The Hays County Parks Department manages Winter's Mill hike & bike trail and Jacob's Well Natural Area in Wimberley as well as 5 Mile Dam Park in Kyle and the Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Nature Preserve in Buda.

Jacob's Well Natural Area -

Hours of Operation: 8:00am-6:00pm
NO ENTRY AFTER 5:30pm

Jacob's Well Natural Area is NOT allowing swimming at this time. We are currently in an annual period of aquatic restoration which lasts from October 1st - April 30th of each year. The cool clear water here makes Jacob's Well a unique swimming destination in the Texas summer heat. However, the large amount of visitors we receive during these months can very disruptive to the wildlife that call this area home. This is especially true of the aquatic wildlife of Cypress Creek. Therefore we dedicate the chilly fall, winter, and spring months to habitat restoration. During this period public swimming access is prohibited, but we encourage visitors to come take a peaceful hike and observe the large variety of wildlife that is visible at this time!

There is no fee or reservation needed to enter the natural area. A fee is only required if you are swimming in Jacob's Well (by reservation only) during the summer. During peak hours over the summer the parking lot may reach capacity, at that time we will begin to turn away all visitors without reservations until there is more space available. You may call the park ahead of time to check on the status of the parking lot.

Swimming at Jacob's Well Natural Area is allowed from May 1st - September 30th BY RESERVATION ONLY. Reservations for the upcoming 2019 swim season will become available here at this website at a later date. Each reservation guarantees two hours of swimming in Jacob's Well. Please see rules and fees below.

Free Guided Morning Tours are available by request on the 2nd and 4th Saturday's of the month. Please contact katherine.sturdivant@co.hays.tx.us to request a tour.

5 Mile Dam Park -

Side by side along the Blanco River, Dudley Connaly Johnson and Randall Wade Vetter Parks offer picnic tables (some shaded by trees or covers), walking trails and access to the river for swimmers and non-motorized boats. Some of the trails are ADA-accessible, as are restrooms located on the property. Nearby is the Five Mile Dam Soccer Complex.

Five Mile Dam Park Rules:

There is no lifeguard on duty. Swimming alone is discouraged.

Prohibited: Diving, alcohol, firearms, hunting, glass containers, overnight parking or camping, motorboats, skiing, personal watercraft and rowdy or disruptive behavior. Violators could face fines and/or be removed from the park.

Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Nature Preserve-

is a 384-acre tract of land in Buda operated by the Hays County Parks Department. This land is only a sub-section of the privately owned 2,254-acre Dahlstrom Ranch on Onion Creek. The Preserve is set up as a limited lease between Hays County and the Dahlstrom Family, which allows public access for up to 20 years. This unique public access agreement is all thanks to Gay Ruby Dahlstrom herself.

Gay Ruby Dahlstrom first arrived at her family’s historic ranch at the age of 6 and, until she died at 84, she walked the property regularly. Gay loved the connection the land gave her to her heritage and to the environment, and she always wanted to share that connection with others.

Now – thanks to Gay’s vision – the public will have the opportunity to experience 384-acres of one of the state’s rare, pristine natural areas.

The Preserve includes just over 3 miles of unimproved hiking trails, and a three-quarter-mile asphalt ADA-accessible trail.

A PLACE TO RECHARGE: A recharge zone is a land surface area where precipitation and surface water can enter the aquifer. These areas are incredibly important for groundwater conservation and are sensitive to surface pollution. Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Nature Preserve lies entirely within the recharge zone of Barton Springs. Dye-tracing has shown us that water entering the caves, faults, and fractures in this zone flows out of Barton Springs within a few days. Thus, the creation of this nature preserve allows for the protection and management of a valuable recharge zone.

All visitors must make a reservation, whether for a Day Pass or a Tour

jwna.checkfront.com/reserve (select Gay Ruby Dahlstrom Preserve)