Commons Ford - Waterfall Trail Log Entries

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Nice hike
User: texaskdog - 5/9/2010 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: 35 minutes

The waterfalls weren't much, but the water levels on many trails I've hiked lately have been low. Up, down, up, down made it a bit challenging but worth the hike back. Reminder: it is closed on Mondays and closed after 6 (the gate actually closes) so dont try this one after work.

Lake Austin
User: bkalmick - 3/13/2010 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.00 Mile Duration: 1 hour, 12 minutes
Not much of a hike here unless you park at the gate and walk down the steep grade...The real trail is at the bottom and it isnt long at all; but it ends at Lake Austin with a nice soccer field and a volleyball net right on the lake! Worth it for sure!

Peace & Solitude
User: cancan1959 - 1/2/2010 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.50 Miles Duration: N/A

There was no one else on the trail with us. We crossed the creek and followed a path or stuck as close to the creek as possible, ending back up at the parking area just below the historic log cabin. Creek was low, no real waterfall, just the sound of running water, which is super.

Nice hike, few people.
User: epowell - 9/20/2009 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.50 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Hiked this on a humid Sunday. There are 3 geocaches near the trail, we visited two of them.

Good Hike
User: Lindey - 5/2/2009 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 3.50 Miles Duration: 2 minutes

Good easy hike with 6 and 4 yr old. Lots of adventure and not too too difficult for the little ones. Water falls were really flowing with the recent rains. Great park!

Pleasant mini trek
User: androidmatten - 2/16/2009 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.30 Miles Duration: 45 minutes
If you head north from the parking area, you'll end up at the manicured recreation area with a volleyball net and boating dock. This would be great for a family reunion or picnic, but it's a separate destination from the waterfall trail.

The "waterfall" trail, which is south of the parking area, is very short and easy. You have to head down the road in a generally west direction to find the trailhead. We had the whole trail to ourselves on the way in, but crossed paths with about 20 young Cub Scouts and their parents on the way out (happily). I joked to one of the parents that it was "perfect timing."

The water was very low, making the waterfall more of a water trickle. It was still fun to look around and hang out, but there is pretty much only one opening at the end of the trail, so had we be just an hour later, it would have been one big happy family with the Cub Scouts and us. That is to say, this is not like Sculpture Falls, where there are numerous nooks and crannies to sequester yourself away. Still, very much worth it for a quick "do."

No One There
User: bspross - 6/29/2008 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 1 minute

I've lived in Austin for 16 years and I've never heard of this place. It was terrific. There was no one there. We saw a few people on the river, but no one in the park. It could have been because we got there at 9:00 on a Sunday and the park does not open until noon for cars. We just opened the gate and walked in. The falls was not a falls because there was no water but the hike was terrific.

There is also a great area for picnics. This is a spectacular park in the middle of town. I highly recommend it and I will be back.

Very interesting hike
User: rainwatter - 6/26/2008 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.00 Mile Duration: 20 minutes

Little Watterdrop and I took this path after exploring the easier Pecan Grove trail. We made it to the first set of falls before we realized that 1. the creek bed was all dried up (makes the waterfall significantly less interesting) and 2. it was getting late and I didn't want to get caught by the 6pm gate, or stuck in traffic on my way back home. What we saw was very interesting, extreamly secluded, with lots of interesting flora and fauna. We found a small patch of water isolated in the creekbed with about 100 tadpoles of various species. The sound made by the Cypurs (?) branches in the wind was chilling, like something out of a horror movie. We will try this again when we have had some rain in the area.

User: jessforeman - 4/19/2008 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour

User: christina02l - 2/24/2008 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.50 Miles Duration: 1 minute

User: mbentley - 4/1/2007 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A
I returned to this park to hike up to the waterfalls. I suspect I went beyond the regular trails, as I was off trail and in the brambles a lot. Pretty park, and even though the parking lot was full, I saw only 7 people on the trails in 1 1/2 hours.

cool place
User: mbentley - 3/18/2007 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 0.50 Mile Duration: N/A
I looked around this place to locate trails, but I did not go to the end of the trail.

User: lancescape - 11/26/2006 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 3.50 Miles Duration: N/A

Few others
User: Austin Explorer - 6/4/2006 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.35 Miles Duration: N/A
Of all the times I've been on this trail I've only seen other people a couple of times. Most seem to be interested in other parts of the park away from the trail. Today I was searching for a couple of caches in the park, so I went back and forth in search of them instead of hiking the trail from start to finish.

A nice hike.
User: Falchion - 1/14/2006 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A
We went hiking on a Saturday afternoon. Once on the trail, we didn't see a soul. The hike was easy, until we decided to go off the trail, but overall it was very fun place to hike. It would probably have been even more enjoyable if it wasn't for this lousy drought. There was only a trickle of water at the first fall and none at the higher waterfall. I'll have to make it back there during a wetter time.

Beautiful Hike
User: oneotedsloth - 4/4/2005 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.25 Miles Duration: N/A
We traveled a little off the beaten path which proved to be very rewarding. Both waterfalls were amazing.

Great warm day, nice hike
User: enhance - 1/11/2005 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.25 Miles Duration: N/A
I took my time with this hike and made very little noise going through the woods. I didn't see any wildlife, but it was a beautiful trail. The waterfalls were bad ass.

Fabulous day exploring
User: Shylock and Fiona - 6/12/2004 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A
This was the most fun we had on a hike since moving to Austin from Santa Barabara,CA. Did all 3 area Geocaches. Fiona didn't want to leave the park, there's so much to explore here. Wonderful solitude, cool waters, and of course the amazing display of Texas wildflowers. We'll be coming back here often.

Only saw parked cars.
User: Centex Trekker - 6/14/2003 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 0.50 Mile Duration: N/A
The trail is very rocky; no mud problems.

Romantic hike!
User: Lindsey206 - 4/27/2003 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A
We only ran across 3 other couples at this park and there was no one on the waterfall hike. It's kind of hard to find the start of the hike. Once you park, instead of heading toward the picnic area, head the opposite way. You'll see a wind gauge on your left and you can kind of make out a small trail.....follow that back into the woods. The water is so clear and beautiful at the falls.

Nice trail, but short
User: figment - 4/20/2003 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.50 Miles Duration: N/A
This trail would be a nice end to a picnic down by Lake Austin, there are two small waterfalls along a nice creek. Would be great on a sunny day, because there is a lot of shade.

Very Peaceful Waterfalls, Good Lake Walk
User: woodrg0 - 4/15/2003 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A
When we arrived we had a bit of a hard time finding the actual Waterfall trail, so we hike down by the lake for about 3/4 mile. We then found the Waterfall trail on the loop back to the car and ascended through great tree cover. This would be a great hike during the late summer, as wading in the pool by the watefall would provide a great midway point before descending.

Short but worth it.
User: dubya - 4/1/2003 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.75 Miles Duration: N/A
Was doing the geocache today. The info, maps, and waypoints here gave me the extra confidence I needed. Only a couple of steep spots were a bit challenging. I'll be back sometime to explore the rest of the park. Saw at least a dozen people in the park, but none while on this trail. Thanks!

Hmmmm.
User: nocman - 10/12/2002 [View Log Page]
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Distance: 1.25 Miles Duration: N/A
Not to impressed with this hike today. Few fallen trees around and the really good point was there were tons of old cedar sumps that I took pictures of.. Other then that, I was prob. the only person at the park.

Greate Family Hike
User: kwkelly - 2/25/2002 [View Log Page]
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The Trail head is not well marked but once we found the trail we had a great time. My three year old daughter asked to go hikeing again as soon as we finished!