Krause Springs in Spicewood is one of those places that people who’ve been to the Texas Hill Country before mention with a specific kind of reverence. Not because it’s the most dramatic landscape or the longest hike — but because the combination of 68°F spring water, thousand-year-old cypress trees, a rope swing, a waterfall, and a butterfly garden on 115 privately owned acres produces an experience that has no equivalent anywhere in Central Texas. It’s worth the drive from Medina.
What the Springs Actually Look Like
There are two distinct swimming areas at Krause Springs, and understanding the difference before you arrive helps you plan how to use the day.
The Man-Made Pool
The man-made pool is the first swimming area you reach from the parking area — a spring-fed pool that maintains the same 68°F temperature as the natural springs feeding it. It’s easier to access than the natural pool, with less dramatic terrain to navigate, and the shallow area at the entry end (as shallow as 3 feet) makes it the right choice for younger children who need a gentle entry rather than a rock scramble. The man-made pool is where families with toddlers and young kids tend to set up for the day — shaded by cypress trees, reliably cold, and accessible without the metal staircase descent that the natural pool requires.
The Natural Pool
The natural pool is the reason most adults make the drive. Getting there requires a steep descent on metal stairs set into the hillside — the slope is real and the rocks at the bottom are slippery, so water shoes are not optional equipment here, they’re genuinely necessary for the descent and for moving around on the limestone and mossy surfaces near the water. What you find at the bottom of those stairs is the Hill Country swimming hole at its most complete: clear spring water over a limestone bottom at a consistent 68°F, thousand-year-old cypress trees providing intermittent canopy, a waterfall feeding the pool from above, a rope swing hanging from one of the cypress branches, and small underwater caves visible through the clear water that older kids and adults specifically come to explore.
The depth at the natural pool ranges from shallow entry areas to around 8 feet in the deeper sections, giving swimmers the range to choose their experience. The natural pool drains toward Lake Travis, giving a gentle current that’s noticeable but not forceful.
“The natural pool at Krause Springs at 10 in the morning on a weekday in July — when the cypress canopy filters the light through moving leaves and the rope swing is just sitting there — is what the Texas Hill Country swimming hole experience is supposed to be.”
The Butterfly Garden and Other Features
The butterfly garden near the entry is genuinely worth the 15 minutes of unhurried exploration before or after the swim. The property’s botanical diversity — the transition between upland Hill Country scrub and the riparian cypress ecosystem in the canyon — produces the native plant habitat that supports what the garden was designed for. Wind chimes and fountains along the garden path give the whole thing a surprisingly serene quality that contrasts with the cold-water chaos of the swimming area in a way that makes a Krause Springs visit feel like two different experiences in one afternoon.
Fishing is allowed on the property’s fishing spots — the same springs that feed the pools support fish, and the area near the outflow toward Lake Travis is where serious anglers position themselves. Walking trails through the property’s 115 acres give a longer outdoor engagement than the swim alone provides. Picnic areas with BBQ pits are available, and the property sells sno-cones on-site — there are few combinations of food and context that work as well as a sno-cone on the bank of a 68°F swimming hole in 100°F Texas July.
Admission, Hours, and What to Know Before You Go
Krause Springs is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., mid-February through mid-November. The property closes for winter maintenance typically from mid-November through mid-February — confirm current seasonal status at (401) 236-7554 before making a late-season trip.
Admission runs approximately $10 to $11 for adults (ages 12 and up) and $6 for children ages 4 to 11, with children 3 and under free. Cash is preferred and was historically the only payment method accepted; more recent accounts note credit cards may now be accepted — call ahead or bring cash to be safe. Parking is free and plentiful in the large dirt and grass lot.
No reservations are required for day swimming — it’s first-come, first-served. The property can reach capacity on summer weekends and holidays, and when it does, they stop admitting visitors. The practical mitigation is the same one that applies to most popular Texas swimming holes: arrive at or before 10 a.m. on weekends, or go on a weekday when the crowd pressure is meaningfully lower. If you’re uncertain about capacity before a long drive, call (401) 236-7554 for a same-day capacity update.
Pets are not allowed. This is a firm property policy. Plan accordingly if your group includes dogs — Krause Springs is a no-pet destination without exceptions.
What to Pack: The Krause Springs Day Trip Kit
The two non-negotiable items for a Krause Springs visit are water shoes and cash. The water shoes are essential for the natural pool descent and for moving around on the slippery limestone and mossy rock surfaces near the water — the flip-flops that work fine at a sand-bottom lake are a liability on wet limestone steps. Hard-bottomed water shoes with traction, not soft waterproof sandals, are the right footwear call.
Beyond that: sunscreen applied before leaving the resort rather than in the parking lot, a dry bag for phone and car keys during the swim, towels (two per person is the standard advice — one for when you first get out, one for the drive home), a packed cooler for the drive and the picnic area, and a change of dry clothes for the trip back. The 68°F water makes the transition from swimming to car-AC driving more bracing than at a warm-water lake, and dry clothes for the 90-minute drive back to Medina are worth the trunk space.
Address: 424 County Road 404, Spicewood, TX 78669.
