Swim and Relax at Common's Ford Ranch

Commons Ford is a lakefront park offering a boathouse that can be reserved, fishing, volleyball net and picnicking. Many people go to the park with the expectation of lounging on the large grassy area for many hours so be sure to pack food, blankets, sunscreen, and tubes if you plan to float in the water. The crowd at this park is generally laid back and you’ll often find many furry friends running around as well. I highly recommend wearing water shoes in Lake Austin as many people like to fish in the area and sometimes lose their hooks.

The park is available for day use only and there is no entrance fee. Although the park has two hiking trails, they are rather short hikes with one trail featuring waterfalls and the other leading you to views of the lake.

Getting there: From MoPac in Austin, head west on FM 2244 and continue west on FM 2244 (Bee Cave Rd) through the intersection with Capital of Texas Highway. After about 3.5 miles after the intersection, you will turn right on Cuernavaca Drive and then turn left on Commons Ford Road. Continue down this road and look for entrance to the park on the left. Parking is along the shoulder of the road but you’ll see a brown wind gauge and antenna for an indication of where to park.