I really liked this walking trail. It was cold when I was in Austin but my friend and I decided to finally walk it because I've been saying I wanted to for my last three trips to Austin and haven't been able to. Despite the cold there were a few brave kayakers out on the water but we just walked it and wandered past the Four Seasons, under the Bat bridge (where people gather to watch the bats fly out at sunset), and into the heart of downtown. I found the lake to be pretty (if nasty up close as the water had trash and such floating in it) with a well-kept running and biking trail. There were some folks on those Byrd scooters riding around despite the signs clearly saying it was not a trail for scooters... but it is a nice way to get from one side of Austin to another if you have the time to walk the scenic route. I saw plans for an expansion of the park through downtown that look like they're going to be very pretty in the future and I hope to see how that turns out on a later trip. read more

I love it! Do I really need to say more? I would recommend during the weekend coming here earlier. I came here on a Sunday morning and parked at a high school. Everyone else had the same idea so it took awhile to snag a parking spot. I ended up walking and running a total of 3 miles. I was original here to walk but then with everyone else running I decide why not? I took some beautiful pictures of nature and the city. Enjoy! read more

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This lake was pretty big and has a board walk for walking safely. Nice views of the city. Free parking in certain areas. Nice place to walk or exercise. read more

Lady Bird Lake is the part of the Colorado River that flows through the southern part of downtown Austin. If you've ever been in Austin, it's hard to miss. Coming from the airport to downtown, you'll cross over the river at some point. The river is scenic at all times of day and there are many vantage points from which to view it. The most popular gathering point is the Congress Ave. bridge. It's famous for the large bat colony that lives underneath it. In the summertime, the bats emerge from beneath the bridge and turn the sky black. The bats even have their own Yelp page with over 160 reviews: http://www.yelp.com/biz/bats-under-the-congress-avenue-bridge-austin. I'm sad to say I missed this experience during my visit. You'll see all sorts of people on the lake including kayakers and big tourist boats. I saw one guy padding with two dogs, both in life vests, flanked on either side of him. There are a lot of trails around the lake, ideal for walkers, joggers, and bikers. Other vantage points include S 1st St, just west of Congress, and the Lady Bird Lake Trail parallel to the 343 bridge (S Lamar Blvd.). I wouldn't go swimming in this lake, though. The water looked too dirty for that. read more

Lady Bird Lake - Taken from S 1st St. facing east. - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

LBL is THE heart of DT ATX! This is seriously the city's playground as anything you want to do here, you can! The running/walking trails around the Lake are fantastic, especially if you come early enough to beat the weekend troves! From the 1st bridge parking area to the I-35 bridge and back is almost exactly a 5K, so if you are looking for a good training trail with nice elevation differentials, then you are welcome! The watersports here are also great! You can kayak til you can't with several rental outlets scattered along the shores. You can also kayak from Barton Springs out onto LBL. There are also paddleboarding and waterbiking options. Or, if you are not feeling athletically inclined, then you can do a narrated cruise and learn some skyline funfacts and you might even luck out and be on the water when the pontoon Pirates are roving the waters and ready to pillage with a water balloon onslaught! If you have a canine friend, the doggie water park is where it is at! You can also bike the trails, but beware, the cyclists on the trails do not share them well with the walker/runners and I have on several occasions almost gotten knocked over by an entitled cyclist. The other highlight is of course the Congress Street "Bat Bridge" that houses the largest urban bat population in the world and from as early as March to as late as November you can see the 750k-1.5mil bats emerge from beneath the bridge at dusk in a breathtaking spectacle, which is something to see whether a native, townie, or tourist. Also, you can pay homage to Stevie Ray Vaughn at his statue on the banks of LBL with the skyline behind him and to amplify the experience go for one of the many spectacular Austin sunsets. Town Lake aka Lady Bird Lake is the crown jewel of the Austinite way of life, to be sure! read more

This is an amazing spot to take a leisurely walk or for a brisk jog. If you have a dog, it's a great place for your pet to get in the water too! Many people kayak and paddleboard here as well, and what a nice way to spend an afternoon in downtown Austin! This is just minutes away from SOCO Congress area as well as the capitol. Great place to take a visitor to people watch and enjoy the outdoors. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Biked here over the weekend. Great trail. I truly love Austin. If I lived here I would bike here every weekend. Trail is wide for runners and bikers to coexist with no issues. If you have kids make sure they stay in the middle. They could easily fall off into the lake. Great relaxing ride. Some decent inclines and fun declines. I recommend renting a bike if you are an out of towner and ride this trail. Barton springs bike rental is a few feet from the trail. We rented two invokes with helmets for 2 hours for 40 bucks. Great trail. Highly recommend it. read more

