Milton Reimers Ranch Park

We headed over here after going to Hamilton Pool because the parking pass gets you in for free. It was very quiet on a Sunday afternoon. We saw about 20 people in the ~3 hours we spent here.
Good news: the fact that it was quiet meant we were able to see more wildlife. Bad news: we saw more wildlife. I mean there were bugs everywhere. Including strange buzzing insects that flew right by our faces as we walked down the trails.
And while we were attempting to skip rocks across the river, we were startled by a strange snarling/​snorting. It sounded like a wild hog. And my friend and I both knew those things are dangerous. It was even more terrifying, because we were the only people around. You better bet we got out of there quick!
But on the bright side we also saw a fox-​like animal while we were walking a trail. We didn’t get the chance to take a picture before it dashed off.
The restrooms were nice and had running water here. Their restrooms are not the compost-​style ones you will find at Hamilton Pool.
We didn’t have a map, so we drove aimlessly around and decided to go to the river first. The hike down was a short sleep slope. When we were chased out by the wild animal, we then headed to the Reimer’s Pavilion which we passed on our way to the river. We were happy to see that there was a map there! As well as a description/​history of the Reimer family. But unfortunately the map was kind of hard to follow.
Going off the map, we drove around the winding roads on the hunt for the scenic overlooks that were labeled on the map. We failed to find the overlooks three times. We would park at the stop that we thought the scenic overlook was at. Then we would start walking down the trail and not find anything scenic. But we did manage to find one that was closest to Reimer’s Pavilion where the map was found. It was properly named a scenic overlook for a reason. It overlooked the river and was gorgeous. I wish we were able to find the other ones.
Out of the people we did see, half of them were true outdoorsy types that were here for rock climbing. This place is known for rock climbing and mountain biking. Maybe not the best place for people like my friend and I. But still a great place to check out if you are already in the area for Hamilton Pool.

I think this would have been a great place to hike if that’s what we had gone for. We went to Hamilton Pool but we were turned away because they said the fecal matter count was too high in the water… Gross! So we went here. It was an ok place to swim but I think it would have been great to hike. There were some very pretty views from the top.

Perfect beautiful swimming area in the river for families! Bring your canopy radio and snack!!!

Bought a pass to climb here, some of the best sport climbing in Texas. Hiking is ok too.

Really pretty swimming spot, really bad place to wear jewelry.
My friend lost his fathers ring (wide silver band, black oval onyx). If found, I’ll pay out a reward.
Also, didn’t have to swim so close to others that I felt little kids pee in the water. That’s a plus.

Not as stunning as its next door neighbour, but still chaulked full of activities to explore.

After being turned away at the Hamilton Pool, (we had a dog with us) we back-​tracked down the road a little and decided to hop into Reimers Ranch. We actually had a really good walk and the scenery — even in the winter was actually pretty beautiful. Lots of birds, big trees, cactus… great view of the river.
So.why the three stars? They had a lot of eroded trails going on, and a lot of the lesser trails, (actually…all but the ADA trail) were very poorly marked. We also encountered many downed trees and rock scrambles in the middle of trails that we were given no warning for. The inside bathrooms were also closed for the season, and porta-​potties were in their place. I guess for being off-​season I can understand many of these issues. I’d be more forgiving if we weren’t charged $ 10 for a day pass. I see a lot of room for improvements here.

Maybe this park is good for rock climbing or floating, but if you want to hike, skip this park and go to Pedernales State Park, 20 minutes away. Why?
1. Trails are short — we tried to make the longest possible loop of the upper/​lower river trails, and it was still less than 3 miles.
2. Trails are poorly marked (i.e, not marked at all) — I hike a lot and have a decent sense of direction, but we lost the trail 3 times on the hike. Like really lost it and ended up bushwacking/​rock-​climbing (which is really less than awesome with a 70-​lb dog — thank you kind strangers who carried him up 5 foot boulders!) And we weren’t the only ones lost — we met 2 other groups who also had lost the trail (it’s especially unclear at the southern end of the river trail).
3. Entrance fee is $ 10 — I’m happy to pay to support national/​state/​local parks, but $ 10 is pretty steep for a local park w/​few hiking trails.

After being turned away from a very full Hamilton Pool a ranger told us about Reimer’s Ranch just down the road, this was over a year and a half ago and we continue to return to Reimer’s on hot summer days. The water is perfect and there is plenty of space so you can always have a spot to yourself!

