Five-Mile Dam (Kyle, Texas)

Howdy adventurers! This week, I went to *another* place where I could swim and cool off. Although a cold front blew through Central Texas last night, there hasn’t been much of a break from the oppressive, humid heat. This location in particular was recommended to me by my Mum, who grew up in San Marcos. If you live in Texas, you are most likely well-acquainted with I-35. The good news is, if you’re ever stuck on I-35 between San Marcos and Austin, you can veer off and cool down at Five-Mile Dam.

I typed ‘Five-Mile Dam’ in to my Apple Maps app because I am overly trusting and have yet to learn my lesson that GPS apps are sometimes very inaccurate. Luckily, I got there with ease, although I was taken right through some suburbia-type neighborhoods. So to all of my readers that needed reinforcement to continue using apps to get around, instead of checking an actual map to make sure you’re going to a legitimate location, here you go! Once arriving to Five-Mile Dam Park, the parking was easy and plentiful. The dam is a short walk down-hill from the parking lot.

The pictures I was able to find of Five-Mile Dam online must’ve been taken after a good rain storm because although the water above the dam was high, the river bed below looked like it was getting drier. You must keep in mind that it is the middle of the summer, and normally all water levels are low. Despite the water level being much lower than it looked online, the water was still rushing. Most importantly, it was not stagnant. The low water levels actually made the river below the dam much more child friendly, as there were more shallow pools for them to play in. There were a few small groups of people and families, but there was still a bounty of space to relax in away from everyone.

I was able to get some good vitamin D and a nice tan on my shoulders. I observed several families having picnics by the water and kind of wished they would share their food. Surprisingly, it was not crazy-busy here midday on a Friday in July. It was very clean, and the water was not as cold as you would find in a spring-fed river. There were several spots where I could see the remnants of a charcoal bonfire.

If you plan on visiting Five-Mile Dam, here are some tips and things to consider:

• The park is free!
• Because this is a city park, you cannot camp here. For more information and park rules, check out the Hays County website here.
• Dogs are welcome! I got to pet lots of four-legged friends!
• Partially kid friendly, although the park prohibits alcohol and smoking, there was lots of alcohol and several different types of smoke (wink, wink).
• Watch for snakes! I saw two baby Rattlesnakes and was sure to stay out of their way. For more information on how to be snake safe, check out this PDF written by the USDA.
• Wear appropriate shoes. The rocks are slick and the ground was covered in sticker burrs.

Overall, I would give Five-Mile Dam four-and-a-half out of five stars. I still want to keep my options open in case I go to a place that really blows my socks off, but I will definitely be returning here. This place would be perfect for a cookout or bonfire. Below I’ve inserted a gallery of my trip! This was a fantastic conclusion to my week! Please give me a recommendation of where in Texas to go to next.

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