Nothing feels more like magical summertime than floating in a shady swimming hole or jumping in the chilly water of a spring-fed pool when it’s 100 degrees outside.
If you’re looking for a cool swimming spot in the greater Austin area, you have to check out Krause Springs west of town. It’s picturesque, not too far out, and will help keep you cool in the summer heat.
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What is Krause Springs?
Krause Springs is a beautiful little oasis out west of Austin. It is a privately owned property that has two spring-fed pools. The Krause family (pronounced to rhyme with “drowsy” not “house”) has owned the property for more than 50 years.
The upper pool is man-made and goes from 2.5 feet deep to 8 feet deep. There’s a little rock wall and rock “diving board” on one end for jumping in.
The lower pool is a natural swimming hole with rocks to lay out on, a couple of small caves, and a trickling waterfall. There’s also a long rope swing and some rocks people were jumping off of into the water below.
Where is Krause Springs?
Krause Springs is located in Spicewood, Texas, about 45 minutes west of Austin. It’s the perfect distance for a day trip!
Is Krause Springs good for kids?
Yes! This is a great spring or summer outing with kids. The manmade pool has a very shallow area, so even small kids can touch the bottom. You can pack snacks and a picnic (and they sell sno cones!), so you can handle hangry kids. And they’ll love the waterfall, rope swing and small caves.
The hardest parts with kids are that it gets pretty cold for tiny bodies, the pools can get crowded, and the rocks are slippery down by the natural pool.
How much does Krause Springs cost?
Admission to the springs is $10 for ages 12 and up, $6 for kids 4 to 11, and free for under 4. Cash is preferred, but credit cards are accepted.
Is there parking?
Yes, Krause Springs has a big dirt/grassy parking lot. Parking is free. (Note: their website mentions that it is hard to get an Uber/Lyft to pick you up at the property, so make sure you have a ride back arranged if you are using a rideshare.)
How cold is Krause Springs?
Being spring-fed means the water in the pools stays around 68 degrees all the time. Smaller kids may have trouble staying in for too long without starting to get shivers and chattering teeth. (Depending on size, I feel like kids start to grow out of this by 7 or 8.)
The lower pool felt warmer than the upper pool as the day went on, so might be a better option if you or your kids get too cold.
Can you camp at Krause Springs?
Yes, and camping might be a great option for you if you’re worried about crowds at the pools!
There are RV sites or primitive tent camping sites available. Tent camping is first-come, first-served, but RV sites can be reserved.
What should I bring to Krause Springs?
Wear your swimsuit and water shoes. While you don’t really need water shoes for the upper pool, the swimming hole has slippery rocks, both in the water itself and the big rocks down to the water. Having grippy soles is a must! There is a dirt area where you can hang out, but you still have to cross the rocks to get to it.
You can spend all day here, so plan to bring some snacks and a lunch, as well as a picnic blanket (and whatever else you’d like for your water-side setup). No glass allowed.
If you’re planning to hang out in the lower pool much (and especially with kids), you’ll want a tube or some kind of floatie. There are shallow areas, but most of the lower pool is too deep to touch the bottom.
Pets are not allowed.
Does Krause Springs get crowded?
The biggest complaint I’ve heard about Krause Springs is how crowded it gets now (especially compared to how it was many years ago). My suggestion is to go on a weekday or get there early — we got there about 45 minutes after it opened on a Saturday and it wasn’t too bad. By midday, it was getting pretty busy and the upper pool was feeling too crowded for me. The lower pool is much larger, so was better for swimming at that time of day, but the rocks around the pool were getting full.
Another option is to camp there so you have access to the pools before they open to day passes.
Does Krause Springs require reservations?
Nope! No reservations required to visit Krause Springs. The only reservations available are for the RV sites.
Other great classic Austin-area swimming spots include Barton Springs and Hamilton Pool!