Where the waterfalls are in Texas
Texas is not known for waterfalls, but it has more than people expect, mostly in the Hill Country west of Austin. There, spring-fed creeks run over limestone ledges, and some falls build up travertine formations as mineral-rich water drips down the rock. A few more are in the Trans-Pecos mountains of West Texas.
Several popular falls are in state parks or preserves with reservations or limited daily entry in summer.
Well-known waterfalls in Texas
Gorman Falls
A 70-foot spring-fed fall over travertine in Colorado Bend State Park, reached by a trail with a steep final descent. .
Hamilton Pool
A 50-foot fall into a pool inside a collapsed grotto, in a Travis County preserve that requires advance reservations.
Pedernales Falls
The Pedernales River spilling over tilted limestone ledges in the state park of the same name. Swimming is not allowed in the falls area. .
McKinney Falls
Upper and Lower falls on Onion Creek in a state park inside Austin city limits.
When to go
Spring and after heavy rain. Spring-fed falls run all year; rain-fed ones can dry up in summer droughts. See the best time to see waterfalls for how flow changes by region.
Texas by the numbers
The map shows 50 named falls in Texas. 30 of them are in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, the federal register of official place names, and 20 more are named falls mapped only in OpenStreetMap. 2 have a height recorded by OpenStreetMap mappers, which is what the height filter above uses. ParkerCounty has the most, with 3.
Tallest recorded waterfalls in Texas
Heights as recorded in OpenStreetMap, converted to feet. Guidebooks may list different figures, usually because they count every tier of a fall or only the biggest drop. Why heights differ.
| Waterfall | Height | County | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capote Falls | 190 ft | Presidio | |
| Gorman Falls | 69 ft | San Saba |
Counties with the most waterfalls
From the USGS record, which gives each fall's county.
| County | Named falls |
|---|---|
| Parker | 3 |
| Comal | 3 |
| Presidio | 2 |
| San Saba | 2 |
| Crosby | 2 |
| Hays | 1 |
| Taylor | 1 |
| Brewster | 1 |
| Bell | 1 |
| Guadalupe | 1 |
| Val Verde | 1 |
| Kendall | 1 |
Every named waterfall in Texas
Alphabetical within each county. Tap a name to centre the map above on it.
Bell County (1)
Blanco County (1)
Brewster County (1)
Briscoe County (1)
Comal County (3)
, ,
Crosby County (2)
,
Falls County (1)
Gillespie County (1)
Guadalupe County (1)
Hays County (1)
Hood County (1)
Karnes County (1)
Kendall County (1)
Kenedy County (1)
Kimble County (1)
Parker County (3)
, ,
Presidio County (2)
(190 ft),
Randall County (1)
San Saba County (2)
(69 ft),
Stonewall County (1)
Taylor County (1)
Val Verde County (1)
Washington County (1)
County not recorded (20)
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Before you go
The map shows where falls are, not whether they are open or safe to reach. Check the land manager, usually a state park or national forest, for closures, fees and permits, and stay on the trail near the water. Our waterfall safety guide covers the hazards, and waterfall hikes near me explains how to pick a trail.
Waterfalls near cities in Texas
Every named fall within driving range of the city, nearest first: waterfalls near Austin.
Waterfalls in nearby states: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kansas. Or see waterfalls in every state.