Gorman Falls: hike, fee and where to swim
Gorman Falls is a 70-foot spring-fed cascade inside Colorado Bend State Park, reached by a roughly 3-mile round-trip hike that drops steeply over rocky, mostly unshaded ground. Entry costs $5 per person 13 and up, and swimming isn't part of the visit: the travertine that gives the falls their green, mineral-streaked look is fragile and breaks easily underfoot. It's one of the stops in our waterfalls in Texas guide; for other states, start from the waterfalls near me map.
Fact box
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31.058°N, 98.482°W, San Saba County, per USGS GNIS (GNIS-1358200) |
| Height | About 70 ft, a spring-fed cascade over travertine |
| Trail length | About 3 miles round trip from the Gorman Falls trailhead |
| Difficulty | Moderate to difficult; steep, rocky terrain with little shade |
| Fee | $5 per person, ages 13 and up; free for kids 12 and under |
| Gate hours | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Legal status | Public, Colorado Bend State Park (Texas Parks and Wildlife) |
| Swimming | Not at the falls, where the travertine breaks underfoot; the park allows swimming in the river, at your own risk, no lifeguards. Spring-fed pools are on the Spicewood Springs Trail |
Getting there and the hike
The Gorman Falls Trail starts at its own trailhead inside Colorado Bend State Park and runs about 3 miles round trip, with a steep, rocky descent to the base of the falls and the same climb back out (Texas Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Bend State Park). The park describes many of its trails as rocky and unshaded, so plan around the heat as much as the mileage. Day entry costs $5 per person 13 and older, free for kids 12 and under (Texas Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Bend entrance fees, checked September 2026), and the park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., per its Texas Parks and Wildlife page as of September 2026. A reservation isn't required to enter, but the park recommends booking a day pass ahead because passes can sell out on busy weekends.
Check the park's current alerts before you drive out. As of September 2026 they listed a tree-maintenance closure on the Gorman Springs Trail and part of the Old Gorman Road Trail. That's a different trail from the Gorman Falls Trail, but it shows how routes near the falls close on short notice. A burn ban was also in effect, and the park closes to day visitors on scheduled hunt dates in fall and winter (Texas Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Bend State Park alerts, checked September 2026).
The falls and the travertine
Gorman Falls drops about 70 feet over a wall of travertine, rock that builds up as mineral-rich spring water dries on contact with air, kept green year-round by the moss and ferns the constant flow supports. That steady spring feed is what keeps the falls running through Texas summers, when most of the state's other waterfalls thin out or stop. The same travertine is the reason to stay out of the water here: the formation is still growing and breaks easily underfoot, closer to a reef than to solid rock. Keep off the formations and view the falls from the trail. Anyone who wants to get in the water at Colorado Bend has the park's separate Spicewood Springs Trail, which leads to spring-fed swimming holes away from the falls.
How this guide was researched
This page was compiled from Texas Parks and Wildlife's official pages for Colorado Bend State Park, including its entrance fees, current alerts and nature pages. We haven't visited this site ourselves. Fees, trail closures and hunt dates are set by the park and can change; verify current conditions before you go. Last checked September 2026.
FAQ
How long is the hike to Gorman Falls?
About 3 miles round trip from the trailhead inside Colorado Bend State Park, with a steep, rocky descent and the same climb back out.
How much does it cost to see Gorman Falls?
$5 per person for ages 13 and up; kids 12 and under get in free. The park gate is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Can you swim at Gorman Falls?
Not at the falls. The cascade runs over travertine that's still forming and breaks easily underfoot, so keep off the formation and out of the water there. Colorado Bend allows swimming in the river, at your own risk and with no lifeguards (Texas Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Bend activities); the Spicewood Springs Trail leads to the park's spring-fed pools.
Do you need a reservation to see Gorman Falls?
No, but Colorado Bend State Park recommends booking a day pass ahead, since passes can sell out on busy weekends.
Does Gorman Falls run dry?
Not normally. It's spring-fed and holds a flow year-round, unlike most Texas waterfalls, which depend on recent rain.
We haven't visited these places ourselves, and every page says so rather than implying otherwise. Details are compiled from public land-manager, USGS and NOAA sources and cross-checked where possible; conditions, access rules and fees change without notice, so confirm with the managing agency before you go. Page last checked September 2026. Read our full methodology.