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I decided to go on a walk. I was headed to a spice shop I heard about, but decided to take the scenic route. As I walked around Lady Bird Lake, I was drawn in by the beautiful scenery, native plants everywhere and the trail. It was really beautiful. I found myself taking a little extra time to take pictures, sit on park benches and just enjoy the park itself. The beautiful big blue lake is the perfect back drop. I had to bring my guy back for a walk along the waterfront on another day, it was just another excuse for a beautiful walk in the park. read more

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One of my favorite places to paddle board. Very long, very scenic, with plenty of spots to stop and catch a break. Watch out for the rowers, they have the right of way. read more

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Amazing service and experience! And amazing prices! Highly recommend. Excellent customer service from Zab. If you're in Austin, definitely stop by for a fun afternoon activity! read more

A beautiful location for jogging, biking, photo-op, scenery, and just to getaway. It's one of Austin most recognized sites to visit.

The Colorado River aka Lady Bird is magnificent both day and night. Theres canoe, paddleboard and kayak rentals along the river for activities on the lake. You can also bring your own to use and are pet friendly. read more

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Pretty views of the river. If you're visiting Austin, locals will tell you that this is a must see. Great for a morning or afternoon walk, but there don't seem to be enough benches for sitting by the water. read more

The Hike or Bike trail along Lady Bird Lake is just wonderful! There are miles and miles of wonderful paths to explore. From dog parks and bridges to workout stations and wide roaming grass, this park has it all! My favorite portion is the long bridge that takes you along the lake on top of the water! This path has stunning views of downtown & is quite enjoyable! read more

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Simply beautiful! My phone battery is low so I couldn't take pics. I highly recommend taking a walk or stroll (as some call it) around the lake and relaxing while enjoying the scenery, especially the Austin skyline. read more

This has become our weekend pass time! We love going to lady bird lake and exploring up Barton Creek! We just moved to town and needed a relief from the heat, so we went to Barton first which was amazing. Such blue waters, turtles everywhere, and really cold and refreshing since it's fed by a natural springs! We just got paddle boards and took them out to the lake since you can't swim or float out there. It was so beautiful, with a great view of downtown. Everyone was out enjoying the day. It's a great place and we love going whenever we can. read more

Lady Bird Lake - Paddle boarding - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This place was what really made me love Austin and enjoy it on that weekend trip As you're kayaking, you're parallel to the beautiful skyline and beneath the city noise You get the best of both worlds read more

Run the whole trail from east to west back to start is 10 miles.Great place to relive your stress and enjoy beautiful people and the great city of auatin texas. read more

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I can't give anything less than five stars to the lake that made me finally fall in lurve with Austin during my final semester in college. Yup, I'm a die-hard H-town gal, but it wasn't until I started hitting up this running trail - religiously, losing 10lbs - that I truly appreciated all the outdoor beauty Austank has to offer a broke ass college student, like myself. Whether it's the endless running trail, playing fetch with the pup, picnicking with friends, kayaking, rowing, or taking stale bread and crackers to feed the ducks and freakish-looking (and agressive) swans - Lady Bird Lake is an amazing way to find some inner peace. Locals or visitors, take your running/hiking shoes and enjoy! Oh, and try your best to book a hotel along the lake for easy access to the trials. There are also numerous free parking spots, but I prefer to park right under the South Congress bridge along W Cesar Chaves/East 1st. read more

It always seemed more of a river to me than a lake, but if I say that in front of any native Austinite... Lady Bird Lake is the star of Austin. It is iconic and adds a breath of nature and fresh air to the crowded city that is constantly industrializing. Whether you're walking around it, kayaking in it, riding a boat through it, paddleboarding atop of it, or watching bats fly out from under the bridge-this is definitely on the must-see, must-do Austin list. It ain't the beaches of California, but it'll do, Austin, it'll do. read more

