There are a lot of trails here. It's a great hike if you're in the area and want to hike. There's…read morenot much of a view but it's still nice. We saw a lot of mountain bikers when we were hiking. Parking was very easy.

Canyonlands or Mount Lakeway Trails is a nice location near Lake Travis Schools in Lakeway. There…read moreare several different trailheads. I'd say this is moderate as some areas are very rocky, you get your heart rate going but can still keep a conversation. Some areas are heavily wooded and hilly, and other areas are flat with gravel. Little areas of water and tiny waterfalls are pleasant. There is construction going on and you can head that in the distance, but you can still hear the the bears and wildlife area. I definitely want to come back and check out the other trailheads here. Wear some good shoes as it can be slick.

The River Place Nature Trail is the perfect combination of breathtaking scenery and an opportunity…read morefor a great workout. The trail is known for its steep elevation changes, lush greenery, and tranquil water features. This trail is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and fitness evangelists. The trail winds through dense vegetation with a mix of wooden steps, rocky pathways, and shaded stretches. One of the biggest attractions is the seemingly endless staircase sections. Looking up from the bottom, those steps appear to climb straight into the heavens. I was mentally preparing myself for the challenge when I spotted a sign that changed everything: "Beware of Snakes. Stay on the designated trail." Excuse me...what?! Will a snake know whether or not I'm on the designated trail? I'm thinking no. Those slithering little noodles of doom that can inject venom and potentially ruin your entire day or your life? At that moment, my inner adventurer immediately became my inner safety officer. Mission status: Abort. Abort. Abort. Instead, we claimed chairs overlooking the pond and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings from a much safer distance. It was incredibly relaxing...except for the part where I spent a good portion of the time imagining snakes conducting secret meetings somewhere in the bushes. All humor aside, River Place Nature Trail is absolutely beautiful. The scenery is stunning, the atmosphere is serene, and for those brave souls who aren't distracted by reptilian concerns, it's an excellent hiking destination. As for me, I'll admire it from the comfort of a chair with a clear view of the ground. There is a fee to walk the trials. If you do not pay the fee, please feel free to donate to the trail fund. This is a very well-maintained trail.

Nice canyon trail in the middle of the neighborhood. Glad that small piece of nature is preserve…read moreinstead turning into someone's backyard. 2.5 mile one way. It said it has a lot of steps (2736) but they are not continuous so don't worry. There isn't a overlook but at the hill top u can see over the valley a little bit. I started around lunch time . 11am. 89F. Maybe because I was little sick but I drank 24fl oz of water at 2mi mark. So bring more water if u plan on going back. Which will be a 6mi total hike. I see people being kids so it is not very difficult. Scenery: currently Texas is under a drought so all the creek is bone dry as u can see in my pictures. There many different of plants u can see along the path. Flowers and berries too. $10 during peak hours which I assume is weekend. And for parking, you can just park on the street

Peter P. and I and our pups explored this short but scenic greenbelt today and I will definitely be…read moreback when in the area. The trail runs parallel to Hurst Creek with several pretty waterfalls which makes it feel more away from the city rather than a neighborhood trail. For a longer hike it connects with Hamilton Greenbelt that has over 4 miles of trails. Hamilton Greenbelt has a parking lot across the street from the main trail head or you can take the Hamilton Greenbelt about 10 minutes in you will see a Smith Greenbelt sign on the left so you can cross under Lohman's Crossing instead of having to cross a busy street. If you take Lohman's Crossing from 620 the parking lot is just past the first stop light on the right.

From the owner: Smith Greenbelt provides the citizens of Lakeway with a short but wonderful hiking trail which…read morewanders along Hurst Creek. It is a fabulous place for a family outing, a lunchtime jog, or to walk the dog (on a leash, of course). The 4.5 acre greenbelt was made possible through a generous donation from Coleman and Mary Smith.

It's called a park but, basically a parking lot with a porta John and a trail head leading down to…read morelake Travis. That's what a lot of these parks are. After decades of development it's getting harder to get to the lake free. I came here today to hike down to the lake which has gone from an almost all time low to almost full in a matter of weeks due to recent flooding.

Yay, a "new" place to get in the water. I'm always looking for somewhere new to go cool off in the…read morewater. A friend told me about this little park, so I headed out there. Let's start with the cons: it's seriously off the beaten path- there's nothing out there. Bring everything you need- water, food, sunscreen etc. Secondly, there is literally no beach- just rocks, lots of rocks. Lastly, it is not dog, kid, or "out of shape" friendly. You have to climb around and over all those rocks to get to the water. (Oh, and there is a fee per person, if there's someone on duty). Now the pros- it is seriously off the beaten path, which means there's parking and very few people. Secondly, the water is clear and beautiful as are the views. It is near a marina, so boaters give nice waves every so often. Lastly, I loved sitting in my float just listening to the water hit the rocky shore. Very peaceful. I enjoyed it, but it's not for everyone. Let me know if you go- enjoy!

