We have lived in the area for a while now and we just love everything about McKinney Roughs! First and foremost their hiking trails: they have a variety of trails for different levels and the views are spectacular. It's never super crowded, sometimes you may run into for horses if you're on horse-friendly trails and you can hike down to the Colorado River as well. The trails are pretty well maintained and marked. Summer camps: my son (7) has been attending their day summer camps for three years now and absolutely loves them! They are from 9-4 so very friendly for those parents working. There is also a bus that brings kids in from Austin as well. The price can't be beat as well. Each day he comes home telling me about what he learned and got to experience (most times I am jealous- like you got to go kayaking? Make and drink yaupon tea? What- how cool!) The camp counselors are extremely friendly and knowledgeable and treat the kids with kindness and respect. They also have a beautiful facility, overall. The grounds are clean and well-kept. McKinney Roughs is simply the best! read more

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Love this place. I've been here for some events but also just to hike. I love that their trails can help you practice some different skills. For instance, I was told by one of their staff that there is significant grading to help with elevation hikes. They are very helpful with any questions you have. Inside the main building where the small gift store is, there's a small nature area with some fish, snakes, fossils, and more. My kiddo loves looking at this section. Their Halloween event, Tricks, Treats, and Trails is also always a big hit with my family. They have a rock wall, paintball, archery, and other things to do. This was our second year and it was great! read more

I stopped in here the other day on my way to Austin in order to eat a light brunch. I had no idea what was going to be inside, but I figured a nature park would be a pleasant place to have a small bite to eat while travelling. I was impressed with the features that this park has. Riding trails, overlooks, a decent teaching area for youth groups, the works! There are multiple classrooms for larger groups to learn about the area prior to heading out and seeing what they have learned for themselves. I stood out on the overlook and quietly ate my brunch. No one else was there (this was mid-week, so not surprising) It was peaceful to be able to see nature without the buzz of the man-made world all over the place. If you want to get away from it all, definitely look at this park as an option. read more

McKinney Roughs Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Cedar Creek, Texas

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I ran from the Hyatt resort to McKinney and then through the trails. The trails could have been a little better marked, but it was gorgeous. There were short and long hikes. It was pretty up and down, which was great. read more

McKinney Roughs Nature Park - Trail map about 1 mile from Hyatt resort - Parks Near Me - Cedar Creek, Texas

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The park has some nice trails and many small trails that you can mix and match to create your own route. Decent $5 fee, nice catches of the river, not crowded at all (went first thing on a Saturday morning). A couple of downsides is be ready for the bugs. Mostly horseflies, the are RUTHLESS. We didn't suffer through them the entire trail, and they don't bite....but just be ready. Also, a section of the coyote trail is closed near Riverside trail. I did read up that portions were closed, I just didn't know where exact. Lots of horse and dog droppings. I will return once that portion is repaired. read more

This was once my go to place to hike or run, but they have started clearing land so much it's lost it's "wilderness charm". Last time I was there it looked like someone had ran cattle through there the trails were so bad (this may have actually happened). Regardless I couldn't enjoy the trails because of the deep holes from hoofed animals. read more

My husband and I were looking for trails to take our dogs hiking and this place was perfect. There is a fee of $5 per person (adult) that you have to pay at the visitors center, where they accept cash and credit. The $5 was definitely worth paying since we had a great experience. The trails are clean and well shaded (except in certain areas such as a part on Riverside). We took the coyote trail then to deep sandy. We were going to then go to Pecan Bottom, but decided to back track since we wanted to walk along the river. That's when we went on Riverside and went along that trail until we got back to the visitors center. There are parts on Riverside where you get go off the Riverside trail and go by the river. I would recommend this trail to anyone. We had a great time and the pups did too. read more