What a beautiful sanctuary to come out and meditate, relax and relish in glorious nature! I came through here on a Saturday because all of my running buddies that frequent Austin just rave about this place. It was fairly busy but not too crazy in the morning. But naturally I wanted to see what it was all about. There were lots of folks out biking, hiking and running, even out kayaking on a cloudy day. It was nice and breezy that day so perfect for enjoying a not so hot and balmy day in Texas. There's plenty of shade though even if you were to come in the summer to just sit under a tree and read a book. Just come out here and check it out, you will not regret it! If you love to work out outdoors this is the perfect place to do just that. I can't wait to find an excuse to come back this way. read more

Lady Bird Lake - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Incredible place for kayaking! It was my first time kayaking and it was so much fun! The employees are nice and friendly. The lake is so big that you need to spend half or most of the day here! The only thing that sucks is the bathrooms are a little far from the dock. If you need to pee, go before heading to the lake! Besides that, I can't wait to go back! read more

Lady Bird Lake - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

To be honest with you this place wasn't everything I thought. So people make it look so nice in pictures but it's more of a work out area. Not a relaxing area. You can go on a run or kayaking. The trees cover most of the lake so you have to walk until you see more of an opening to be able to see the water. Parking was kind of annoying but glad I went. read more

Yes, it's the Colorado River, but sometimes it's called Lake Travis, and sometimes it's called Lady Bird Lake. You won't see a bunch of human swimmers in it (plenty of furry friends swim out in deferential fetch sessions with their owners. It's always funny to see one dog grab another dog's ball, and then watch the other dog try to get "his" dog back.) but plenty of kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, and the newest animal, bicycle-kayakers (imagine a bicycle-like apparatus on top of two kayaks for stability). It provides the softening coda to a wonderful, bustling city. read more

Most recently I have enjoyed kayaking here. I launch from under the IH-35 bridge or just a bit east at the boat ramp. Remember slow traffic keeps out of the middle. No swimming either. Can't wait to try out the new pedestrian path from riverside to Congress. read more

Lady Bird Lake - Earth Day - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great scenery along the bike/running trail. We walked for a few miles along the lake taking in the wildlife. There were different types of birds, ducks, turtles and cats along the path. In addition, it was fun to watch the rowers glide effortlessly by. Partially shaded walk is pleasant with many others either riding bikes, walking or running. read more

I love taking in a nice afternoon breeze walking my dog down the trails! Even on a hot day the trails are covered and about 10 degrees cooler! People are friendly and you see them running, walking, biking, etc. up and down the trail! Plus how can you beat the view, places to sit and take in some scenery or let your dog take a quick dip in the lake! This is definitely a zen place I go to for stress relief and exercise! read more

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It's eh. Nice for a night walk with the dog but I really don't recommend this place during the day due to the foot traffic or on Sundays unless you enjoy obnoxious car meet ups in the parking lots up by the sports fields. Bikes ride way too fast and it's really scary walking your dog here. My pup was almost hit several times by people not paying attention. There needs to be a separate path for walkers and bikers. We shouldn't have to walk in the street and be away from the water just because everyone and their grandma feels like zooming around on bikes. Is it clean? Kind of. Of course, there will always be the bozos that leave dog poop, but my main concern is the water as my boy loves to swim. Debris pretty much lines the entire shore and fishers leave their lines and hooks around! Really? Hooks? You can't clean up after yourself and make it a safe place for adults, children and pets? They make a big fuss about your dog being on leash rather than holding humans accountable for their actions. Disappointing and won't be returning any time soon, which is a shame because the views are nice. Don't come unless you want to bike on a crowded path, dodging joggers and walkers. There are plenty of places South that offer a better experience and maybe even SOAP AND HAND TOWELS in the bathrooms. Can't believe they don't have basic amenities like that. Boo. read more

Really could be a lovely spot. I wish there we're designated areas for bikers and for dog walkers, as every time I've come the bikers speed right passed my dog scaring him when we come to swim or toss the stick... Also, could really be cleaned up and should be cleaned up. I've found fishing wire and hooks every visit. Such a lousy & destructive hobby, especially when you don't clean up after yourself. 4 stars strictly for the trees, views, and space. 3 stars for the cleanliness and 2 stars for inconsiderate fellow humans. read more

