Photos: courtesy of Hamilton Pool Preserve (parks.traviscountytx.gov)
Dripping Springs · Things to Do
A collapsed-grotto swimming hole under a 50-foot waterfall — the most photographed natural pool in Texas.
for the wedding weekend
Bucket-list backdrop 20 minutes from the Creek Road venues — but reservations are mandatory and swimming isn't guaranteed.
Hamilton Pool is what happens when a Hill Country river decides to show off: thousands of years ago the dome of an underground river collapsed, leaving a jade-green pool inside a half-open grotto with a 50-foot waterfall pouring over the lip. It is, by some margin, the most photographed swimming hole in Texas.
It is also the most regulated. Reservations are mandatory every single day, sold as morning (9–12:30) or afternoon (2–5:30) windows — $12 per vehicle online, plus $8 per adult in cash at the gate. Swimming is never guaranteed: bacteria levels after rain close the water while the preserve stays open. The quarter-mile trail down is steep and rocky; real shoes required.
For wedding guests it's a half-day adventure that pairs naturally with the Dripping Springs venues — Camp Lucy and the Creek Road corridor are twenty minutes away. Send the able-bodied early-risers for the morning window, and have them check the swim status the day before so expectations match reality.
| Location | 24300 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs |
|---|---|
| Reservations | Mandatory daily — morning (9–12:30) or afternoon (2–5:30) windows |
| Fees | $12/vehicle online + $8/adult at the gate (cash only) |
| Swimming | Not guaranteed — closed after rain for bacteria; check status first |
| Trail | Quarter-mile, steep and rugged — sturdy shoes, no pets |
Details verified June 2026 against parks.traviscountytx.gov — hours and policies change; confirm directly before locking the itinerary.
Fredericksburg
The Hill Country's landmark pink-granite dome, with summit hikes and some of the darkest night skies in Central Texas.
for the weekend The classic wedding-morning hike — reserve day passes ahead; weekends sell out.
Read the full guide →
Wimberley
Wimberley's storied cypress-shaded swimming hole; swim season runs May through Labor Day, reservations required.
for the weekend Block out an afternoon float for guests — passes go on sale March 1 and peak dates go fast.
Read the full guide →
Wimberley
An artesian spring and Texas' most famous underwater cave; hiking and viewing only — swimming has been suspended since 2022.
for the weekend A short, photogenic hike for guests — set expectations: it's a look-don't-swim landmark right now.
Read the full guide →
The venues your guests would pair with Hamilton Pool Preserve.
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A resort campus with four distinct venues — from a relocated 19th-century chapel to a sailcloth tent in the vines — and a hotel and destination restaurant on the grounds.
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Dripping Springs
A European-styled, family-owned 23-acre estate with a stone chapel, six ceremony settings, and an unhurried, manicured romance.
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Minimalist modern architecture — white walls, glass, 15-foot ceilings — dropped onto 20 acres of wildflower hill country.
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