Beautiful trail, unfortunately people do walk their dogs off the leash. Not sure if this is allowed or not but on this particular day there was a pack of 4 large dogs off the leash 3 huskies and a Dalmatian and they were nudging and shoving us out of the way with no owners in sight. It ruined the experience because the dogs were being very rude and the trail is narrow and rocky so to have dogs playing and fighting on the trails and pushing you is very annoying and I am a dog lover. read more

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This is a rustic trail compared with Riverplace. Rustic in the sense it is not well-groomed. There are a lot of rocks, tree roots, and fallen debris. Just pick your feet up a little higher, and you'll be fine. The big plus for dog owners and lovers is that dogs can run free. If you don't like dogs, definitely do not come to this "dog party". If you do love dogs, you'll be in heaven watching them run down the trails and in and out of the water. Dog owners seemed very conscientious about picking up their dog's leavings which is a plus as well. If it's a nice day, the parking may fill up fast. The trail is free and offers a lot of shade. Enjoy. read more

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My dog and I have been coming here for years. This is actually the first place I let her go off leash! :) I like to think of the trail like a lollipop or tennis racket. There's a straight part and then a loop that connects you back to the straight part of the trail. Does that make sense? You can't really get lost! I always go right on the lollipop. It gets steep at some points but only for a short bit and there are stepping stones along the path that are like stairs. On the back side of the lollipop there are lots of down trees covering the path (from our ice storm) but they are fairly easy to get around and back on the path. I saw there is a clean up the trail day on 3/18/23 so maybe some chainsaws will clear some of the paths. There were some lovely bluebonnets on the top part of the trail and you'll see my cute doggo as evidence! The place gets really crowded so get there early on the weekends or go during the week if you can. Years ago, I came back from my trail walk and a truck had smashed a bunch of cars that had parked on the road so I don't recommend that. It's a windy narrow road. That's just my two cents. ;) Right now, there is lots of running, clean water so get out there and enjoy nature! We all know clear water in Austin for dogs is rare these days so grab your pup and go for it! The overall hike is about 3 miles give or take. There are little green posts that tell you your mileage on the trail. read more

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If you've never seen deer up close and personal, then it' probably time for you to head over to Emma Long Park Turkey Creek Trail. Tip: You'll probably find it enjoyable to bring along a grill and something to cook on it Usually right after sundown, a whole herd of deer come out of the woods - it's quite the sight to see! read more

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One of the best "hidden" trails in Austin. We have been taking our dogs here for the last couple of years because they allow off-leash running which is a huge plus. When Austin gets some rain, there is also a nice amount of running water for the dogs to jump in. The trail is split between an out and back with a loop in the middle making it a wonderful way to spend a couple hours. To top it off, you get some views and some nice small climbs to work up a sweat. This place can get busy, but if you go early or late, it really isn't too bad. We will continue coming back! read more

This was a nice hike! Keep in mind the parking is minimal, I went on a Saturday afternoon and just barely got a spot. I'm not 100% whether or not this is actually an off leash area but there were many dogs not on a leash with owners letting them run well ahead of them so be aware if you're not a dog person or are bringing a nervous/reactive pet. I would suggest this hike on a sunny day because the trail is very shaded which is nice when it's sunny and not as nice when it's overcast. I completed the whole route in ~ 1 hour. read more

Emma Long Park Turkey Creek Trail - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Yes! This is our go-to trail when we want to let our dog off leash. The trail is generally quite nice and shaded and runs for about 3 miles round trip. It's a moderate trail with some rocks and roots but overall a fairly easy and relaxed trail. I also like that it is fairly insulated away from the roads so no risk of your dog running out onto the street. Parking is generally OK but can be busy if you go at peak hours. No bathrooms but there is a porta potty. Love this trail! read more

A good 2.5-3 mile hike around Austin with some shade. It is not too challenging, in my opinion, and can be quite busy. Parking was minimal so plan accordingly. Also, they had port-a-potties available for people before or after a hike. I saw a lot of dogs without leashes which were a little annoying when crossing over the streams, and owners not taking care of their dogs. Overall a great trail that I will check out in the future. read more

This trail's level of difficulty varies quite a lot; it ranges from being very easy in some places to spots where the terrain is challenging. At one spot you'll have to cross a fairly deep stream by stepping across rocks that have been placed in the stream bed. Tip: First time visitors should note that this isn't a smooth pathway suitable for beginners and elderly people; it's a hiking trail that requires at least intermediate-level skills. Trail conditions are often muddy, and a lot of the downhill stretches are very slippery in wet weather. Bearing in mind that there are no views to be had anywhere along the trail other than of the creek and the surrounding trees, if you arrive with reasonable expectations you can have a really lovely walk along the creek. read more