It is the reservoir/ lake part of the Colorado River that splits downtown Austin from South Austin. The Longhorn Dam in the east controls the flow of the river so the waters of the lake are very calm. You will see a lot of people on the lake rowing boats, paddle boarding, etc. There are also multiple parks along the south and north end of the lake. Moreover, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike trail Transverses the entire border of the lake. Accordingly, Lady Bird Lake is the center of outdoor activities in Austin. It is named after former First Lady of the United States, Lady Bird Johnson, who is the wife of former President Lyndon B. Johnson. Zilker Park (2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704) It is the largest park in Austin on the southwest corner of Lady Bird Lake. The Great Lawn is the main part of the park. For the most part, it is just a large patch of grass. However, it is very big so it is a great spot for outdoor activities (e.g. flying a kite, sitting and enjoying the sun on a blanket, throwing a football, etc.). Due to its size, it is also ideal for events. For example, it is host to the extremely popular Austin City Limits Music Festival that occurs on two consecutive weekends in early October. From the middle or southwest corner of the park, you will get good views of the downtown Austin skyline. There is a lot of parallel parking spots along the one way road that circles the perimeter of the Great Lawn. Parking is free except for weekends, holidays, and events. The parking machines will let you know if paid parking is in effect. On the weekend, it was only $5 for the whole day when I was there. Driving out of the park from the Great Lawn is a nightmare at the end of the day around 5 and after. It is a one way road that merges with another road from one of the parking lots in the park. It results in bumper to bumper traffic. The park is also home to Barton Springs, which is a public, natural pool. Moreover, there is plenty to do in the park. There is a miniature train, the Zilker Zephyr, that you can ride around the park. Picnic tables, volleyball courts, etc. are available for the enjoyment of visitors. Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail (10+ mile loop) This trail runs along the entire perimeter of the lake. It is great for walking, running, or biking. I walked the entire 10 miles. The dirt paths are ideal for walking and running since it takes pressure off your knees. Of course, biking is the most efficient way to complete the loop. There are various rental options along the path. In my opinion, the parts of the path that provide the best views of the city skyline are between Zilker Park and the beginning of the metal boardwalk on the southeast section of the trail. My favorite points to take pictures of the skyline are: 1) Lou Neff Point - Northeast corner of Zilker Park. There is a bench to sit if you want to relax or read. You will also see plenty of people enjoying water sports right in front of you. 2) Doug Sahm Hill Summit at the Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park - East of Zilker Park. The summit has the map of Texas etched on the stone floor with the skyline in the background. It would be perfect if the map was rotated 45 degrees so it lines up with the buildings behind it. 3) Austin Boardwalk - Southeast of Town Lake Metropolitan Park. It provides a great shot of the east side of the skyline. In addition, it served as a mirror lake when I was there and reflected the city skyline. Depending on the time of day and how the light reflects, you will get that mirror lake effect from various parts of the trail. After the boardwalk, it is still a nice trail but there is not much to see. The dam is ok and you will walk through a small section of a neighborhood at the northeast corner of the trail. Not surprisingly, there is a lot less people as you go further away from Zilker Park and walk on the boardwalk. Consequently, most of the 10 mile trail is for exercise and not predominantly for the views. If you are visiting and planning a trip to Austin and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me for my itinerary. You can also find the electronic copy through the link my profile. read more

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Had lots of fun kayaking with my hunny. The lake was clean and calm. There were groups of kayakers being rough and loud but it's to be expected. I can't remember how long the kayaking trip was but I would definitely do it again. read more

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This is one of the best (and most popular) running/biking trails in Austin. I don't know how long it spans, but I definitely don't run that far! There are always tons of people walking their dogs, biking and jogging on the trail and everyone is mindful of the people around them by letting them pass or getting their dogs out of the way as bikers ride by. Depending on the day, there are water jugs set up by local running shops/clubs so you can quench your thirst. I always utilize this trail when I'm staying at a hotel right on the lake, but it always looks like parking is a little difficult for those arriving by car. read more

