Elm Waterhole
Trails & Nature
About
Elm Waterhole, Austin, TX 78748, USA Get directions
A quiet spot in far south Austin, Elm Waterhole is the kind of small natural water feature locals tend to know better than visitors, tucked into a stretch of the city where the neighborhoods give way to greener, lower-key surroundings. Come for an unhurried look at the water rather than a marquee attraction, and bring your own sense of what to expect, since it stays well off the usual tourist path. A note: I don't have verified details in my training data about Elm Waterhole specifically (size, access, whether swimming is allowed, etc.), so I kept the description general rather than inventing specifics. If you can share a sentence or two of ground-truth detail, I'll tighten it into something more concrete.
More like this
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Austin
Barton Creek Greenbelt is a 7-plus-mile ribbon of limestone canyon, spring-fed swimming holes, and shaded trail running right through south Austin, popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and climbers who scale its pocketed cliff faces. Whether the creek is flowing depends heavily on recent rain, so visitors will notice the water can range from deep wading pools at spots like Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls to a dry bed in the height of summer.
Pennybacker Bridge Overlook
Austin
A short scramble up the rocky trail on the north side of Loop 360 brings you to a clifftop view of the burnt-orange steel arch of the Pennybacker Bridge spanning Lake Austin, with the surrounding Hill Country rolling off in every direction. Come toward sunset when the light warms the limestone and the water below, and expect company—it's a well-loved spot, so the small pullout parking fills quickly.
Mount Bonnell
Austin
Mount Bonnell rises about 775 feet above the Colorado River, making it one of Austin's higher natural overlooks, reached by a short but steep stone staircase to the summit. From the top you'll get a wide view of Lake Austin, the surrounding limestone bluffs, and the hill country homes lining the water—best at sunset, though the early morning and evening hours mean it's a popular spot for both joggers and photographers.
Get the inside scoop on Austin
Events, new openings, and seasonal guides — straight to your inbox, about once a month.