- I recently discovered Milton Reimers Ranch Park, a hidden gem in Travis County near Austin, Texas.
- The Ranch is located next to Hamilton Pool Preserve, which is a more well-known park.
- The spacious area has beautiful places to swim, hike, climb, and bike.
I grew up exploring the outdoor spaces around San Antonio and Austin, so I thought I knew all the cool spots in South Central Texas.
But my family and I recently discovered Milton Reimers Ranch Park in Travis County, near Austin. And it's a true hidden gem loaded with great spots to hike, bike, and swim. It's about a 90-minute drive from my home just outside of San Antonio and a shorter drive if you're coming from Austin.
Above all, I love how Reimers Ranch helps me feel like I've truly escaped to somewhere special.
The park is a great alternative to a more popular spot nearby
My husband and I found out about the park after a morning spent exploring Hamilton Pool Preserve, a well-known outdoor spot popular with hikers and swimmers. The deep pool of blue-green water that was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed is also a favorite spot for epic Instagram photos.
After sharing with our server how bummed we were that we couldn't swim in Hamilton Pool – it closes to swimming periodically because of high bacteria levels in the water — she asked if we'd ever heard of Reimers Ranch right next door.
Reimers Ranch is a day-use park, and the entrance fee is $5 per person. Kids under 12 and disabled veterans get day access for free.
When you check in at the ranger station, you'll be given a parking permit to display in your vehicle. The parking permit is good for same-day admission into any other Travis County Parks system park except for Hamilton Pool Preserve.
This park feels like a true hidden gem and has lots of perks for bikers and climbers
The 2,427-acre outdoor space is managed by Travis County Parks and has lots of opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities.
First off, it has a handful of easy-to-moderate trails that are perfect for family hikes or bird-watching. The trails are mostly gravel with a few rock scrambles here and there.
The park has access to the Pedernales River, which is glorious to swim in when it has enough water. The riverbed has recently dried up a lot with high temperatures and limited rainfall, but it can sometimes be up to 10-feet deep in spots and shallower near the beach — perfect for wading or younger swimmers.
You can also enjoy a meal at one of the picnic tables dotted throughout the park, or even just eat by the river or along a hiking trail.
According to the park ranger I spoke to in September, the park is especially popular with mountain bikers and rock climbers right now because of the low Pedernales water levels. Fortunately, the park has 18 miles of mountain-bike trails with varying levels of difficulty.
If you're into rock climbing, there are limestone cliffs overlooking the river that also have options for climbers of all levels.
As a bonus, Reimers Ranch is an International Dark Skies park, meaning it's far enough from San Antonio and Austin for a light-pollution-free stargazing experience.
Above all, the park is a great spot in Texas to explore in the year-round warm weather, no matter your plans. I'm glad we found this hidden gem that's not too far from our home.