I think I gave it 3 stars because we planned to go to Hamilton pool and the place was too full.
There for the water, it was not what I expected. The deepest point we found was around 3 ½ feet to 4 feet deep. But the water was a nice temperature.
The place was BEAUTIFUL though. Wow, not a building in site. The trails were fun to walk.
Yea, I probably wouldn’t come again because of how far away it is, but this place was legit and fun.

Reimer’s is a climber’s dream, and pretty much a slice of paradise if you like outdoor day-​tripping. I hesitate to go into detail too much because I don’t want word to get out and see it overrun like the Green Belt. For me, it is perfect.

Reimer’s is awesome for many different reasons. The hiking trails are great and you can find yourself exploring for hours, there are plenty of areas for mountain biking, and the rock climbing is definitely all its cracked up to be!
There are some very amazing views of the hill country that make the drive and the hikes completely worth it. When I went recently I had never climbed outdoors. There are enough routes to please every level of climber. Don’t forget to swing by REI and grab a book with all the routes in it!
Perfect way to spend a summer day!

Pretty sure the only people who know about Reimers Ranch are people who 1) mountain bike (maybe), 2) rock climb, and 3) (by far the biggest group) people who got turned away when Hamilton Pool was full. Yep, I was in group #3.
But what a happy surprise a 3-​hour wait at Hamilton Pool turned out to be! After a little bit of a walk down to the river area, there’s a pebble beach and plenty of space to picnic. Once in the river, there’s room for floats and friends. It’s a very slow moving river, so it’s not like you drift away (but your loose floaties might).
I imagine it’s pet friendly, and it’s definitely a place you BYOB.
Warning for pasties: minimal shade! Otherwise, highly recommend for a no-​wait, minimal drive summer day in the water.

So. one Saturday we attempted to go to Hamilton Pool but got a little lazy and didn’t quite wake up in time. The wait was around an hour and a half and the ranger at Hamilton Pool suggested Reimers Ranch which was a welcome alternative. I needed to subtract a star due to the lack of shade.
The walk was a little far down a paved road to the Pedernales River, especially with a large, heavy cooler. The intoxicated walk back would be even harder, considering it is very uphill. But I digress. We went for swimming obviously– the swimming was good. There is so much beach by the river to sit in the sun or put your stuff or whatever you want to do. As I mentioned earlier, there is zero shade, so be sure you bring an umbrella or something so you can make some of your own.
The river was cool and fairly clear. It had a slight current and ranged from very shallow to about 5 ft deep or a little more. It was fun and relaxing to just sit in the water and chill or drink. If you are going to do some heavy swimming or diving or something you may wanna try somewhere else. From my experience the Pedernales River is usually not very deep. It was very enjoyable and the scenery was excellent as well. I was not disappointed at all that we did not get to go to Hamilton Pool. Definitely try this if the wait at Hamilton is too long or if you just want to try somewhere new. I would recommend it if you have young children since the water is shallow in most places.

Take the canyon trail to the river.

Much to my chagrin, one of the primo climbing spots in Austin is about 15 minutes away from my house, and after living here for three years, I finally hauled my lazy ass over there. And it was glorious.
If you want to see the bounty of nature spread wide in front of you, watch Showgirls on blueray. If you want kick-​ass rock climbing, unhindered access to the Pedernales (without the 2 hour wait of Hamilton pool), and a great hike, you need to visit Reimer’s (homonym of rhymers).
Because you’re my friends, or at least reading my review, I’m going to describe in excruciating detail how to get there, because the drive is not for the weak of constitution. This ONLY applies to those who want to climb, or reach an even more obscure part of the river than usual:
71 to hamilton pool road
Keep driving
Keep driving
Drive past all the dopes waiting in line for Hamilton Pool
Keep driving
You’re going EXACTLY 11.7 miles down Hamilton Pool road, than make a hard right at the sign that reads «Milton Reimer’s Fishing Ranch». It’s easy to drive past.
Keep driving
The road will turn into a fire road pretty quickly
Keep driving
The road will turn into a half-​assed hillbilly construction project, likely never to be completed. It was down to one lane last time I went.
Keep driving
Arrive at the guard shack. Day fees are now $ 8
PROTIP: Buy the year pass for $ 60 if you plan on coming here often, it’s a better value.
You can bring beverages (no glass) and dogs (on leash), though there is no guidance about drunken dogs (please don’t get your puppy drunk, even though they all love beer for some reason.)

