Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Texas Hill Country Cruise

Crockett Garden old settlement
We explored by car and foot some of the natural wonders of the Texas Hill Country during our stay just outside of Austin. We skipped going into the city since we had our fill of traffic. Cool temps and cloudy skies limited us to just observing these popular water holes.

Crocketts Garden- A stop along a 24 mile trail around the San Gabriel River reservoir in Georgetown. We only walked 5 miles round trip to get there. The water levels are down 13 feet giving us some unique views of the landscape.

Crocketts Garden spring

















Low water levels in reservoir exposing old tree stumps












Jacob's Well 










Jacob's Well Natural Area County Park-Deep natural hole filled by an artesian spring. Popular swimming hole out in the middle of nowhere.
Jacob's Well







Pedernales Falls
Pedernales Falls 






















Pedernales Falls







Pedernales Falls State Park-Huge limestone rocks interrupt the Pedernales River creating some interesting hiking and swimming spots.


Hamilton Pool Falls

Hamilton Pool Preserve- Located in Dripping Springs, the creek spills out creating a 50 foot water fall over a collapsed grotto into a box canyon. My favorite of all places. Check out the scale by finding the people in the photos.


Hamilton Pool-feels like we are in the mouth of a whale
 

Several places we stopped at are very popular in the heat of summer. They are also prone to flash flooding and some require reservations to visit due to high attendance. You can actually be turned away at the gate when the park is full.




Longhorn Caverns State Park- We went deeper into Texas for a cave tour. A river created this limestone and dolomite cave. People from the area left their mark as Apaches used it as a shelter, bandits used it as a hideout and it was used as a speakeasy and dancehall prior to becoming a State Park.


Older CCC building at Longhorn
















Entrance to the Caves













Longhorn Caverns State Park















Very smooth rock formation due to river 

















 

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