Definitely a fan of this hiking spot. Lauren L and I were looking for a new spot to try and she had read good things, so we opted to give McKinney Roughs a try. There was a nice parking area and the welcome center has a ranger who collects $5 per person for trail access. A nominal fee for a nice quality trail. We set out on our hike and while the parking lot had an ample number of cars, we never saw anyone else until the end of our trek as the other hikers were entering the trail. Beautiful scenery, views and hilly trails made for fun hiking conditions. A spot I would certainly consider returning to. Questioned posting my review here as I don't want it to get over crowded, but I think the small entrance fee and bit more of a drive from Austin will keep people away. However, if you are up for something off the beaten path, give McKinney Roughs and its trails a try. read more

McKinney Roughs Nature Park - Parks Near Me - Cedar Creek, Texas

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Great park with great trails love walking around here with my dog. Definitely gets hot during the summer so go early or go a little bit later. If you have family from out of town they have zip lines available. read more

$5 to go on the trails for as long as you want! Is also a nice wedding venue. Great place

this place was great and had some beautiful scenery. although: i think it's dumb you have to pay to walk on a trail.. lol.

So many Austin folk head west for a hike. That's why all those places out west are so crowded. We head east--to McKinney Roughs, just a handful of miles down 71 past the airport, and immediately past Hyatt Lost Pines Resort. Managed by LCRA, the nature park flanks the Colorado River and is well managed and well taken care of. For a casual hike for people with average hiking skills, this place is perfect. There are two entrance points, both off of 71 (we recommend using the one slightly farther east, about a mile past main entrance). Otherwise: - Suggested entry fee of a few bucks (little metal box if you choose to oblige) - Never crowded - in the four-ish times I've been (always on a weekend/holiday), we rarely see other people - Also a fairly popular place to ride horses, so keep alert and aware (of the horses and their poop on the trails) - Dozens of combinations of trail options featuring various distances, elevations, scenery, difficulty, and the like--there are four separate eco-systems in this one park--so you'll experience a lot in a small area - Beautiful vistas from the top of a few of the trails, tons of shade on certain trails, and excellent access to the Colorado River - You'll be mad at yourself if you wear good shoes and expect to leave with them clean - Apparently there are Bald Eagles nesting in the area - so you may get lucky and see them! - Easy parking - Great for families Check conditions and get trail maps here: http://www.lcra.org/parks/developed-parks/Pages/mckinney-roughs-nature-park.aspx read more

McKinney Roughs Nature Park - Down by the river .... - Parks Near Me - Cedar Creek, Texas

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LCRA Park with 4 different ecosystems on beautiful, peaceful land that is adjacent to the Colorado River. Hiking and horseback riding (BYOH) ... not far from the airport, in between Austin and Bastrop on 71. Recreational activities for all ages...pamphlets in the office. $3 for adults and kids under 13 free. Disclaimer: I was the designer/project manager for an architecture firm when we designed the first 2 buildings and later when I started my own firm, I designed the 3 dormitories and Dining hall with my previous employer. I have spent a lot of time on this land and it is very peaceful and interesting with the four ecosystems. The LCRA employees are very knowledgeable about the land - both flora and fauna - and the pamphlets that they have put together to take on a hike help to appreciate the birds and flowers and trees and soils. Mac, one of the LCRA employees who takes care of the buildings and land, told me a story that one day he saw a woman sitting at the end of one of the porches, staring off into the forest and sky, and she had a large hat pulled down over her long, dark hair. He watched her and thought she looked familiar but he did not know for sure. Later he realized it was Yoko Ono. read more

McKinney Roughs Nature Park - Environmental Education Building - Parks Near Me - Cedar Creek, Texas

What a great park. Very nice visitor center with live displays of some of the critters in the park (fish, snakes, lizards, etc.). Trails are nicely marked and the map shows contour lines 50ft) so it's very easy to navigate. My husband said they have the cleanest restrooms he's ever seen. Not sure if I'm taking that personally or not. We hiked and hiked and only saw one group of equestrian riders. Other than that we had the park to ourselves. The 199 year old pecan tree is a sight to see. HUGE..but I hear the pecans are quite small. Great place for the family or a romantic hike with your honey. read more

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Probably wasn't the best idea to come right after thunderstorm, muddy trail, humidity and plenty spider webs, but saw some giant red flying bees, wild hare and plenty butterflies, good morning hike. Bring bug spray, you will need it. $5 for adult. read more

