So happy I stumbled upon this trail while in town for the weekend. The drive leading to the park was through a beautiful residential area which made it hard to believe there was a trail hidden back there somewhere. There is street parking which was surprisingly easy to find on a Sunday morning. There is a $10 fee to get into the park card only so be advised. The trail itself was awesome! Majority of the trail itself is covered and shaded with trees and the terrain was pretty solid with some rocky spots. There are a few sections with stairs which was nice to switch up the pace. You're looking at a 6 mile roundtrip hike there and back but totally worth it especially for the nice pump you get out of it. No water nor restrooms on the trails so make sure you pack your own water and plan ahead otherwise. Great hike! And very well maintained. read more

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Think Fern Gully! Crystal clear water trickling through a green wonderland so pretty you'll be looking for fairies. This place is good for both body and soul. Wear water hiking shoes! Or shoes you don't mind getting wet. I say this because it's so tempting to just get in that beautiful water!!! This can be a beginners or an advanced trail. It's all up to you and easy to navigate the difference. After a good rain, the trail can be quite slippery. So if you have any movement or balance limitations, I would avoid it for a few days after a rain. It has gotten more crowded over the past few years and the trail is narrow. If you see a lot of cars, count on a lot of scootching around passersby. I would suggest going on weekdays during work hours for best crowd avoidance! Hike on! read more

This was a wonderful little hike in Austin. The neighborhood it's in is very pretty (and rich! There are tons of multimillion dollar homes all around this area.) and it's a well-populated trail. The admission fee is $10 per hiker to help with the upkeep of the trail, which was fair. There was a person towards the beginning of the trail to collect the fees (The "kiosks" are actually people stationed in a few spots). You should note that they only accept payment by cards, no cash. The trail itself is fairly easy and very well maintained. The whole trail is only about 3 miles one way and took about an hour to complete. Coming back, it took about 45 minutes. There is not much of an elevation, and only a few sections that were slightly steep. However, any steep sections were set up in a stair-like fashion. This trail is definitely kid- and dog-friendly, so bring everyone! read more

River Place Nature Trail - Overlooking the start of the trail and pay kiosk area - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Beautiful nature trail with steep stairs. Make sure you bring your water and have your good pair of walking/hiking shoes. I didn't even make it to the top of the trail that's how long it is. The trail is clean and I didn't encounter any animals. I believe there are multiple starting points for this trail. They have creeks in the middle of the trail. The trails are narrow, therefore you will have to stop when someone is coming the other way. It's a nice trail for nature and hike lovers! read more

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Best trail in Austin. About 3 miles long (lots of steps). Located in a beautiful neighborhood. read more

River Place Nature Trail - Best trail in Austin. About 3 miles long (lots of steps). Located in an awesome neighborhood. - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great trail in the west side of Austin. Use to be free but now its $10pp on the weekend. What a bummer.

Really enjoyed this hike. We started at the very bottom starting at: 8830 Big View Dr Austin, TX 78730 United States This is not a looped trail so you will hike 3 miles up and then 3 miles back down the same path. The first 2 miles are relatively flat with some occasional ups and downs. The last mile is just UP. Lots of stairs. My group had varying athletic abilities and ages. You can easily complete this hike without any stops if you workout/hike often, but the stairs will increase your heart rate. Once you get to about 2.75 miles you'll see a bench looking out to the (gorgeous) houses on the other side of the mountain (hill?). If you want to complete the 3 miles, go for it. But it just goes to the street and there are no other nice views at the very end of the trail. Bathrooms and free parking are available at Woodlands Park across from the trail head. Free parking is also available on the street. Weekend hikes are now $10 per hiker and doggo, unless you're a resident of the neighborhood. Credit card only. read more

River Place Nature Trail - Emergency first aid kit along Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

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wow! what a surprise find this is. im visiting from galveston and staying in cedar park. i chose this place from the photos/reviews on YELP...and, im soo glad i did. trial walks you up a trail with a running creek [panther hollow creek i believe] beside it. great phtoto op and good cardio loved the place go through beautiful neighborhoods getting there too [austin lake estates is one of them] read more

