ft. waterfall is 3 miles round trip." Reviews most often mention rocky trail, steep section, and challenging hike.
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6. The Falls
84 miles northeast of Austin. Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 50 reviews.
Falls County, TX 76570 (GPS 31.2466, -96.9192)
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The Falls is about 84 miles northeast of Austin, near Marlin. Visitors rate it 4.5 stars across 50 Google reviews, and 64% of them give it five stars.
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7. Horseshoe Falls
38 miles southwest of Austin. Rated 3.9 out of 5 from 12 reviews.
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Horseshoe Falls is about 38 miles southwest of Austin, near Canyon Lake. Visitors rate it 3.9 stars across 12 Google reviews. Reviews most often mention river.
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8. Dittmar Falls
47 miles southwest of Austin. Rated 3.7 out of 5 from 7 reviews.
Guadalupe County, TX 78130 (GPS 29.6533, -98.0645)
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Dittmar Falls is about 47 miles southwest of Austin, near Lake Dunlap. Visitors rate it 3.7 stars across 7 Google reviews.
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9. Edge Falls
52 miles southwest of Austin. Rated 3.6 out of 5 from 25 reviews.
Kendall County, TX 78027 (GPS 29.9138, -98.5064)
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Edge Falls is about 52 miles southwest of Austin, near Bulverde. Visitors rate it 3.6 stars across 25 Google reviews, and 56% of them give it five stars.
Waterfall Day Trips From Austin
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower McKinney Falls | 6 mi south | Austin | 4.4 |
| Horseshoe Falls | 38 mi southwest | Canyon Lake | 3.9 |
| Slumber Falls | 43 mi southwest | New Braunfels | 4.4 |
| Dittmar Falls | 47 mi southwest | Lake Dunlap | 3.7 |
| Edge Falls | 52 mi southwest | Bulverde | 3.6 |
| Chalk Ridge Falls | 53 mi north | Belton | 4.6 |
| Post Oak Falls | 66 mi northwest | Lampasas | 5.0 |
| Gorman Falls | 70 mi northwest | San Saba | 4.5 |
| The Falls | 84 mi northeast | Marlin | 4.5 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Austin. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Austin?
Lower McKinney Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 6 miles south of Austin and rated 4.4 stars from 30 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Austin?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Lower McKinney Falls is the closest, about 6 straight-line miles south of the city.
How many waterfalls are near Austin?
We track 9 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Texas within 100 miles of Austin, 4 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Texas waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 9 publicly accessible Texas waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Austin that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
What is the highest waterfall in Texas?
USGS records Capote Falls in Presidio County as the highest waterfall in Texas, with a vertical drop of 175 feet. It is in remote country in far West Texas.
Summary
Lower McKinney Falls is our top waterfall pick near Austin, rated 4.4 out of 5 and about 6 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Spring is the prime season across most of Texas. From March through early June, frequent storms and active springs keep Hill Country falls running, and wildflowers carpet the roadsides. Summer brings intense heat statewide; spring-fed falls such as Gorman Falls continue to flow, but many rain-fed falls dry up, and swimming holes become crowded. Autumn can bring heavy rains, especially in September and October, which revive falls but also bring dangerous flash floods. In the Trans-Pecos, the most reliable flow follows the summer monsoon, roughly July through September, while winter is the most comfortable season for hiking in Big Bend. Panhandle canyons see spring and summer thunderstorms, with occasional winter ice. Winter in the Hill Country is mild and flow is variable.
For more Texas waterfalls, see the full Texas waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Texas, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Texas and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Texas.