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Three Hill Country Autumn Waterfall Hikes that Will Inspire & Amaze

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Tony Maples Photography

 

What’s better than a hike through the Texas Hill Country in autumn? The answer is experiencing an autumn hike through the Hill Country to view a gorgeous waterfall at the end of the trail. Why? The moderate temperatures finally allow us to get outdoors and experience the natural beauty that surrounds us without the added requirement of being within panting distance of an air conditioner. That being said, enjoying an autumn hike is refreshing and uplifting, but the added bonus of the wonder and awe inspired by a waterfall elevates this outdoor activity to new heights. These three trails in the Hill Country let you discover nature and local wildlife before revealing the breathtaking sights of towering waterfalls surrounded by lush vegetation with gorgeous pools at their base.

1. Colorado Bend State Park

Three Hill Country Autumn Waterfall Hikes that Will Inspire & Amaze

Photo: Facebook/Kyle Hubbart

With more than 5K acres to its name, including rivers, caves, natural springs, and hiking trails, Colorado Bend State Park has a fall time hike with your name on it. Many of the park’s visitors come for one main reason, however, and that’s Gorman Falls. This beautiful, 65-foot waterfall features a number of portions that converge into an amazing pool below.

2. Westcave Preserve

Three Hill Country Autumn Waterfall Hikes that Will Inspire & Amaze

Photo: Facebook/Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center

A 40-foot waterfall awaits you at Westcave Preserve where a guided fall hike offers the weekend warrior a wonderful reward. Watching this waterfall spill into the blue-green pool below is enchanting. A variety of plant life, as well as abundant wildlife, can be found along the canyon that leads to the Pedernales River, for which the waterfall is the culmination of the Westcave Preserve hike. It has been called as a steep and winding trail, but the lush greenery and peaceful scenery more than make up for the challenge.

3. Krause Springs

Three Hill Country Autumn Waterfall Hikes that Will Inspire & Amaze

Photo: Facebook/Hans Watson

Open to the public for more than five decades, Krause Springs in Spicewood features over 100 acres and a total of 32 springs throughout the property. They feed various water features, not the least of which are waterfalls, which can be found just a short walk from the campsites and parking. Looking more like a tropical paradise than a part of Texas, a fall time in this part of the Lone Star State is a memory-maker indeed.