Maxwell trail is located off of 1826. The trail is approximately 5.25 miles; the Main (West) loop is approximately 3.25 miles and the Outer (East) Loop is approximately 2.0 miles. I discovered this trail when attending a trail run with East Side Beer runners. To access the trail, turn into the main driveway off FM 1826. Drive to the parking lot and you'll see an opening through a gate that leads to the trail head. There is limited parking available on site. There is a historical house and plaque about Mary Maxwell. Bikes are only allowed to ride clockwise, while hikers and those riding horses must use the trail in a counter clockwise direction. The trail had some technical sections with rocks and tree roots, but there were also some flat parts as well. A good portion of the trail was covered with grass so it was difficult to see rocks and other obstructions. I managed to finish the 5 mile run without injuring myself. The trail is pretty flat but there were a few portions that had some steps or a bit of elevation. Overall a good start trail for a mountain biker or trail runner. read more

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It was a pretty trail, there wasn't enough tree cover. The grass was a bit high for running

It's alright. Nothing partially scenic along the length of this trail. It's a loop and depending on if you're on foot, on horseback, or on a bicycle, it is requested you go clockwise or counterclockwise on the path. While we were there, everyone seemed to be observing the rule. This trail seems to be most favored by cyclists, judging from the folks we saw while there and all the tracks on the trail. There is very little elevation change throughout, and the ground is mostly dirt with scatterings of boulders, so there is some challenge present for bicycles. No water available, make sure you bring enough for yourself. The only restroom facilities are the port-a-potties at the parking lot. Lot is somewhat small and half unpaved. No fee for visiting, which was nice. read more

Maxwell Trail - Map at the trailhead - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Nice, relatively flat trail. It's open to bikes, horses, or hiking, but no dogs are allowed. If the full trail is open, you have a choice of doing a 3 mile loop, or a 5 mile loop. The trails are well-marked and rocky in places, so wear good shoes. No water is available, but there are 3 portable toilets near the parking lot. The parking lot is small and can fill up early on weekend mornings. If it's rained hard recently, the gate may be be closed, so pay attention to the weather. read more

Maxwell Trail - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Really nice and easy trail. Good system of hikers and bikers going in opposite direction so you're not always on high alert. Benches at a few scenic points. You can do a 3.5-mile loop with the "bypass" or the full 5-mile loop. Beautiful wildflowers add to the scenery. read more

One of the first real mountain bike trails I rode like 8 years ago now. Pretty simple trail but it's still a bit fun for more advanced people too. Unfortunately over the years some of the more interesting challenging areas have been removed or smoothed out and it has become more simple trail but still an amazing ride especially for beginners!!! Highly recommend and I'll probably go there to start getting back into mountain biking once my acl heals! read more

Looking to meet up for jogging/running at Mary Moore park on Slaughter or Buda park next to Willie's on Main St. I can meet any morning any time starting at 6, 7, 8 or 9am. Fyi I know a lot about running and looking to get back in shape. I live in Buda but willing to drive. We can wear our mask for conversation and jog without them with safe distance between ourselves while jogging/running. read more

Maxwell Trail - Buda Park - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Do you like hiking and or biking? Then hell yeah this is the trail for you! It is tucked away off the road but my GPS led me right to this location. There was plenty of places to park and a few port a potty if needed. There are no places to use the restroom on trail so just FYI. The trail is probably considered moderate. I was walking and was the only one there that was. I saw plenty of biking and trail runners. You can ride horses around here but didn't see any. Some parts of the paths were overgrown and I was a little concerned if I would step on a snake. This didn't happen so all is good. read more

If you happen to live near the Y in Oak Hill and like hiking, biking or horseback riding this is a great 5 mile trail loop. Dogs are not allowed so I probably will not be back but I am still a fan because of the historical significance of the 100 acre property that is owned and maintained by the City of Austin Water Utility. The property is really hard to find and I passed it twice before I saw the Trail Closed sign on the open gate with no signs other than the small sign past the entrance that I posted a pic of. It is located 1 mile from 290 on the left just after you pass the miniature donkey farm. It is a one lane private road like all the other farms in the area so drive slow and look for it on the left. What I found most interesting about this trail was the historical significance. A widow of 3 children bought the property in 1858 and in 1860 she married a man who built the limestone Trautwein Homestead around her one room home next to the hand-dug water well a small shed in the back of the now abandoned home. I read all this on the posted Trailhead (pics posted) and unfortunately Google did not bring up anymore info on the family. The trail is open dusk till dawn and the gate opens and closes automatically - lots of warning signs posted so you do not get locked in! read more

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Pleasant 3 or 5 mile loop with nice views. The trail is pretty flat and it's a good track if you want to get in a decent stretch of the leg. Be aware you are sharing the trail with bikes and horses. Plenty of parking and take note of the park closing time as the gate will automatically close. We had the trail to ourselves as we hiked during the mid-day heat! Be sure to bring plenty of water as there is no water available onsite. read more

Trail seems decent enough, fair amount of rock to contend with, unfortunately mechanical difficulties caused me to turn back and hike-a-bike about 1 mile into a morning ride. Will definitely go back to ride its entirety, all 5 miles of it and revise the review once fully completed. read more