Hippie Hollow is a nice winding drive in North Austin. The park is $8.00 CASH ONLY…read more Lake Travis is 100% full, since 2019! So thrilled that we have the water level back. But with that, you loose space to lay out. And then there becomes no place to walk around. Not complaining. Thrilled we have the water level back to 100% Hippie Hollow is the only nude beach in Texas. So I'm told. Started many decades ago when the catch phrase "keep Austin weird" actually meant something. Weddings have actually been performed here. Maybe someday mine will too. Haha. I went all the way down to trail 6 to see if there would be an easy way down, and easy to get out of the water. Now that the water level is so high, it just becomes a cliff. Easy to get in, just jump. But climbing out, can get a little tricky. Picking a trail to go down can be tricky. Of course you want to give people their private space. You need a spot where you can lay out on a blanket. And getting out of the water easily where you don't have to be rescued. I needed rescuing last time, and luckily I was able to get in and out fine on my own. The second time a gentleman was walking past, and offered his hand to help me out. People are just so friendly here. I met two gentleman separate occasions. Very nice. Apparently they are regulars here. Water was choppy again. It's hard to just float and relax. You just have to keep treading water and keep your head up. Super freeing. Natural. Water is refreshing, the Texas sun is like no other. But the ants! Oh my word, they bit. Next time ant spray. They're brutal. Till next time Hippie Hollow, stay weird.

The park sits on a rugged stretch of Lake Travis, and the scenery alone is worth the trip. The…read morecliffs, the water, and the wide‑open views make it one of the more striking spots around the lake. The hike down to the shoreline is rocky and uneven, so it's not the kind of place you wander into by accident -- you earn the view a little, which honestly fits the whole atmosphere. When you arrive, the staff makes sure you understand the rules, especially the one about no sexual activity. They're clear, direct, and they repeat it enough times that you'd think no one could possibly forget. And yet, once you're inside, you occasionally encounter someone who seems to have the memory retention of a goldfish or the attention span of a distracted squirrel. Thankfully, the vibe of the park is mellow enough that these moments are more eye‑roll than incident. The crowd is a mix of regulars who clearly know the place well and visitors who show up curious or just wanting a quiet spot by the water. The atmosphere is laid‑back, nonjudgmental, and surprisingly calm. Even with the clothing‑optional reputation, it doesn't feel chaotic or wild; it's more like a group of people who collectively decided they're done pretending swimsuits are mandatory. The water access is great once you get down there, and the rocky shoreline gives you plenty of places to set up without feeling crowded. The views across Lake Travis are some of the best you'll get without renting a boat or owning one of the massive houses perched above the lake. If you're looking for a typical beach park, this isn't it. But if you want a quiet, scenic spot with a very specific kind of freedom baked into its identity, Hippy Hollow delivers exactly what it promises.

Pictures don't do this place justice!…read more On this beautiful Saturday, I was seeking adventure! This tour is such an amazing deal. My tour guide Eryn was amazing and so funny. Caves are so interesting and there is so much to learn about them . Longhorn Cavern offer 3 different tour options. The cavern walking tour is just like a casual walking tour. The black light tour is where you wear hard hats and walk with a light. The Wild Cave tour is for the extreme explorers who are okay with tight spaces . I chose the cavern walking tour. I highly recommend shoes that have a tight grip. The gift shop has really good options for keepsakes. Also, if you get thirst drinks are available to purchase. I saw a section for pizza, but it was sold out. I had amazing time during my visit. The cave is beautiful and there is so much to see.

This isn't the best caverns I've visited within a Texas State Park, but it is pretty darn cool. The…read morebest caverns tour is at Kickapoo Caverns. I did a wild cave tour without the extra charges that Longhorn collects. At Longhorn, our guide, Johnson did an amazing job with our small group of six people for the 10:45 AM tour. My brother and I initially registered for the 11:00 AM tour and am glad that we were suggested another time. We passed by the 11:00 AM tour and they had 40+ people in their group. Johnson showed us cool geological formations. We saw dolomite, calcium bicarbonate, chert, limestone, geodes, stalagmites, stalactites, and quartz crystals. Johnson is somewhat funny; he had a bit of quirky and dry humor. I enjoyed the history of the caverns, but some of it I thought was interesting. It was really delightful to learn that in the 1800's, before the CCC got involved, the locals would dance and play music turning the cave into an auditorium of entertainment. Johnson said that if certain geological formations glows, it is growing. Very catchy phase for memory. I got to see a few bats hanging out. They were tricolor bats which are smallest bats. The cave is cool, but thankfully not slippery. I was wearing no grip support shoes, but I didn't fall or have the urge to fall. There are mats on the floor of the cave to prevent falls. Johnson gave us more time to look around and admire the geology. My brother and I weren't required to bring our own flashlights. Johnson had a flashlight, but forgot to grab the blacklights. What I find is strange is that this is a state park that you cannot renew your state park pass at. This park headquarters is very different than the rest considering that there's a third party company handing the cave tours, they sell ice-cees, popcorn, and the gift shop is very big and vast. The others don't have this. It is questionable to me. I was told that I needed to go to Inks Lake to renew my pass. The cave tours are very pricey. Kickapoo Caverns tour was very affordable at $10. You can use the park pass. You can't get your state park passport stamped at Longhorn Caverns either. It seems like Longhorn Caverns is more for profit and the history about the cavern could be overly exaggerated to attract customers. My opinion. It was hard to believe half of the things what Johnson was telling us. There's one portion of geological formation in the cave that is "dead" because in year 1919, the locals went exploring by touching the formation it "killed" it. I preferred Kickapoo Caverns and the Caverns of Sonora a lot more. Even Inner Space Caverns and Natural Bridge were very exciting to see. Longhorn is cool, but didn't give me that WOW-factor, but I still had a ton of fun on a Sunday morning.