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Solid hiking spot slash ...wedding venue? There's horseback riding out here so I appreciated the big wide trails. I appreciated the ample parking and that it's far enough away from town to avoid the crowds. The trails could be better marked but getting lost is always part of the adventure! Get ready to McKinney Rough it. read more

This is one of my most favorite hiking spots in the area (i drive over from south Austin). I have been out there many times over the past couple years including going this past weekend. The facilities are always super clean, the staff are always nice, there is always parking and the trails for the most part are always tended too and marked. (the only trail issue I ever had was a tree was down blocking the path one time last year but it was RIGHT after a storm so they may haven't had time to clear it off yet). I like the variety of trails from some that are easy and some a tad harder or more on an incline. There is a fee to get in the park but compared to many of the other state parks I have hiked, I feel that their fee is very reasonable and the park is very maintained. My suggestion is to go EARLY.... like 9:30 or 10:00 to hike because there starts to be a lot more people later in the morning and early afternoon. You can also get down by the water and lots of folks take their dogs and the dogs love getting in the water. :) Pack a lunch and pick a nice day to go and you won't regret it! I will be out there several more times this year. read more

McKinney Roughs Nature Park - One of the many lovely views the park has to offer - Parks Near Me - Cedar Creek, Texas

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Booked 2 bikes for my wife and I. The day before I fell and hurt my knee but hopeful I could still go on the ride. The next morning my knee was worse so I called and explained my situation and asked for a refund. At first the woman said, unless you're sick or the weather is bad I'll have to check with my supervisor let you know in 3 days (next Tuesday) if we can refund you. I said ok. She called me back in about 2 min, left me a voicemail saying that she will not refund us. I called her right back but got no answer. The reason for 1 star is because this situation is out of my control and it makes no sense that I CANNOT cancel if I'm hurt or injured but CAN cancel if I'm sick. read more

Only 2 hours from Houston. 30 minutes (or less) from south of Austin. Hiked the following trails with a Houston hiking group: Ridge trail Cypress trail Bluff trail Coyote road (steep at times) Bobcat trail Riverside trail (becomes steep for a while and very rocky terrain) The terrain of a lot of the trails varied. The Valley view overlook is pretty. The Colorado river was 1000 feet higher than normal so several trails were not passable and under water. Saw some deer tracks. Not busy at all. Saw very few people on the trails. Some on horses. There seems to be a ziplining course along/near one of the trails. I think I need a second visit when the water levels are back to normal to get a full experience. read more

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We were recently up at the Hyatt Lost Pines resort that abuts the nature area. We brought our bikes along for some mountain biking and were not disappointed. The trails were challenging but not too difficult. Because they allow horses on the trails they were fairly wide. We spent most of our riding on the trails Pecan Bottom, Deep Sandy and Coyote Road. The only negative was the trail markings were a bit confusing at times. Some of the time trail was marked no bikes and then later on the same trail noted bikes allowed. As there was no one else on the trail we rode entire way but not sure if it would have been an issue. We stayed in the area closer to the resort but review of the maps showed what appeared to be an extensive amount of trails for hiking. Entrance cost seems reasonable but we were able to get in free with wristband from resort. We will definitely return when back in the area and check out the trails closer to the visitors center. read more

So many more trails than I thought! Nothing super amazing to see but a great way to get some exercise. Definitely recommend!

i like coming here, their trails are very unique, love all the scenery. if youre a visitor come in spring, summer is too hot

