Krause Springs (pronounced Krau-see) is just such a place. Located about 30 miles west of Austin, the spot is a little bit of a drive from Temple, but once you turn onto Highway 71, it’s a beautiful trip through the Texas Hill Country and past Lake Travis. When you arrive in Spicewood, turn right on Highway 191 by the Opie’s Barbecue and Opie’s Fireworks signs, then follow that road around, past the small Spicewood Public Library, curving to the left until you see County Road 404 and take a sharp right.
Now you are really off the beaten path. If you slow down on your journey, you’ll even notice loose livestock roaming around. (Watch out for them in the road).
Gates welcome you into Krause Springs where an asphalt road quickly turns to gravel, taking visitors to a neat, well kept parking and reception area. There’s an admission charged as you enter the park and are given directions to the two pools.
Chances are the owner, Elton Krause, will be sitting at the entrance. Krause bought the land in the mid-1950s and, in 1963, he decided to open the park to the public. First, he built the upper pool, which is fed by several springs. “That keeps the temperature right at 67 degrees year round,” said his son, Hugh Krause.
The lower, natural pool is fed by Cypress Creek coming in on the backside, along with the springs, which makes the temperature fluctuate - warmer in the summer, but colder in the winter.
On the bluff, there’s two separate bathroom areas, and the newer one includes showers and plenty of room for changing clothes. There’s also several picnic and camping areas. There are 24 RV sites, but the majority of the camping is primitive. “People just drive around and find a spot,” Elton Krause said.
The rectangular-shaped upper pool includes a diving board built of stone. Follow the stony path further down the hill and there are more picnic tables, then two sets of stairs with hand rails leading down to the lower pool.
Be sure and wear your Tevas or shoes with grips on the bottom because the rocks that wrap around one side of the natural pool can be steep and slippery. There are, however, plenty of well-worn paths so just take it slow and easy until you find the perfect spot.
The sloping rocks are covered with colorful towels and coolers and people of all ages stretch out in the sun or the shade watching those who are enjoying the water. The opposite bank of the pool is a steep, rocky cliff covered with ferns and other dark green foliage.
There’s a rope for those brave souls who take turns scrambling to a platform of rock and swing into the middle of the pool. Others climb higher on the bank and jump from the jutted rocks.
But you don’t have to jump or swing in. Others ease into the water, which is shallow enough around the edges to stand, but quickly drops off to where it’s about six feet deep. In fact, it’s a good idea to bring a tube or inflatable raft for floating in the water.
And, it is refreshing. The water temperature was welcome relief for one recent 100-degree day.
Though both Krauses admit it’s hard to keep track of the actual number of visitors, there is at least one way to monitor the turnout.
“If the parking lot is full, we know we have a lot of people,” Hugh Krause said.
And the number visitors to Krause Springs has increased each year since they opened, Elton Krause said. “We’re having even more people this year.”
The park doesn’t advertise, but people find it on Internet searches (though they don’t have their own site) and by word of mouth.
Elton Krause estimated 3,000 people visited the springs during the recent Fourth of July weekend.
The park also hosts parties, weddings, company retreats and scout troops. “There’s not many weekends that go by that we don’t have one,” Elton Krause said.
And while the highlight of the park is the swimming spot itself, there’s more to the destination. Some of those weddings are actually held in the butterfly garden, found at the top of the bluff behind Elton Krause’s home, which is also on the property.
The gardens are beautifully landscaped and include several fountains and a grotto - a structure made to look like a small cavern, complete with waterfall. There’s also a porch swing and lounge chairs that invite guests to relax and enjoy the tranquility, complete with chimes that provide relaxing background music in the natural setting.
So, if you think you just can’t bear the heat, load up the family and take a road trip to one of the state’s top swimming holes, then jump right in.
