Krause Springs

Spicewood, United States

3.9

20 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 830-693-4181
Website:
krausesprings.net
Address:
404 Krause Springs, Spicewood, TX, 78669
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Local time (Spicewood) 11:32 PM Tuesday, June 10, 2025

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Description

Specialties

Krause Springs is a well-​known camping & swimming site located in the beautiful Hill Country in Spicewood, Texas approximately 30 miles west of Austin. The 115 acre property is listed on the National Registry of Historical Sites and has been privately owned by the Krause Family for over 50 years.

Krause Springs has many natural sites to explore. There are 32 springs on the property, and several feed the manmade pool and the natural pool which flows into Lake Travis. It’s a refreshing treat to swim in the Springs during the hot summers of Texas! If camping is in your plans, there is primitive tent camping as well as 24 RV sites with water and electricity available. Guests are also welcome to relax and to stroll through the Butterfly Gardens; take time to listen to the music of the wind chimes and the fountains during your visit!

History

Established in 1955.

Krause Springs was purchased by the the Elton and Jane Krause in 1955. Because of the high demand from regular visitors Krause Springs opened to the public 7 years later. Since then the family has invested countless hours on improving the property for guests, adding picnic tables, camping sites, modern bathroom facilities, pavilion for events, BBQ pits, a man made pool, the Butterfly Gardens and many other features.

The Krause family is dedicated to keeping this pristine land as beautiful as the day it opened, while adding more features for the visitors. Don’t miss out on this hidden treasure!

Meet the Business Owner

Elton K.

Business Owner

Elton Hugh Krause, who bought and ran what was to become one of the Lone Star State’s most beloved swimming holes, passed away on November 15, 2011 at the age of 88. Krause and wife Jane bought the Spicewood spread in 1955. Seven years later, after building a swimming pool, picnic tables and gazebos above the spring-​fed natural pool, Krause Springs — in which Krause himself had been baptized — opened to the public.

«This place meant the world to him,» said son Terry Krause. «He didn’t want to do anything but stay here and work. This has been his passion his whole life, really. If he was here, he ran everything. He barked out orders to the end.»

Krause was born three miles from the springs and, along with pretty much every other child around, grew up swimming there. He began his working life as a dairy farmer, spent some time in the lumber business and then in the American-Statesman’s circulation department until he retired in 1988 and turned his attention full time to the springs.

Krause Springs — Temp. CLOSED also recommends

Opie’s BBQ

232

reviews

Barbeque

Elton K. says,

«Texas spring fed pools and Texas BBQ just seem to go hand in hand.»

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20 reviews of Krause Springs

