Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center
Trail · Nearby towns
Last checked: Oct 29, 2026 · official sitesource
A nonprofit nature preserve on Hamilton Pool Road. The Uplands is a mostly easy loop with two bird blinds you can walk on your own; the canyon, grotto, and waterfall are guided-tour only.
Ages
- Ages 0–2
- Ages 3–5
- Ages 6–9
- Ages 10–12
Uplands loop is easy for little legs; the canyon tour has a 100-ft staircase, no strollers, and runs 1.5-2 hours
Price
Under $10
Uplands: $5 per person walk-in (free for members; included with a canyon tour). Guided Canyon Tour: $20 adults 16+, $10 children 4-15; members 50% off. Under-4 price not stated on the official page. 24-hour notice needed for refunds; no-shows charged.
Hours
Usually Wed-Sun, set by the guided-tour schedule (book online)
Good to know: Westcave doesn't post clock hours. Its booking calendar (FareHarbor) shows tours most weeks Wed-Sun, with Mon/Tue only on holiday or event weeks: weekends usually 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm; weekdays often a single 2 pm tour. The Uplands is open (no reservation) whenever tours are running. Some days close for events; check the booking page before driving out. Weather permitting.
Setting
Outdoor
- Good in heat: Unknown — help us check
- Good in rain: Not really
Getting there
24814 Hamilton Pool Rd, Round Mountain, TX 78663
Rough drive times
- about 25 min from Dripping Springs
- about 40 min from Oak Hill / SW Austin
- about 25 min from Bee Cave
- about 50 min from Wimberley
- about 35 min from Driftwood
Estimated from distance, not live traffic.
Parent details
- Parking
- On-site parking lot at the visitor center (the canyon hike is measured from the lot). Don't come by rideshare: Westcave says it's outside pickup range.
- Stroller access
- PartlyUplands has an ADA-friendly route from the visitor center past Leif's Bird Blind to a prairie viewpoint, then unimproved path. Strollers aren't allowed in the canyon/grotto; expect to carry toddlers most of that mile.
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Changing table
- Unknown — help us check
- Shade
- Some
- Fenced play area
- Unknown — help us check
- Splash pad
- Unknown — help us check
- Food on site
- Unknown — help us check
- Accessible
- Unknown — help us check
- Easy parking
- Unknown — help us check
- Nursing space
- Unknown — help us check
- Accessibility
- ADA-friendly Uplands route to an accessible bird blind and prairie viewpoint. Canyon tour has a long, uneven staircase plus rocks and roots.
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