Update: We've had reports that the trail here is on private property. Apparently visitors, whether behaved or not, are not welcome. If anyone has information indicating otherwise please contact us.
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The trailhead lies just to the right of the Lot 28|29 sign.
To get there head north on I-35 from Austin, exit onto Williams
Drive (also known as 2338) and head west. Turn left on Booty's Crossing Road and then left onto
Hardwood Groves Blvd. Turn right onto Springwood Lane and look for the trailhead on the left
immediately after crossing over a small bridge. Park along the side of the road.
The Hike: At this point, we're not completely sure what to call this hike. We
found it due to a geocache that was placed
here. Not only was the trail not on any of our maps, neither was the subdivision that is being
built here. Since we could find no mention of it anywhere we're using the name of the
subdivision being built around the trail until we get a more definitive answer.
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The remnants of an old stone wall parallels the trail for a short distance before crossing the creek.
The uncertainty of the trail also raises questions about access and availability. We saw no sign
that indicated that visitors were not welcome. The excellent condition and maintenance of the
trail obviously indicates that whoever built it wants it to be used, so for now it appears to be
nominally public.
The trail begins at the waypoint "Trailhead", which at the time of our visit sat right next to a
small sign delimiting the boundary between two lots. The trail surface is top notch and covered in
mulch for much of its length. At no time is the direction of the trail in question due to the
rocks and wood placed along the trail.
The waterfall and grotto is one of the highlights of the trail and features an abundance of fern.
The waypoint "Falls" marks the location of a picturesque grotto and waterfall that is well
shielded from the Sun by the overhead vegetation and the steep canyon walls. An overhang in
this grotto is further shielded by strange bulbs of rock jutting from above. Underneath the
conditions resemble a cave more than an overhang.
Some of the formations in the overhangs appear to be "live". In other words they are geologically
active and are being formed and transformed, most likely by the flow of mineral-bearing spring
water. Touching some of the surfaces can damage them, so please enjoy them via sight alone.
The rock overhang at the grotto waterfall is so sheltered from the elements that the underside looks more like a cave than an overhang.
The trail crosses the creek which carved the valley several times, but in each case a small
bridge, or a set of stepping stones provided easy fording of the stream. While some elevation
gain exists near the turnaround point of the hike, for the most part the trail is relatively
flat.
The valley narrows slightly just before reaching the San Gabriel River. Upon opening up to the
river the trail continues to the right up a series of steep rock steps. The views of the river
below from atop the bluff are beautiful and people who live in the are use the spot often, as
evidence by the family picnicking near the cliff during our visit. The land on the bluff appears
to be a lot that is for sale, so this particular part of the trail may not be accessible in the
future.
The view overlooking the river was a fitting spot at which to rest and reflect on some of the
interesting landscapes to be found in the Georgetown area. This short trail did not disappoint
with its twisted and intriguing rock formations. In all we hiked one mile in about 30 minutes,
which included a bit of time finding the geocache hidden near the path.