Spring-Fed

Where Austin families go when they want a proper adventure that feels miles from civilization. The 1.5-mile round-trip hike to Gorman Falls ends at a stunning 70-foot waterfall draped in ferns and mosses that genuinely stuns kids who have never seen anything like it. Spicewood Springs near the campground offers a series of spring-fed pools with some of the clearest and most refreshing swimming in the Hill Country. The park also offers guided cave tours and 35 miles of trails making it one of the most activity-dense state parks in Central Texas for active families.

A family-friendly park in the rolling mesquite country south of Abilene with a large spring-fed pool surrounded by pecan trees that is the main draw for kids. The pool operates seasonally and feels like a throwback to simpler times. The Buffalo Wallow Trail winds through the park and the CCC-era structures including a stone pavilion are well-preserved. It is a low-key park that works well for families wanting an easy overnight camping trip.

A spring-fed swimming pool the size of 1.75 acres that stays a constant 72 to 76 degrees year-round and is so clear you can see straight to the bottom at 25 feet deep. The pool is home to endangered species including the Comanche Springs pupfish and kids can snorkel alongside them. The San Solomon Springs Courts offer motel-style rooms right on the pool deck. Recently renovated and reopened after years of construction.

A three-acre natural spring-fed pool in the heart of Zilker Park where the water holds a constant 68 to 70 degrees year-round. Kids can swim laps in the main pool or splash in the free shallow wading area at the upstream end called Splash. On a hot Austin summer day there is simply no better place to be with kids and the grassy hillside is perfect for picnicking between swims.

The shortest river in Texas at just 2.5 miles but one of the most popular tubing destinations in the state. The spring-fed water stays a constant 72 degrees and the gentle current makes it safe for older kids to float independently. The tube chute near Prince Solms Park adds a splash of excitement. Multiple outfitters in town rent tubes and provide shuttle service making logistics easy for families.

The crystal-clear San Marcos River flows through this park with three small drops known as Rio Vista Falls that kids treat like a natural water park. The river is spring-fed and stays a refreshing 72 degrees year-round. Families can tube from City Park upstream and float down to Rio Vista in about an hour. The park is free and has restrooms and easy river access from grassy banks.

A Hill Country park on the spring-fed South Llano River where the water is consistently clear and perfect for tubing and kayaking. The park has over 18 miles of hiking and biking trails and a wildlife blind where families can sit quietly and watch wild turkeys and white-tailed deer come to feed. The river access points have gentle banks that make it easy for kids to wade in and out. Fall turkey viewing here is some of the best in Texas.