Phone: (401) 236-7554 (call for capacity status before weekend visits).
Hours: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, mid-February through mid-November.
Admission: ~$10–$11/adult (12+), $6/child (4-11), free under 4. Cash preferred; confirm card acceptance before going.
No reservations — first come, first served. Reaches capacity on summer weekends.
Water temp: 68°F year-round. Both man-made and natural pools.
Features: two pools, waterfall, rope swing, underwater caves, butterfly garden, walking trails, picnic areas with BBQ pits, fishing spots, sno-cones.
Parking: free, large dirt/grass lot.
No pets.
Distance from Medina: ~60-75 miles via TX-16 north and TX-71 east, approximately 75-90 minutes.
For guests at TX Hill Country Resort planning a Krause Springs day, the RV resort and camping base gives the Medina home-base logistics for a day-trip itinerary. Groups staying at the Ranch House have the space to spread out for a pre-departure morning and a post-swim evening without crowding a single rig. For guests approaching from the Bandera area to the south, the Bandera area RV park page covers that approach corridor. And for all the planning around any Hill Country stay, TX Hill Country Resort is the right starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Krause Springs from Medina, TX?
Krause Springs in Spicewood is approximately 60 to 75 miles northeast of Medina, Texas — a drive of 75 to 90 minutes via TX-16 north through Kerrville and TX-71 east through the Highland Lakes corridor. The specific mileage and drive time vary by the route taken; TX-16 north to US-290 east to TX-71 is a common routing. The Spicewood area is in the transition zone between the central Hill Country and the Highland Lakes region, which makes the drive progressively more scenic as you approach — the cypress-lined ranch roads and the Lake Travis corridor landscape give a sense of the environment you’re heading into. Arriving at Krause Springs by 10 a.m. on a summer weekend requires leaving Medina by 8 or 8:30 a.m. at the latest.
What is the water temperature at Krause Springs?
The water at Krause Springs maintains a consistent 68°F year-round, fed by 32 natural springs on the 115-acre property. This temperature is consistent across both the man-made pool and the natural pool regardless of the season or the ambient air temperature. On a 100°F July afternoon, the 68°F spring water produces the full-body thermal reset that spring-fed Hill Country swimming holes are specifically sought for — cooler than most people expect on first entry, genuinely refreshing after the first acclimation minute. The natural pool’s clarity (limestone geology produces very clear water) makes the spring temperature immediately apparent — you can see the streambed and the underwater caves through the water column before you’re in it.
Does Krause Springs require reservations?
No — Krause Springs does not require or accept reservations for day swimming. Access is first-come, first-served with a capacity limit that the property enforces when the maximum visitor number is reached. On summer weekends and holidays, the property can reach capacity and stop admitting visitors, sometimes before noon on the hottest and most popular days. The practical approach for a guaranteed entry experience: arrive at or before 10 a.m. on summer weekends, or choose a weekday when capacity pressure is significantly lower. If you’re making a 90-minute drive from the Medina area and want to confirm that the property isn’t at capacity before departing, calling (401) 236-7554 gives a same-day capacity update. Camping on the property (primitive and 24 RV sites with electric and water) does require a reservation through the property’s campground booking system.
Are dogs allowed at Krause Springs?
No. Pets are not allowed at Krause Springs — this is a firm property policy that applies to all pet types. The no-pet rule is listed on the property’s official information and is consistently reported by visitors as strictly enforced. Plan your Krause Springs day trip without dogs; there are no exceptions or designated pet areas on the property. For dog-friendly Hill Country swimming and outdoor access, the Medina River near Bandera, several Corps of Engineers access points around Lake Medina, and various county parks in the Hill Country corridor accommodate leashed dogs at the water — but Krause Springs specifically is not one of those options.
What is the difference between the man-made and natural pools at Krause Springs?
The man-made pool is the easier-access, family-friendly swimming area — a spring-fed pool with both shallow entry (as shallow as 3 feet) and deeper sections, shaded by cypress trees, reachable from the parking area without significant terrain challenge. It’s the right choice for families with young children or for visitors who prefer easier water access. The natural pool is the more dramatic experience — reached via a steep descent on metal stairs into a canyon where the spring water meets a waterfall, a rope swing, and underwater caves in a limestone bowl shaded by thousand-year-old cypress. The natural pool is physically accessible to most adults and older children but requires attention to the slippery surfaces on the descent and around the pool edges — water shoes with hard soles and traction are essential. Both pools maintain the same 68°F water temperature.
Is Krause Springs good for families with young children?
Yes, with the right preparation. The man-made pool at Krause Springs is specifically well-suited to families with young children — the shallow entry area allows small kids to touch the bottom and gain confidence in the water at a comfortable depth, the cypress shade reduces sun exposure during extended visits, and the proximity to the parking area and picnic facilities makes the logistical management of a family day easier than a more remote swimming hole. The natural pool is the area where parental supervision requires more active attention — the metal stair descent is challenging for very young children, and the slippery rock surfaces near the water require constant attention. Water shoes for every person in the group, including children, are essential at Krause Springs regardless of which pool they’re swimming in.