Much like some of the other reviewers, we stumbled upon this place as an alternative to the crowded wait-​two-​hours, one-​car-​in-​one-​car-​out Memorial Day madness that was Hamilton Pool.
I was a bit skeptic at first – the attendant who took our money at the entrance scoffed at us (a car full of girls) and warned that it was a tortuous hike down to the water. Ha! The trail down the water is about a quarter mile, and all downhill. Once you get within view of the river, the walk goes much more quickly as you will all but leap towards the lovely outstretch of blue-​green waters that offer salvation from the hundred degree heat. I personally was astounded at what I saw. It was a beach! A tiny, perfect, not-​at-​all-​crowded beach! We staked out a spot, and then jumped in the water to play. The ground was a bit rocky, but the water was perfect – not too cold, but deep and cool and peaceful.
We made it out to Hamilton Pool the very next day, but I think this place is my new favorite watering hole. Warning: there is not a lot of shade, but pack some sunscreen, and maybe an umbrella, and settle down for some summer goodness.

Simply an awesome place. Reminds me so much of where I grew up; miles and miles of nature. Funny how this is the only microscopic bit of country I have left in me — nature.
There is a lot to be said about this silent serenity so close to Austin. This is a place where you can go and be in the true vastness of nature that feels states away from the city. The biking trails are scenic and challenging. The hiking trails are beautiful, relaxing and full of waterfalls. The water is gorgeous; springs, caves, and even happy fish jumping for joy here and there — seriously! The only things you will see that are not indigenous and naturally occurring here are the port-​a-​potties where you park and the dirt trails and roads.
At $ 10 a car it can be a bit pricey in my opinion (hence the fallen star). But the best part is, there can be hundreds of people here and you still will be the only people you see once you hit the path ahead. Wink wink.

I only go here for the hiking trails and I do not go here often to hike because it is a good 45 miles from my hood; but, it is a beautiful hike and well worth the drive.
The park itself is a great place to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, swim and bird watch. And the Grotto and Bluff offer some amazing photo opportunities.
Be sure and bring your binoculars and camera you can see the set of «The Alamo» from the Bluff looking to the south… And there are some amazing panoramic views of the Hill Country…
I posted some pics check them out!

The Gal and I came here because Hamilton Pool was closed for swimming due to «high bacteria levels.» (Apparently this happens a lot.) Bird poop or not, it’s Texas, it’s summer and it’s friggin’ hot. Plus, we’d been working our collective posteriors off and needed a little R&R, even if it was just getting in the water. So the Hamilton Pool infogal said «Try Milton Reimer’s. It’s close and they’re open.» Done.
Full disclosure: there were two big negatives.
1) Once you get on the road into the park, you have no idea where you’re going because there are no signs directing you. Plus, there are roads (and I’m being kind calling them roads) going off in all directions. Knowing that we were looking for the Pedernales River we just kept guessing at the direction and got lucky.
2) Just like Hamilton Pool, they don’t have a «no rednecks» sign posted at the entrance. Which means that it’s apparently not a big deal to show up with your big-​ass boom box playing classic country or classic rock, and using the F word to describe EVERYTHING must just be an accepted fact of swimming life around here. (Actual phrase heard: «F**k man, that’s just f****n no f*****n” way to be. What the f**k?») Klass. No, that’s too kind… Qlass.
But…I gave it 5 stars. And those of you that know me (all 3 of you) know that I don’t give out 5 star reviews very often. Well, that’s because the setting is absolutely awesome. There is a whole lot of shore to use, and just because the qlassy people invaded our space, there’s no guarantee that will happen to you, especially if you are smarter than us and don’t go on a summer weekend. You can aso hike several trails, including some canyon trails. (Full disclosure: we didn’t hike yet, but the idea of a 14-​mile hike through a canyon makes me both giddy and tired.) But even without that, you’re swimming in a cool slow-​moving riverbed with rocky hills on either side, and the sound of songbirds calling out all around you. It’s peaceful, it’s beautiful… it’s the best of the hill country.
That is, when Ted Nugent isn’t f*****g blaring out from 50 yards away.