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Place rating: 4
Angleton, TX
I went in December. It had rained off and on but this time of year, besides myself, there was only a few other campers. I went in my RV for the first time. I forgot to bring a water hose to hookup and the owner was very nice and provided one for me to borrow. The site is beautiful. I wasn’t able to take advantage of swimming in the springs because of the time of year but I certainly got to explore and had many photo opportunities. It was quiet of course. With the rain from the night I was there, the springs went from trickling on Saturday to gushing on Sunday. It was amazing to see the difference a little bit of rain made. Be careful on the rocks because they can be slippery. The charge per person is $ 14 and I paid an extra $ 14/​night to camp in my RV. They have full water and electric hookup with a dumping station. They had lots of workers working on the landscaping and doing some construction so at times the sound of a concrete machine interrupted the peaceful sounds of the wind chimes in the butterfly gardens. They have to do work on the property at some time and this seemed like a good time as they don’t have many visitors.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Naturally beautiful. Butterfly gardens, on-​site camping and RV set-​ups. The real show is the springs which are temperate and clear year-​round. You can bring a few beverages, float, have a picnic, go for a hike, start a fire, bring that friend (or friends, as it usually is in my case) that always has a guitar/​accordion/​harmonica and camp out under the stars. There are not a lot of more appealing ways to spend a day in Texas.
Place rating: 5
Dallas, TX
We came to Krause Springs for a weekend getaway all the way from Dallas. We hit the jackpot, we were the only ones here for over an hour. We explored the entire park and it was breathtakingly beautiful.
I could imagine how, in the busier months, this place could get crowded quickly and less enjoyable, but if you find yourself in the off months, take advantage!
Place rating: 3
Austin, TX
Krause has been my go to camping spot for years! Beautiful and family owned. Unfortunately, the last few times I’ve been here for camping it’s just too noisy. It’s not Krause’s fault that the campers are loud, but maybe there should be some regulation?
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Krause Springs is the most beautiful natural swimming hole I’ve ever visited! There’s also a rope swing, waterfall and jumping cliff. Great for kids too! It just keeps me coming back…
Place rating: 4
San Jose, CA
Relaxing and scary at the same time. It’s a pool made by nature therefore there’s insects and fishes everywhere. I was in the water and wanted to get out, then I saw a spider, which was pretty big hiding in the roots. Also, tiny fishes swimming around.
Place rating: 5
Round Rock, TX
This was a great day trip from Austin!!! The staff was friendly, the grounds were gorgeous. It was a great day lounging in the water.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Oh my word, this place is just the best. Family owned, never a wait (at least when I’ve been), clean, friendly, and fun. It truly feels like a big BBQ with tons of friends — everybody is incredibly friendly and the scenery is unbeatable. It is a bit of a walk down there — not long, just slippery and you will have to manuever through either tree roots or rocks depending on which way you go — water shoes or some sort of shoe with traction are best for this. It is tricky to bring a cooler or float down, but we manage to do it every time. They have air at the top to blow up floats with (which I highly recommend taking advantage of)!
Absolutely add this to your Texas summer bucket list!
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
My family went on a Tuesday late in the morning about 10:45. We got there and it was not too crowded. There was a CASH fee to enter. (Glad I had cash!)
We brought a large rolling cooler filled with drinks. This was a mistake! Maneuvering this beast down stairs and dirt was not fun!!!
We packed our stuff down all the flights of stairs and set up across from the rope swing. We had the spot to ourselves from 11 – 1 but after that we shared it with about 20 other people. The kids jumped off the cliff (a little too shallow), swung on the rope swing and swam under the waterfall. We had a great time. About 2pm the party crowd began to show up with cases of beer and cigarettes. Not really the family scene. We moved our camp to the spring fed pool. It was perfect timing! The kids played happily for another 4 hours. I will absolutely be making another early morning weekday trip to this fun water hole!
Place rating: 4
Cedar Park, TX
When I was here 15 years ago I would of gave this place 5 STARS
Its still a Great Place, But way overly CROWDED.
Wall to Wall people. My son and I were GREETED VERY NICELY by the employees (a man and a women)
We arrived from Cedar Park, TX 7÷24−7÷26 Camped out on the quite side
The 1st night from 9pm –2 am it was so noisy at the pool. I think the Park Ranger came and got them, to leave. The Springs, were so overly crowded, it was hard to enjoy.
