Did you know that an enchanting, lush waterfall is tucked away on Lake Georgetown? Within Cedar Breaks Park lies Crockett Gardens and Falls, a gorgeous green landscape that feels like it’s right out of a storybook as a potential home to trolls, faeries, gnomes or other mythical creatures. It’s surely worth a visit for any curious adventurer, and below we’re sharing some important details to know before you go.
Cedar Breaks Park is just a 30-40 minute drive from Austin to Georgetown, TX and features a 26-mile trail system called the San Gabriel Goodwater Loop with a variety of scenic overlooks and wooded landscapes, including the trail for Crockett Gardens and Falls. While we certainly do not want to deter you from visiting, we want to point out from the very beginning that this is a long walk for kiddos. The hike to the falls is about 6 miles round trip, so you may need to pack tons of snacks and water and plan on plenty of breaks along the way, depending on the energy and enthusiasm of your young hikers. However, it’s not a challenging trail, as it mostly meanders through the woods of canopied cedar trees or cliff side along Lake Georgetown — and it’s beautiful! So remember there is the visually gorgeous payoff at the end of your long hike.
When you arrive at Cedar Breaks Park, you’ll stop at the entry booth, and mention that you’re there for hiking. As noted on the park website, there is a $5 entry fee per vehicle (up to 6 passengers) for day use. You’ll take the first left into a parking lot which has a sign for a “hiking trail.” Unfortunately, there is no restroom at the trailhead, so by all means, have the kids take care of that before you arrive.
We ventured out on a winter weekday morning, and we only encountered a small number of others and leashed dogs on our hike. However, we hear that it gets very busy on weekends, so keep that in mind during the pandemic to consider your comfort level regarding social distancing on fairly narrow trails.
The trail is easy to following and provides great views of Lake Georgetown as well as an interesting mix of terrain. You might also spy horses and longhorn cattle as we did on our visit.
After coming around a very dried up stretch of path, you’ll see the waterfall. The vibrant green mossy area provides a stark visual contrast to the trail leading up to it. The sound of trickling water is so soothing! Just be very careful if you choose to go under it, as the rock below is extremely slippery.
On our wintertime visit, the lake was very dry near the falls, which made it even more interesting to walk around on land that would normally be covered with water.
You can click here for more information about Lake Georgetown and its parks and trails. If you’re interested in chasing other waterfalls in the area, check out our round-up of Where to Find Waterfalls in Austin.
Looking for shorter hikes? Visit our big list of good places for Family Friendly Hikes.
We hope you enjoy the adventure!
*All photo credit on this page: Heidi Okla