This LCRA-owned park has a wide variety of terrain for hiking and many miles of trails to keep your body burning calories. I'd guess it has at least 20 miles of trails. Not all of them may be open so ask the park office if any trails are closed. The trails have lots of hills with bearable elevation changes. Horseriders also share the trails and the horses may leave a pile of droppings. The trails are well-maintained and well-marked. It's impossible to get lost in the park if you have a trail map with you. My right ankle turns easily and I found the trails easy enough to walk on. Sometimes you walk on sand, sometimes small rocks on dirt, and sometimes soft dirt. I did not need to use trekking poles in this park. This huge park has three entrances/trailheads: Pope Bend, Main Entrance, and Hwy 71. I like the Main Entrance because it is the most central one and has the park headquarters. The park headquarters has a lots of interesting exhibits about the land. There are also drink and snack vending machines nearby. The water in the water fountain tasted horrible. Other than the park headquarters area, there were no other water fountains or bathrooms. The Main Entrance is closed on Sunday so you'd have to use either of the other two entrances to enter the park. The day use fee is $4 and if the entrance is unmanned, there is a paybox with envelopes that you deposit the fee in and tear off the stub to display in your windshield. There are not many hikers in this park. I often felt very isolated. I prefer to walk on trails with lots of other people so I personally wouldn't visit McKinney Roughs Nature Park alone. There wasn't much wildlife other than the birds we heard. The 199-year-old Pecan tree was a nice spot to visit. read more

My wife and I got married at McKinney Roughs. After looking at many wedding venues in Austin and Dripping Springs, it didn't take long to know after walking along the beautiful trails and new facilities that McKinney Roughs was where we wanted to spend our wedding day. We held the ceremony at their outdoor ampitheater set in a clearing among the oaks and cedar- a perfect informal natural setting. The dining hall was perfect for our reception- well stocked and beautiful. But it was the staff that really made us happy about our choice. Stephanie was our main contact for the venue and she couldn't have worked harder to accommodate us. From the tour she first gave us until the last guests left the wedding and the following days' cleanup- Stephanie was incredibly organized, helpful and cheerful. The rest of the staff and volunteers there made us feel like welcome guests and were ready to help with every request big and small. We're so happy to have chosen McKinney Roughs to host our special day. read more

I have yet to be disappointed by parks in Texas. McKinney Roughs Nature Park is yet another fantastic gem for hikers, horseback riders, and nature-goers in general. When you pull in and park, signs direct park-goers to drop in the visitor center. (There is a nominal park entry fee.) Highly recommend that you grab a map, too. The visitor center houses a nifty (tiny) little nature museum, clean bathrooms, various small conference rooms, and great outdoor landscapes that provide a very family-friendly and fun environment. Definitely charming and pleasant to walk around before you get on to the trails. As mentioned by another reviewer, most of the trails are unshaded. The fascinating thing about this park is that it is home to four ecosystems. You can actually see the change in ecosystems depending where you are on the trail. There are stunning vistas when you come out on some ridges. If you're out hiking with your dogs, the Park is a LEASHED area. So please, no off-leash dogs, especially since there are also many horseback riders. Since the Texas Colorado River winds through, it's a great place to let your dogs cool off (while on a lead). Friendly staffers! read more

Some of the best trails near Austin! Numerous paths intervening paths provide you options to determine the length and difficulty of your hike. The trails are well maintained, and there were few hikers, so we were able to enjoy the majority of the hike to ourselves. Take a map provided by the office with you, I can guarantee that it will come in handy. One tip (and a very important one), despite what the woman in the front office might tell you, the majority of the trails are NOT shaded. I would say a generous assessment would be that only 20% of the trails are shaded. So wear sunscreen and pack water!! read more

I was staying at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and headed out for a hike in this park. Hiking in this area is much different than hiking in Portland, OR, where I hike several times a week. It is dry and brown in the winter and it felt like I was hiking through a huge tumble week with a tunnel through it. The trails are fairly well maintained but you can see where the trails have been washed out with heavy flooding along the river. I enjoyed hiking through here but it was very remote and after hiking in for a couple of miles, I turned around and came back. As a solo female traveler my imagination ran a bit too wild with visions of slasher films. I would love to explore the park further with a companion next time. read more

Went hiking here with the roomies, some friends, and a couple dogs. It had just rained, so some of the trails were closed. The park has a nice mix of walking and horseriding trails. Look out for horse poop in some places! Otherwise, there were lots of animal tracks, bugs, and flowers to look at. The office even lends you a free bird watching or bug collecting or plant identification pack in exchange for lending them your drivers license. The trails were SUPER well maintained, and extremely well marked. I liked some of the vantage points along the way. It was a great place to go. Very family and children oriented with activities and a little museum and garden, too! read more