All and All my son and I had a great time
Thank You
Place rating: 2
Austin, TX
The most dangerous unregulated time you can have in Texas. The owners have taken a natural jewel of the hill country, truly magnificent, and exploited it for their own personal gain.
They let in a damaging and unsustainable number of people to start with, destroying the experience for everyone and allowing herds to pack dirt and trample roots around the 500 year old cypress. The water becomes filthy and full of bacteria (literally hundreds of people around one pool). There is no attempt to add trails or bridges to make it less dangerous for the land and people, or to keep drunk teenagers from leaping off cliffs into shallow water. Even in the relatively saner pool, still packed, no personnel have been hired to recommend kids not jump 5 at a time from the diving area, nearly knocking their heads into one another.
Safety regulations have been posted but entirely not followed up upon. They don’t care as long as they make their money. It’s a travesty.
Place rating: 2
Austin, TX
I spent endless hours researching all the watering holes around Austin to decide where to spend my birthday. All the amazing Unilocal reviews lead me to Krause. I was so disappointed so here I am to share my experience.
The land surrounding the Springs is gorgeous and it is cool there is a separate spring fed concrete pool for kids and what not to swim in. We also saw some nice areas with bbqs that families were enjoying. However when we got down to the swimming area it was beyond packed. The area was much smaller than I had anticipated from photos and people were crammed into every nook and cranny. We managed to find a small patch between the muddy paths to put our towels down. There’s a lot of roots which is cool but not exactly comfortable. Once in the water the bottom was very muddy, the water murky from over population and there were lots of turtles nipping at people’s toes. I don’t blame them, their habitat was over run with loads of humans invading their space after all. I was looking forward to the waterfall especially after all the rain this season but it was a mediocre trickle. I came here in search of a peaceful retreat from the city but instead left feeling sad for the wildlife and pretty grossed out by the lack of respect for such a beautiful natural area. I would have hoped to see more of an effort to preserve this area.
To be fair I grew up in MN so perhaps my standards for bodies of water are a bit high but I will not be going back to Krause Springs.
Place rating: 4
Round Rock, TX
We had so much fun at this place. It was really beautiful. Well, besides the trash that people do not pick up. I’m not sure what’s going on with Austin lately. Pick up your trash, it’s disgusting. I’ve been bringing extra bags to pick up everyone’s garbage. Bring cash to pay and be careful on the rocks. I think everyone fell. We will be back for sure.
Place rating: 1
Houston, TX
We’re RV’ers.
We bought our rv with our pets in mind to take with us on our trips.
This place has a zero pet policy. So I figured if I called I could be able to talk to the owner and see if there was any exceptions to the rule. As I have 3 small pups that stay in the camper unless on a walk.
Unfortunately the person I spoke with was arrogant and very short with me. «Oh no we don’t allow any pets ever». Well I can assure you there are tons of members of the camping community that will happily take their business somewhere else. As I will.
Wish I could have stayed there and given you a better assessment of the park, however my extended family members aren’t allowed.
It’s a shame, place looks pretty.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Krause Springs is a fun day excursion from Austin on a beautiful day. The water is spring fed, so even in the hot summer months it is a pleasant dip. The lake has a rope swing and plenty of sunbathing space and a waterfall. There is even a spot for those bold enough to cliff dive.
This place can be tricky to find and is cash only! It can also fill up quick. I would advise planning ahead and arriving before noon.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
This is probably my second favorite place to get my sunnin’ and swim on. It’s privately owned and costs $ 6…or did last summer, per person. You can bring in all the food and drink you like. The grounds are pretty awesome and lovely and you can camp there too. There is a big windchime garden near the entrance that sets the tone for fun and relaxation times ahead. The bathrooms are somewhat conveniently located near the entrance and it’s always been safe to abandon my cooler and funoodles while I go change. For the most part, people seem to be respectful. The bathrooms are clean and stocked with tp.
After that you can meander down the hill and choose to swim with the kids in a spring filled brick pool, or keep on truckin’ down to the natural springs area. It gets PACKED early on the weekends, so we find it best to hit up around 3ish. It’s still packed, but it thins out quickly after that. Nobody likes getting kicked or splashed by an un-​manned child, and that’s a given if you come too early on a weekend. There’s an amazing waterfall that is surrounded by lush ferns, and also a rope swing to watch people show their tricks, and also a cliff if you are brave for that.