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This is a great trail! It can get busy sometimes I've noticed. I've been twice now both times on a Sunday. Later in the afternoon it was less busy it seemed. There are so many cool things to be discovered along this trail. I'd say it's a moderate difficulty level. With that said my 3.5 yr old loves it. The water crossings back and forth over Turkey Creek are fun and a challenge for her at times. The trail is shaded nicely too which is a plus. This is also an off leash dog trail. So far all the dogs have super been friendly but there are a lot of dogs them. I'd be prepared with proper footwear here - hiking boots if you have them. There are lots of rocky areas like most of the trails in central Texas. read more

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What fun. This park is the best in austin. The access to water . The campgrounds. The trails. I could go on. Spent my 30th camping abs grilling with friends. I'll never forget it. read more

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This is one of my favorite trails near my home. I'd recommend getting there earlier on during the day for parking, especially on nicer days. The trail itself overall is not on the challenging side but there are some parts with slight elevation/incline. I think I'm total it's around 2.5-3 miles and is also dog friendly. I just admit, it always nice to see the pups so happy, I haven't brought my lab yet, but plan on it. It's been great with the rain because now there are actually water crossings, which adds a nice little challenge to the hike. There is also an unmarked trail a little past the main parking lot that has some great overlook views of the river. Overall a great hike and def recommend. read more

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I'm not from the area, but I went here to hike and really loved it. It's definitely A LOT of stairs on 1/2 of the hike, so I would plan accordingly. BRING A LOT OF WATER, especially if you plan on doing the entire three miles (or 6 going down and back). The only thing is I feel that there was a lack of adequate emergency supplies along the trail, even though it says there are kits along the hike. So definitely know your limits before going and stay safe. read more

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Hiking trail just outside of pay station to Emma Long. Alert--no portas on the trail during covid. You'll have to shell out $5 to enter the expansive lawn and river area to find one..The hike was enjoyable and easy but not easy bring your Grandma easy..There are a few inclines and some traversing the streams by rock hopping. Lots of off leash dogs. In an hour on the trail we saw 12 to 16 off leash, 1 on leash plus ours. All were friendly but sometimes scary excited to our barely socialized covid pup. She did great though. 4 If I lived close instead of 45 min away. . I wanted to see what the Emma Long fuss was about but not worth the drive for me. read more

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This is one of our favorite trails! Is cool and shaded, and Benjamin my dog loves the water! A lot of people have their dogs off leash, which is fine for me but maybe not everyone. It's great practice for my puppy too try to learn off leash walking. read more

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Leave your vanity behind for this one. There are 11 water crossings on this trail going one way and you re-cross about 4 on the way out. The level of treachery will vary depending on how wet it has been in recent weeks. When I went a couple weeks ago, it had rained a lot in the week prior so I would put the water crossings at treachery level 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. This is not a trail for the infirm or unsteady or unsure. I would not recommend for very small children or unadventurous dogs either. Also, your shoes will likely be caked in mud after. If it is warm enough, I guess you could wade across rather than trying to hop along the rocks but I would not recommend this in the winter... This trail is one of the few that is long and dog-friendly, so that's why Griffin and I drove over. We had a good time, definitely an adventure. As others have said, the trail is not marked well, but that's part of the fun right? And I have a good sense of direction so I didn't get any more lost than I wanted to. A word about parking though -- DO NOT park on the road along the side of the teeny tiny parking lot. You will likely get a ticket, as I did. I drove along the road after and saw all the cars had parking tickets and I warned other people who were just parking to not park there. I guess you have to get there really early or be very patient to wait for a spot. We probably won't be back, because it is far and the parking situation is unreliable, though it is a really nice trail. read more

This is by far my favorite trail near Austin! The main reason - it's off leash for the puppers! Really nice, moderate trail for all ages. The doggos love running around and I've had pretty positive encounters with other dogs (aka people bringing dog friendly pups to this trail and being responsible). 10/10 would recommend! read more

Emma Long Park Turkey Creek Trail - The boys living the off leash life! - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Beautiful view and very good park to hangout for a day and spend time with your family and pet. read more