I'll try not to go on too much about how the Hyatt should never have been built, but whatever, what's done is done at this point. Haven't hiked any yet, but if you (or in this case someone you know) is staying at the Hyatt, you can do an excursion to the Nature Park to do some fake rock climbing on a Ropes course tower, follwed by zip line rides. We had a lot of fun and the staff was fun and super helpful. The climb is challenging (for a non-climber like me) but the staff helps the kids make it up, which is nice. A fun way to kill a couple of hours and enjoy the non-Christmasy Austin weather in December. read more

The Nature Park has a lot going for it, but the use of trails for horses, bikes and hiking means deeply rutted and muddy trails unsuitable for hiking. Not a pleasant hike. read more

Went hiking there on Saturday--I had passed the sign a couple times on 71 so I knew where I was going, as it isnt a light an easy to find--the two paths that I did were wonderful--why the one less star? It is difficult once you leave the visitor center to find the trail heads--the paths are marked WELL, the start of the trail heads are not--I will be back though as the trails were great-- read more

I went during the night and it was free admission. LCRA had a guided night time hikes on a Friday night and I thought why not. Try something different. Never heard of a park giving guided night time hikes. I was first introduced to the two people who were going to be our guides. They gave an introduction of the park and what to look or hear while we were hiking. They also give a guide to the seeing the stars during the night and that one is free. I need to come back during the day to see this park. read more

This park has trails for all adventures from bike riding or bird watching, to horse back riding or hiking. With multiple levels of trail difficulty and many types of terrain, this is a must visit in Bastrop County! read more

This park is wonderful. It is simple, beautiful and a great spot for hikers and riders to explore and be with nature.

I was in the area a few weeks ago visiting a friend with my two children and found this place on a search for a nearby park for them to burn some energy while she was at work. It started racing as we were driving there but we still decided to go check it out even if we didn't get out the car for something to do and I am so glad we did! I feel like a found a hidden treasure with this place and cannot wait to go back and take a hike. Even soaking wet with rain falling it is a beautiful place. Would definitely and have!!! Recommend this place to friends and famil. read more

What a great find thanks to a quick search on yelp. We finished a hike at Bastrop State Park and still wanted more, so we found this beautiful spot. It was our first time there and look forward to going back. Very highly recommended for families with younger kids. Our 5 and 6 year old had a blast. Even had a bunch of cool reptiles and fish in the visitor center. Plenty of easy or difficult trail hikes. We spent 2 hours there and our kids even made it to the Colorado River and back with us. Very well maintained and beautiful scenic views. read more

Great place to hike--hardly ever anyone else around. They also offer community programs like guided kayaking, rafting, stargazing and challenge course. See those programs and register online at www.lcra.org/outdoorprograms. read more

We love taking our horses here for a trail ride. The trails are challenging, up and down, lots of hills, trees, shade and a beautiful river! It is a fun place to ride, and not very expensive either. Not to mention easy parking! read more

My partner and I just got married here, and it was truly lovely! The McKinney Roughs events staff (Jheri and the team) are all fantastic and wonderful to work with -- responsive, friendly, flexible, and willing to go the extra mile to help make our wedding day a success! They have a brand new lovely bridal suite that is AWESOME!!! We were the first ones to get to use it :) Our guests loved the park, the Dining Hall was huge and rustic and has a great big commercial grade kitchen, and the scenery was just perfect. The only reason I deducted a star was for technical/IT reasons: 1) the wi-fi and cell service did not work well the day of, which caused some slight confusion and chaos during wedding day (as we couldn't rely on the internet and only intermittently received calls/texts); and 2) the A/V was a little wonky and challenging and required some last minute staff help to get the microphones and speakers working for the reception. But overall, this is a GREAT affordable DIY-rustic option for wedding planners on a budget! Half the price of most venues we looked at and it comes with all kinds of extras and on-site equipment and great staff support! Thanks Jheri & LCRA events team! read more