This spot sure makes me miss living in Austin. The main attraction of Town Lake (it was only recently renamed Lady Bird) isn't really the lake, of course, but the trail. There aren't many cities with a centrally located, easily accessible, well planned and maintained trail that packs this much scenery/atmosphere. This is also a caliche trail which is infinitely better than asphalt or concrete like most city recreation. There are recreational activities on the lake as well (canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, etc.), but no swimming. It's not that kind of lake people. So you're not into exercise? That's ok. You can take in an amazing view of the city, the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, the Congress Avenue Bridge bats and a lot more while you chill in the park or while you're exercising--so cool. First time visitors be warned, dogs are not required to be on leashes in all areas--great for dog owners and dogs, but not necessarily so great for other people on the trail. Bikes are allowed so be aware of who/what is around you because the trail is relatively narrow for the most part. The trail also gets ridiculously crowded in good weather (especially with Austin's growing population), which really blows so I subtracted a star. Boo new people. Other than these little issues, this is definitely one of my favorite places in Austin. read more

Lady Bird Lake - Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue on Lady Bird Lake - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Literally one of my favorite places in Austin! I came here with my sister to kayak when I visited Austin. It was quite early so there weren't a lot of people at the lack. The waters were calm and it was pretty quiet which was nice. The lake overlooked the city which was great to see when I was kayaking around. The other side faced a more scenic route which was nice and quite different. There were a few ducks and geese in the lake which was pretty cool. Overall, I had a great time here. I'm definitely coming back! read more

One of my favorite parks in Texas! This place is so much fun- there's all kinds of great places to explore, trails to run and bike on, and lots of things to do on the water! Lady Bird Lake is named after Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady of the USA with LBJ. She was real big on keeping Texas beautiful, and this lake is a great namesake for her. There's all kinds of gorgeous statues, works of art, trails, and informational signs along the way. My favorite place on the lake is the statue to Stevie Ray Vaughn. The paths here wind around downtown for miles, and they're covered with a crushed granite, so there's no puddles or mud. Dogs are welcome here, on a leash. There are restrooms and drinking fountains along the paths, so it's convenient! Plenty of parking make things easy. This park is such a great place to sit and watch the reflection of the downtown lights dance across the surface of the water. I highly recommend checking this park out. read more

I was only at Lady Bird Lake for about 30 minutes, but I really enjoyed it! There was plenty of wildlife - birds, fish, geese, ducks, etc. which was beautiful to see. And, of course, the views! ... WOW! I enjoyed seeing all activity going on, from the kayakers and paddleboarders in the water to the runners and cyclists on the bridge... it was a great experience that I hope to enjoy again in the future! read more

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Went here for a late night walk and it was really pretty! I was able to see the city lights and it was very peaceful. It just gave me a different perspective of the part compared to being there during the day. So it's worth waiting for the sun to come down! Walk toward the concert hall and you'll get an even better view of the city! read more

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I love that Austin has this body of water going through it. Lady Bird Lake adds a touch of nature to Austin's downtown environment that has a nice contrast to other local attractions like Zilker Park or the bats that fly out on Congress Ave. The lake can be pretty, especially during the summertime. Be warned! It's actually kinda dirty so I wouldn't swim in it unless I really had to. Overall, solid addition to the city. read more

Loved Lady Bird Lake! It was so nice out, it's perfect for all kinds of outdoors activities! read more

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One of the gems of our burg, the Town Lake Trail is my friend. Sorry, I know the official name is "Lady Bird Lake" now, but it will be "Town Lake" for me until the day they plant me. I do the four mile loop, plenty of distance and challenge for these weary and creaking bones. I walk mostly, sometimes run especially on the few inclines. I've been doing it for a few years, some more diligently than others. This year I've decided to check in each time I go work out and see how many times I actually go. I figure I did about 50 or so last year, and I want to blow that away in 2012. I like weekdays best, its much less crowded. On Saturdays and Sundays its fairly a mob scene. As far the companions you'll have on the trail, there are those - like in every facet of today's society - who are either oblivious to their surroundings or consciously don't give a fuck about anyone else. I try to be polite - but when you come upon two couples with dogs having a visit with each other in the middle of the trail as people are squeezing past them on two sides and there is a perfectly reasonable area just ten feet to their right but they don't give a shit about anyone else they're just so in the moment of visiting with their incredibly important friends that the hundreds of people inconvenienced by them standing there are of no consequence - sometimes I do the old grouchy head shake at them. Most times it doesn't work - the assholes - but sometimes they snap into consciousness and move aside for the betterment of all. So I wish everyone on the trail was in 'workout' mode and not talking on their cell phones or walking four across, the reality is that I love being on the trail no matter what, love walking around the lake, love looking at all the interesting people, and hope that I help keep my aging body vibrant for another year. Town Lake Trail, I love ya. read more