Mind the turtles, they may nip at your toes. You’ll survive! It doesn’t hurt too much, although a little creepy. You can also trudge carefully across the tree roots and wander over to the secret waterfall. It’s not far, but slightly treacherous.
Check out the movie Teeth, a B rated horror flick, that was partially filmed there and Hamilton’s Pool, and don’t forget to stop at Opie’s BBQ on the way in, cuz it’ll be closed when you leave and you’ll need some energy for the sun and adult beverages! Also, don’t forget a trash bag or something to bring out anything that came with you… leave no trace so we can keep this place a gem!
Place rating: 3
Spicewood, TX
My wife and I live near Krause Springs and have enjoyed this naturally beautiful asset to Spicewood many times. However, most of those times were on nice weekday evenings when the park isn’t overrun with every kind of (fill in politically incorrect label here) within a 50 mile radius. It never ceases to amaze me how certain types of people can be so disrespectful to both other people and the natural beauty of an area. Nice warm weekends are just disgusting at this otherwise gorgeous location.
The park is privately owned and in my opinion poorly operated. There needs to be far more trash cans available and while I hate to say it probably some kind of «park ranger» type to monitor the issues that arise when certain types of people converge on the property.
Place rating: 2
Austin, TX
I’m giving this review two stars instead of one because of how friendly the folks running the place were when we entered. However, the spring itself in a nutshell is, full of drunks, overcrowded, a haven for loud obnoxious kids, non-​convenient for laying out (there are only jagged rocks to lay on). The landscape is very appealing! They have grills and restrooms for the public. Krause Springs is on someone’s private land. There was a group of 3 Hispanic men that were making my girlfriend EXTREMELY uncomfortable. So much so, we moved from the spring area up to the man made pool and what do you know those creeps followed us. It was clear they were wasted. Krause Springs you might consider hiring security during holiday weekends. We’re optimistic people so we’re happy to knock one off of our bucket lists’, but we shan’t be returning anytime soon!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Fabulous times! Krause (pronounced Kr-​ow-​see) is a wonderful spot for a day trip or for camping.
We got here earlyish to secure a good campsite and found lots of great options to choose from. There are even outlets nearby for your air mattresses and blowdryers. There was a burn ban during our visit but it was no big deal because they sell these «fire rings» which is just an old half barrel cut in half — hobo style!
Once we got settled in, it was fun to explore the grounds. They have a cool butterfly garden with hammocks and giant wind chimes — seriously GIANT, the kind that would impale you if it all came crashing down.
The spring itself was great and refreshing. It starts at a man-​made pool where a bunch of kiddos are splashing around and then it waterfalls down to the swimming hole. I didn’t think the water was too cold at all… you can only interpret why. It’s relaxing and there’s lots of entertainment to be found. There’s a cave to check out, a constant stream of cliff jumpers, and of course, the rope swing! The rope is a bit too long which makes for some hilarious wipe outs… and a fun drinking game for us spectators.
Definitely bring cash, canned beer, snacks, water shoes, and floaties.
Place rating: 5
San Antonio, TX
Last minute camping trip? Krause Springs is a perfect place to try.
We have been here twice, and like I said, usually because we don’t reserve a spot fast enough at the big campgrounds in central TX (Pedernales, McKinney, Enchanted Rock etc.). Krause Springs has become our favorite place to camp. It takes us just under an hour to drive there from NW Austin. It’s $ 12/​person for overnight camping, and you can pick your own spot. FYI, there are NO pets or glass allowed, and they only accept cash. We arrived later than I had hoped (3pm), and after driving around for about 10 minutes, we found the perfect spot. Most sites have a picnic table and a fire pit, and great big and beautiful trees.
The spring is cool, the rocks are slippery, and the rope spring is awesome! I love being able to hike from my campsite to a water hole. The front of the property is beautifully designed, complete with big stone tables and chairs, a stone pool, plants and flowers, waterfalls, look-​outs, bridges… I could go on and on. The front building is charming, with a butterfly garden and a family-​run staff that embodies the perfect amount of Texas charm. They sell wood for $ 5, and ice (but not until after Memorial Day). There are two bathrooms (that I saw-​there may be more), one being a little nicer than the other. Showers, stalls, the basics… but not bad.
The privacy is nice, the spring fed pool is refreshing, and the camping is basic but great. We saw racoons at night, so tie up your trash and leave the food in the car!