Friends of McKinney Falls State Park

10/12/2026

These are our upcoming events for October. Join us for cool, creepy crafts and a bit of hands‑on learning as we enjoy the fall weather and celebrate Halloween!

All events are free with paid entrance fees; Adults: $6, Children 12 and under: Free.

09/17/2026

Volunteers are needed to staff the Smith Visitor Center! Spend a morning or afternoon INDOORS greeting visitors and answering their questions. It's a great way to learn more about the park, any question you don't know the answer to you can look up and improve your own knowledge. Truly, the most-asked question is: where is the bathroom?

https://tpwd.samaritan.com/custom/1353/opp_details/223742

09/02/2026

Join us this Saturday, September 5th as we host our 4th Annual Veteran Su***de Awareness Ruck March! The ruck will start at 9:00 am right outside the Smith Visitor Center at the start of the Onion Creek Hike & Bike trail. The trail is 2.8 miles so make sure to bring plenty of water. When you check in at HQ, let them know that you are participating in the ruck as your entrance fee will be waived. We will be accepting canned food donations for the Central Texas Food Bank at the ruck weigh-in table at the start of the trail as well. If you complete the march with the 17lb ruck (must be weighed before you start and after you have completed), you will receive a free event button! Come out and show your support and let's raise awareness about Veteran Mental Health and Su***de together. 🌹

Click the link below for our event page and contact information if you have any questions! 👇

https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/mckinney-falls/veteran-suicide-awareness-ruck-march-3

08/28/2026

Be a Friend to the birds who pass through the Austin area on their annual migration. It's not hard to do, and it makes a huge difference!

08/26/2026

Be more than a Friend, be a teammate of the awesome rangers at McKinney Falls State Park!

📣📣📣UPDATED 09/23: Only 1 position remains to apply to! Our Park Interpreter position closes in less than 2 weeks (10/01)! Don't miss out on the opportunity to apply!

We're excited to announce that we will be hiring for multiple positions here in the park! Have an interest in interpretation? Enjoy working with your hands and being outdoors? Keep your eyes peeled for opening positions, and check the website often! Come see what it's like to join a great team in a bustling park! Links below ⬇️

🐦Park Interpreter (CLOSES 10/01)
https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psp/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=104412&PostingSeq=1

08/20/2026

If you would like to join us at our next public meeting, we'd love to have you! We get together every 6-8 weeks to talk about volunteer projects, fundraising, and other ways we can assist the park to meet it's mission: "to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations".

We're meeting next on August 30th at the Smith Visitor Center after the trash pick up, from 11am until noon. For a copy of the agenda, or for more information, please contact Kate Wenzel, President, at [email protected].

08/03/2026

We don't fool around at our First Sunday trash pick ups! We go after EVERY SINGLE PIECE.

Join us at our next event on August 30th (a Last Sunday due to the Labor Day holiday weekend in September) and help us keep the park clean!

07/24/2026

A big THANK YOU!!! goes out to our local grocery retailer H-E-B who delivered water, electrolyte drinks and salty snacks to the park yesterday as a donation to our rangers and volunteers. This goes a long way towards keeping the people who care for the park safe and happy during the hottest part of the summer.

07/18/2026

Hi Friends! We have rescheduled our September "First Sunday" trash pick up from the 6th to the previous Sunday, August 30th.

Holiday weekends are BUSY at the park, and you may have your own family plans for that three-day weekend, so join us a week earlier to walk the park, pick up trash and keep it beautiful for the park's Labor Day guests!

Visit https://tpwd.samaritan.com/custom/1353/opp_details/218531 to register!

06/04/2026

Happy National Trails Day!

Although trails look "natural", a lot of work is involved in making them passable for everyone, including hikers in GRIT Freedom Chairs, Trackchairs and tandem hiking carts.

Standard regulations involve cutting branches and brush back to 8-10 feet above the trail, and 2-3 feet from the trail center - the trail "corridor".

This work is done ongoing by the Rangers at the park and also by volunteers. We recently had a group of Capital Area Master Naturalists come out and trim the trails at McKinney Falls State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife. Thanks, guys - trails are ready for summer hikers!!