Upper McKinney Falls

Upper McKinney Falls is an 8-foot waterfall on Onion Creek in McKinney Falls State Park, Travis County, Texas.

The falls

Onion Creek channels through exposed limestone and volcanic ash before dropping 8 feet in a single plunge; the current listing for the fall remains unconfirmed. One outside estimate runs as high as 15 to 20 feet, but the state park and the database agree on 8 feet at normal flow.

Getting there

Texas Parks and Wildlife manages McKinney Falls State Park, open daily with an 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. gate. The 2026 adult day-use fee is $6, with children 12 and under admitted free; reservations are strongly recommended because the park often reaches capacity. The paved, 2.8-mile Onion Creek Trail passes the upper falls area; the route from the visitor center has a steep incline, though all-terrain wheelchairs can be reserved. As of September 2026 the park's website showed active alerts without further detail; check current conditions before visiting.

When to go

The park's busiest season runs from March through November. Upstream rain can cause rapid flooding, so visitors should check creek conditions before heading to the falls.

On site

Swimming and fishing are allowed in Onion Creek. Food, alcohol, glass, coolers, pets in the water, speakers and hard balls are prohibited in the falls areas. The visitor center's observation deck overlooks Upper Falls.

History and name

State trail maps label the drop simply as Upper Falls; Upper McKinney Falls is used as the fall's official name.

Nearby

Lower McKinney Falls, also on Onion Creek, is about 0.4 mile away. Twin Falls, on Barton Creek, is about 6.9 miles, and Sculpture Falls, also on Barton Creek, about 7.9 miles.

Distances are straight-line.