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Well another happy hiker reporting in. The turkey creek trail is indeed a nice moderately easy 3-mile loop trail. I did not see any turkeys but there was a lot of creeks! Keep in mind there is some elevation on this trail and you will be rock hopping across many streams. Be aware if you have a dog phobia this is not the trail for you as this is an off leash trail and Fido will be running ahead of his/her owner. Over all this is a nice trail and I will definitely be returning. I do wish the trail was marked a little better as a couple of times where we ended up at a dead end. Lastly parking is limited so you may have to take your chances on the street. read more

I live in Houston, and I come here every single time my partner and I come to Austin. This is, hands-down, the best hiking spot to walk through with your dogs. The dogs that we meet are always really friendly and sweet; however, I really like that it's not crazy consistent but instead like a nice checkpoint every once in a while. read more

My local off leash dog trail - this place is less than ten minutes from our house so I walk it at least 5 mornings a week with my dog. Just under three miles of trail that loops back on itself crossing the stream repeatedly - it's a bit uneven and can get slippery when it's dry and dusty or very wet. Definitely somewhere to wear sneakers or hiking shoes as supposed to flip flops. It's beautiful, green and peaceful during the week - although it gets very very crowded at weekends there is space for everyone and most people are happy to have their dogs work off some energy with the others. I've never met an unfriendly dog here. The water level varies hugely throughout the year from raging torrent after winter rains through to a few trapped pools in the dry summer months. It's a nature reserve so there are inevitably insects - lots of insects - wear some repellent if you're sensitive / sweet blooded and keep an eye out for horseflies. read more

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For Austin, this trail is pretty exciting. You get to feel like a kid again...finding your balance as you use stepping stones to cross the creek 4-5 times on this trail. Gets muddy after rain... so watch your step. About 2 miles round trip-- but with detours up above the loop of the trail... it took us ~2.5 hours to do the whole thing with a bit of wandering. Yes, there's a small parking lot. Yes, good for friendly dogs. Yes, you need to pick up your dog's poop. No, not good for strollers or small children (unless you want to carry them across the streams) read more

Emma Long Park Turkey Creek Trail - Creekside - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is amazing. There's usually parking and it's not too crowded especially during the week. Behold, hiking trails dotted with streams overshadowed by large trees and if it couldn't get any better---it's "off leash." My little dog loves coming here. He swims and runs ahead, loving it. There are some really pretty spots to stop and 'be one with nature' or if you prefer--I always see people running. (not exactly my thing but at least I know it happens) The path is pretty shaded so on even on a super hot day it's SO stifling. I'm hitting this place up later today, it's truly one of my favorite places in Austin. It's not overrun just yet and it's a beautiful place to spend your afternoon. read more

Emma Long Park Turkey Creek Trail - Beautiful, well maintained pathways on the trail. - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Gorgeous park. Very shaded and lots of natural incline for a little extra work out. Very nice but can be a little bit packed on the weekends. It's also a dog leash optional park so beware if you have a dog. My dog is very skiddish so I don't let her off her leash. read more

Nice place to come play basketball or even just jump in the water. You can barbecue at this location you can bring your own grill or use the ones that are provided for you. They have benches and picnic tables for you as well. With a full bathroom service not porta potties. There are also hiking trails with different levels of difficulty. Even if you want it just to walk around the lake and watch the water you can do that as well. The only thing is is $10 a car to park so make sure you bring a credit card to use the machine to put it on your windshield. read more

Emma Long Park Turkey Creek Trail - Very nice place to come and relax and enjoy yourself with family and friends. - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great trail and exactly what we were looking for. We live in the middle of downtown Austin (close to Whole Foods) and it took about 25 minutes to get to the trailhead. Half the drive is on a freeway but the other half is on a beautiful paved road that actually reminded us a lot of Malibu. The trail has three things going for it that moved it from 4 to 5 stars for me: 1. Lots of tree covering - Austin is hot, really hot, so being in direct sunlight isn't very fun. Most of this trail has trees as a canopy which means the sun isn't beating down on you the entire time. 2. Creek following the trail - I love it when trails have a creek running alongside them and it's fun to cross over at different points - makes it feel more like an adventure. 3. It's a nice loop - 2.8M is about the perfect distance for a nice morning hike and the loop means you'll get new scenery for pretty much the entire time. There were plenty of families with kids and lots of dogs so it is also family friendly. I wouldn't call it an easy hike since you do cross back and forth over a river and if you keep up a good pace you can get a solid workout in. That being said it is definitely not a difficult hike and there aren't any scary cliff edges or impossible uphills. Great hike in all regards and we will definitely do it again, and again! read more