River Place Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm in love! The trails at Town Lake and Barton Creek Greenbelt are very nice, but there is simply no comparison to the natural beauty, solitude, and technical challenges offered by River Place Nature Trail. How have I only just discovered this spectacular nature & fitness park? Spring is apparently prime time for the heavily forested trail, although I'd imagine it's still pretty fantastic even during the dry summer and gray winter days. If you go now, though, you'll have the clear Panther Hollow Creek rushing by during more than half of the hike with picturesque waterfalls and overlooks all along the way. You may even spot some charming woodland creatures and an endangered bird or two. Working on your buns of steel? This place is for you. There are approximately 2,763 steps going up 70 degree inclines during this hike (ok, I'm exaggerating a bit), and you'll be traveling up and down, zigging and zagging, over and over again. I'm pretty fit, but I've got sore muscles in places I didn't realize had muscles after covering about 6 miles of this trail yesterday. On my first time out, I started at the duck pond aka Boardwalk Park (across from Woodland Park, a very nice destination itself, with a playscape, restrooms, and Colorado River access) on Big View Drive. This puts you in at Panther Hollow Trail next to the creek and takes you on a progressively upward climb to the highest point in the park where you eventually come out at the Canyon Trail Kiosk & wildflower patch at River Place Boulevard. Sticking to the primary marked trail throughout, this is about a 2.8 mile trek out and back for a total distance of 5.6 miles with approximately 400 feet of overall elevation change. I ran about 1/3 of the way, briskly walking the rest, and this took me 90 minutes start to finish. If you have kids, dogs, or other dilly-dally-ers, you can expect to spend several hours out there, so definitely bring a pack with snacks & water. Be prepared for the following challenges, especially after a rain: -- mud on steps and flat areas -- flowing water on the trail & steps -- several wet creek crossings -- very steep inclines up & down -- poison oak -- mosquitos -- some very narrow trail sections with potential for sliding downhill or brushing against poison oak By the way, this park is not the responsibility of the City of Austin. It's managed by the River Place MUD and lovingly tended by the volunteers of the Friends of River Place Trail. It's so wonderful that these folks share this amazing amenity with the general public. If you love this trail as much as I do, please consider joining the Friends and come out for one of their regular trail clean-up days. Panther Hollow Trail Address: 8820 Big View Drive, Austin, TX 78730 The Canyons Trail Address: 4740 River Place Blvd, Austin TX 78730 Fern Trail Address: 3916 River Place Boulevard, Austin, TX 78730 Trail Hiking Hours: Dawn to Dusk Monday-Sunday Trail map: http://friendsofriverplacetrail.com/trail-maps/tm1/ Volunteer opportunities: http://friendsofriverplacetrail.com/volunteer/ More info about the park and its history: http://www.austinexplorer.com/Locations/ShowLocation.aspx?LocationID=9337 read more

River Place Nature Trail - Get ready to feel the burn - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Like it is as a workout. Starting at the fountains and heading up and then walking through the hills of the neighborhood back to the car. Very strange interaction on a recent Saturday visit. There was a woman at the base collecting a toll, essentially, to access the trail. She had wristbands and seemed official but it was a big turn off. Tried to engage with her and she was cordial but not warm. Charged us $10 each to enjoy a bit of fresh air + incline. There was no one doing the same at the end of the trail and she was long gone by the time we made our way back. Heard that the neighborhood started to implement this fee as a way to curtail the traffic. If it was consistent I'd totally understand but, she was not too forthcoming with info, and, also, if that was the case, this isn't a private trail so don't live in a place that's accessible to the public and get all hoity toity about it! read more

Took my kids on trail, we did about 4 miles to and from. Pretty challenging for my 7 year old but was able to stick to it. There's a beautiful park right across the street with playground , picnic tables, soccer nets and bathrooms. My kids loved it! read more

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Holly crud I am SORE!! I recently went on a hike here with a group for a UYE. I have to start by saying I am not a hiker... but went because my wife wanted to go. We first went on a path that everyone was calling the fern path... I'll start by saying the scenery was breathtaking! Beautiful! Gorgeous! Tranquil! And whatever other adjective you want to add. Truly amazing! I didn't feel like I was in TX! It was STUNNING! Our group headed off at 8:30am on just a perfect day and conquered the Fern path in a relatively short time. It was challenging for me (a nonhiker) but not so bad that I didn't enjoy it. It went up and down in the hills and valleys and was mostly shaded with a nice breeze. I really enjoyed it. (Just a note: you do walk to the end and then walk back) Then we took the next path which I was told was less challenging... BULL!! It started out easy enough but then wound around up and down and had long stretches of stairs that literally kicked my butt! It turned out this path was just about 3 miles long!! And yes once you get to the end you have to go back! However I persevered and carried on... bad knee and all... I went up every stair, walked every step, and about died when I got to the end and realized I had to go back! Oh my this was way over ambitious on my part! The hike was beautiful... truly lovely! I really enjoyed being out in nature. Others we met on the path were very accommodating and kind! The day was a pure treat... but oh my goodness... this was a bit much for me. I made it though! All the way there and back. I was the last one in from the group... but I made it! I would highly recommend this hike for those that are more then just a once in a while hiker. I would be very careful if you are bringing kids and really judge how far you go so they can make it back out. But all in all I would recommend this hike for anyone wanting to breath in the beauty of nature! It was all very well maintained and virtually unspoiled. I would do it again... but maybe at a much slower pace or just one path and not both right away... read more