This gem of a trail doubles as a water quality and nature preserve. What's great about it is it's hard to find (no big signs off 1826) and it's very basic. A historic old house, a few sheds and then miles of old ranch land. That's it - and that's all you really need. I've been there four times and perhaps seen 5 other people total, all of them mountain bikers. The seclusion is amazing - considering it's really surrounded by the Circle C development. There are only a few spots where you can seen houses. One area you might hear soccer games at a nearby park and another you'll hear noise from 1826. For the most part - it's rustic, hilly, rocky, wooded and just plain beautiful. It is a little difficult for a novice to navigate the trail map (make sure you have one) and don't get caught out there late in the day because the automatic gate closes at dusk and could lock you and your car in until morning! The best time to go is in wildflower season. LOTS of natural wild flowers you won't normally see on the roadside. I also like that it was a former ranch so some of the old buildings and fencing still stand. The old stock tank (connected to Slaughter Creek) is still there. What's cool is the whole place is gradually being re-taken by nature, so the old prairie grass, birds, frogs, foxes etc are returning. It's also one of the few spots SW that hasn't been completely taken over by cedar trees. Some have actually been removed in efforts to restore the land to what it was like 150 yrs ago. You'll see several variety of mature oak and cedar elm - which looks very cool in the fall when the leaves turn. No dogs. Strollers aren't really functional because the trail is basic. Horses are allowed so watch out for a pile every now and then. When it rains the trail closes - so check their Facebook page. read more

This is absolute loveliness. Do not take your dog, this is a critical water recharge area and they are protecting it from feces. Hikers and horse riders only. And you must scoop up after your horse! read more

Beautiful 5 mile loop so close to home. My first time but it wont be my last to experience everchanging nature at it's best. Next time I'll be bringing my bike, I'm a beginner so this trail is a perfect. read more

Maxwell Trail - 360 Wildflowers - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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If you're a novice mountain biker, this is a great place to come out and learn how to ride. There are only a couple of technical (mainly rocky) sections to be wary of, and there is very little altitude change...so, no real climbs to speak of. The 5-mile singletrack trail runs through some beautiful grassland, occasionally passing through the welcome shade of a small grove of trees. That said, this could be a brutal place in the heat of summer, with the sun directly overhead. As Tara M mentioned, it is pretty difficult to find. I too passed it twice before I eventually saw the entrance. Definitely a great little place to get out and do some low-key mountain biking. Plus, after you've been riding for a bit and you've worked up a good apetite, the Salt Lick (BBQ) is just 10 minutes down the road. read more

Great trail to run, I always enjoy taking my dogs along. It's a pretty flat running trail loop, and isn't ever too busy (at least when I go during weekdays). The wildflower scenery is enjoyable as well. read more

Pretty good walking trail (for Texas). Felt far away from everything, so no roads, etc. The loop is easy to follow, and I appreciated that you went one way if you were biking and another if you were walking. read more

Such a beautiful trail! Enjoyed a late afternoon run here and it was amazing. Great views, well-marked path. Watch for bikers as they are movin. Get out of their way. Otherwise, great run. read more

Nice easy trail for hiking or biking. Pretty flat not terribly scenic so perfect if you live in the area and want a quiet hike without having to get out of the area. I would not drive across town to visit it though- it's pretty basic. read more

I used this trail to do some hiking in preparation for my Appalachian Trail backpacking trip last year. It has periodic ups and downs with rocky terrain. I was hiking it in the Austin Summer so it was very hot and there were several areas that have no tree cover. There is no water so be sure to bring your own. I was easily able to hike the entire loop in about 40 minutes. I know that people use this loop for mountain biking but I have actually never seen any others on the trail when I've been out. I can only speak to the hiking aspects of the trail as I've never biked on it but will update the review in the next few weeks after I have. It was great being able to go only a few miles from home and feel like I was out in a secluded nature park with not another soul in site. read more

This is a hidden gem outside the busy Circle C Neighborhood. The bike path is perfect for a relatively novice mountain biker or the seasoned mountain biker looking for a convenient and quick path. It isn't easy so don't drag kids out here or people on their first ride unless they plan to get off the bike in multiple areas. There are plenty of rock beds requiring technique and single track areas where you can pick up your speed. This is a 5 mile hike or trail run which heads opposite the mountain bikers for safety purposes. Occasionally while hiking you will need to get out of the way of cyclist for everyone's safety, but it doesn't happen too often and this location continues to be not too busy. I wouldn't recommend this hike for small children mainly due to the length and it doesn't seem easy to cut short nor can you turn around and go back unless you break the directional rules. I have taken my children on it and it was fun, but they can get tired which there is no easy fix. The scenery is a typical Texas hill country geography although there are not a lot of elevations. read more

Good place for a trail run. Five mile loop is easy to follow, and shared with mountain bikers and horses (with their riders). It's an easy two mile run from my house, so convenience is another plus. read more

This is a great trail for mountain biking, I have a basic bike and after changing to some more appropriate tires it has become extremely enjoyable. I see runners / horse riders nearly everyday, along with lots of deer. The "all trails" app tries to take you to a completely different location, the address is correct 9901 1/2 fm 1826 ATX 78737 read more

Great 5 mile loop for beginner bikers or intermediates who wanna go fast! Mostly smooth, some rocky sections, decent elevation gain but very gentle grades. It's all well maintained and signed. It's a pleasant easy hike/walk as well. Be warned that at least half the trail is through exposed grassland, so you get nice views but it is really toasty under the summer sun. The main letdown is the entrance location; you can't get in from the nearby neighborhoods or Circle C Park, which all directly abut the preserve, so you pretty much have to drive there unless you like walking/biking on shoulderless 1826. Lame! Apparently they want to limit the number of people in the park at one time? At least now there's a pretty well worn path along 1826 to Slaughter Lane, so it's easy to bike down from there. read more

Great for hiking...be careful of the fast bikers coming at you. They sometimes forget the rules but my family loves this hike a ton. It is tucked away and you would never know it existed if it weren't for a quick search. The terrain changes a little bit which is fun and the scenery is peaceful. Enjoy anytime of year. read more

Can't believe I never new this place was there, I've driven past it daily for 4 years. I ran the trail, great place. I only came across 1 other person on the trail. read more