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We went to Turkey Creek Trail this weekend for the first and only time. The good is that the scenery is beautiful and there's lots of space for the dogs to roam. The very very bad is that the trail is not marked well AT ALL. We ended up doing some difficult climbing (like using trees to pull you up climbing) that could not have been part of the actual trail, and then ended up coming out on City Park Road about 1.5 miles away from where our car was parked. If you like getting literally lost in the woods, I suppose this could be the place for you. Such a waste of a beautiful space. read more

Love this trail! Little difficult to navigate if you are a beginner like me! Would love some more maps on the trail. Def bring bug spray but this place it wonderful! A great trail for you and your dog! read more

I absolutely love this trail - easy hike and my dog gets a chance to walk off leash. Parking can be a challenge, as the lot gets full. I've heard from a friend that they will ticket you if you park in the wrong areas. read more

Wonderful hike to take on your own or with a friend and pups. Fairly easy -- there are quite a few creek crossings, so be ready to cross the creek hopping rock to rock which can be slippery. Beautiful waterfall areas and native plants. If you are looking for a nice off-leash hiking trail this is a great choice! read more

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This is a fantastic little trail tucked off of Emma Long Park Road. Note: it's before you actually enter into the main Emma Long Park area. So for first time visitors, look for it off the road (more than likely where all the cars are parked) before reaching the Emma Long Park area. This trail can get a little confusing at times, especially if the creek is low, it's easy to mistake the dry bed for park of the trail. But other than that, it's mostly shaded except for one small section and is dog friendly! read more

First time hiking this trail and was unimpressed with the lack of maintenance and markings. Take a compass or phone so you can get your bearings if you lose your place. read more

I love this trail: dog friendly, bike free, no runners, and shaded. It's paradise for my Corgi who tends to chase after bikers and nip at the heels of runners (herding dogs -____-). It takes about 25 minutes to drive here, but it is so worth it to see my dog run around with a stupid smile on his face. The trail does go back and forth through the creek that cuts through the trail, so prepare to get wet and muddy. It's easy to mistake the dry creek bed as a path or see a muddy trail and think the trail continues else where. When I first hiked this trail, I went straight at the 3/4 mile marker instead of cutting through the mud so ended up doing the loop the wrong way. The one thing that they could improve on is adding some trash cans along the trail instead of just the trail heads. It gets pretty nasty and tiresome as you carry the bag of poop for 2 miles. Parking is sometimes difficult on the weekends as the lot is small and the trail is popular. Do NOT park right outside the lot on the street; I've seen cars with tickets. I THINK if you drive up a little bit more, considerably past the "No Parking" sign, they won't ticket you. I did that once and escaped a ticket even though everyone else who parked next to the lot got one. read more

Love the trail and had a great time with my dog - it's fun and has variety but it's not challenging - however my car got broken into so be careful and don't leave anything of value behind read more

Great place to hike and not too far from downtown! Such an awesome trail with great water options and uphill climbs. Our puppy loves it and always comes home exhausted. Such a beautiful drive there, also. We always look forward to our family days here! read more

This is a great, convenient hike for all times of the year. We went in August so there was very little running water and just a few pools, but the shady trails were still comfortable. It is very popular, and almost everyone had an off-leash dog with them. I'll definitely go back in the rainy season, and probably wear water shoes because there are places that would be difficult to cross running water without getting your feet wet on the slippery rocks. One big con: the irresponsible dog owners who bag their dog's poop and then just leave the bag right on the trail for everyone else to see. This was unfortunately quite common. read more

Amazing spot! Went twice with our pups. Well maintained trails and our pups loved them

Thanks to the people who do not dare to clean after their dogs, this trail stinks, and you have to watch for dog poo. Too bad... Because this short trail really has some potential. It is shady and pleasant. However the water bed was dry as of September 28. read more

Its a nice trail but not the best marked. Mile markers were a bit confusing (which added to our adventure so not too bad). The difficulty level was fine too. Neither too easy nor extremely steep anywhere. Had a good time though. read more

Emma Long Park Turkey Creek Trail - Wild ledge overlooking the water stream beneath - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

The best kept secret near Austin!!! Our pup goes nuts every time she steps foot onto the trailhead. A great length, at just under 2 hours to take the trail at a leisurely pace. If you're not a dog person, beware, as there are hyper dogs running in and out of the water along the trail. We love that this is off leash, so we can walk at a human-pace while our dog runs into the trees, down to the water, up the trail, etc. This trail is great for all seasons! read more