Nice park area for the kids. Appears well maintained although we were only in the SCUBA area and…read morethe playground. Bring water, several of the water fountains were out of order. Apparently they broke after the freeze but still haven't been fixed so that's a bummer.

Mansfield Dam Park located in Austin, Texas, is a beautiful lakefront park that offers a relaxing…read moreoutdoor experience. The park is located on Lake Travis featuring spectacular panoramic views, access to boating and water sports, and areas for picnics. Park visitors can swim in a designated cove, go fishing, launch boats and water skis onto Lake Travis or simply have a delightful picnic in the great outdoors. The park is well-maintained and includes amenities such as playgrounds, picnic tables, barbecue grills, restrooms, and walking trails. It also has a scuba diving area to observe fish, marine plants and other items underwater. The park also provides life jackets, which you do not see very often. In addition, there is an EMS helicopter pad available for air evac if an individual gets hurt at the park. You could easily spend an entire day at Mansfield Dam Park. The park is so serene and calming with wide views of Lake Travis. It was a great place to meditate and reset.

Was in the lago vista area and decided to kill some time by going here. Totally worth my $5. It's…read moregot great hiking trails and even 1 small ADA trail. Has an awesome looking playground that makes me jealous that I'm not a kid. Has charcoal grills at almost every picnic tables that are in the shade. An area to go swimming. Can also drop your boats in and camp if you choose too

My first visit to Arkansas Bend Park was very enjoyable, pleasant and impressed with the over…read morelayout of the park. Due to COVID-19, it was one of the very few parks opened the weekend of my visit. It wasn't crowded, plenty of open space for social distancing. I was impressed with the cleanliness, even the picnic tables and park restrooms were well maintained. The park offers a nice view of the lake with lots of boating & jet skiing activities. Boat ramps are available on the park. The over night camping section of the park remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. I will definitely consider Arkansas Bend Park in the future for outdoor activities. Next time I'll be better prepared for some picnicking & BBQ, along with some extended fun in the sun.

This is a decent hike as it is somewhat challenging at times, especially in the uphill sections. We…read moretook the rimrock trail and it took about 1-1.5 hours, so it felt kind of short. The only really good views are at the sharp ascent at the very beginning of the trail because after that you can't really see anything because the view is blocked. There is no shade and there are bathrooms at the trailhead. I don't really think it's worth the drive from Austin more than once, but it is free.

This a review for the Wabler Vista location. I'll start by saying I'm a casual hiker. Its closer…read moreto Austin than the Doeskin Ranch location. We took the Cactus Rock trail to Ridgeline, then took Ridgeline to the Sunset Deck. The Cactus Rock trail was easy, and would be fun with small children. The views on Ridgeline were not that great and it was more challenging. I like the challenge of the Ridgeline, but it just ends so you either just take that trail back or walk along the road back to your car. I was tired by then so we took the road back. I really enjoyed the Sunset Deck. You can skip the trail walking and just park close to the deck. The covered deck has comfortable benches so it would be a nice place to take a book and just enjoy nature.

We loved this spot!…read more Sometimes it can be tough to park the car so get there early - also a 5-10 minute trail before getting to water so be prepared for that too. Dog friendly too! Little pier access to jump off and also walk in spots to the water. Make sure to bring your own chairs / blankets since there aren't picnic tables here.

I really love this spot. I've been twice. Once when I moved to Austin back in 2017 and recently in…read more2025. The first time was empty, quiet, the shack was still there on the water and kids were jumping off of it in the water. The second time was busier, no shack, tons of people and a freaking DJ blasting music. lol the music was not bad but like what the heck. It's like that meme, I go to nature for relaxing and I have to listen to their shitty music. I'm honestly surprised the city of Austin allows for speakers and loud music at this spot. But anyways, I had a nice time. Recommend going on a weekday, not weekend!! Bring your floats and water shoes