I loved this trail as it was really challenging. One day I wanted to try a new hiking trail and after some googling, found this one. I was a little hesitant at first as it was a bit of a drive for me but boy was I glad I checked it out! Serious leg work out! I aimed for doing the whole trail but only got about half way through before I had to turn back as I wasn't sure id make it otherwise. If you want to find a challenging hike, this one is for you. Lots of steps and pretty steep up and downs. The only downside is that the trail is a bit narrow which makes navigating during COVID times a bit tricky. read more

River Place Nature Trail - View from the trail - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

I am in a decent shape (I am probably being modest) so I would give this trail a 3 out of 5 on the difficulty level. I completed the whole thing (end to end) with little stopping and even did a side trail. I was with a group of people at the beginning who wanted to stop a lot and take pictures. On the way back though, I was with one other person from our original group who was in also great shape and we hauled ass getting back to the beginning. In my defense, I did have a specific time I need to leave so I could be back home to shower, grab food and head to a yoga class. Overall a great trail and would do again. Be prepared when you come out here to hike. Meaning: bring water (camelback is even better), a snack or two, solid shoes (it can be slippery and muddy in some areas currently) and a good mood. If you complain the whole time and takes tons of breaks it will make the hike that much worse for yourself and others. read more

I loved this place.. the scenery of the river and baby waterfalls was perfect. A long drive through a residential area to get to and it is a $10 charge to get into the park. We decided to do the smaller trail due to us having to be at our zip lining appointment later on. The trail was good had just enough stairs to get your heart pumping, and sweating for that cardio. The smaller trail took us 1 hour to complete and get back to the car and that was with breaks taking in the scenery and pictures. You cross the small river with rocks and they have a chain for leveraging. Not too muddy or getting went when we went. The trees provide plenty of shade on those hot sunny days. It was so nice we were going to do it twice and do the larger 5.5 mile trail. The day we planned it started storming and thundering so we had to take a rain check. read more

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Best Hike in Austin! Beautiful trail - mostly shaded (huge plus during warmer temps). Lots of stairs -- a great workout! Only downside is the fee they charge during peak hours on weekends. I paid $10 last time I went. They only take cards so make sure you bring one in case. read more

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Excellent hiking trail just 30min away from downtown Austin. I would consider it a moderate level hiking trail that encompasses different elements of nature, rocky hills, stream, trees with lots of wild life such as turtles, birds and snakes. It maybe more challenging to complete with toddlers since stroller is definitely not an option but it's perfect for slightly older kids who likes to climb on rocks and cross streams. The path gets quite narrow in some spots so I would avoid during high traffic times such as weekends. Really enjoyed hiking this trail and would highly recommend it to visitors or Austin area. read more

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A word to the wise - the last time I looked they were charging a usage fee of $10 per person at River Place Nature Trail. I'm not sure it's really worth paying the fee, though the trail here is nice enough. Tip: If you're coming here to hike, I suggest that you start at the pond near the bottom, then hike up before coming back down to where you started. When I first came here, I started near the top, and found that returning and climbing all the steps before the end wasn't the most pleasant way to wind things down. All things considered, I think a $10 fee is a bit high for what you'll find here, so it might make sense to find someplace that's free to do your hiking. read more

One of the best trails I've been on! There's tons of street parking and a public park that has a lot. Inside, there's a few different trails you can go on - most people were on the longest trial so the others were a bit more sparse. There are waterfalls, river crossings, dogs, trail runners. read more

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Amazing trail! A great trail. Really enjoyed it. I am from Houston at this is one of the reasons I love Austin over Houston. Trails like this. Walking the trail. Hearing all of the different sounds from nature. Absorbing the elements. Hearing the water flow. Very calming and relaxing. If you live in Austin or are visiting, do yourself a favor and make it a point to come to this trail. The views are worth it. I didn't don't this trail very hard at all. Some step stops. I guess if you have small kids you should probably yield caution. read more

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Came here hiking with a friend on friday. The road leading up to this trail was really one of the high light of the trip, different sized houses just lining up the hills top to bottom, really wished I lived there lol. When we got to the trail it was already around 9 am, we started asap so we wont have to catch that high noon heat. The trail starts out nice and gets bumpy with lots of climbs. The two amateur hiker(us) thought it was an easy hike until they hit the 1.5 mile 'climax'(the stairs....), thinking a bottle of Gatorade would be sufficient, we barely finished the round trip hike by noon. It's a great trail, just know theres lots of stairs with no water station at any point so make sure you bring enough liquids for hydration. There is alot of shade but it still would be wise to put on sunscreen. Lets just say we were dead sore the next day. read more

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One of my favorite hikes in Austin! There are a lot of stairs so come prepared with a lot of water and good hiking shoes.

Awesome way to spend an afternoon and get a good workout at the same time. I wasn't expecting this to be as challenging as it was, with some pretty steep inclines towards the northern half of the canyon trail. Great place to burn calories. There were some amazing vistas at about 2 miles in starting from the south. The trail gets pretty narrow at times so hikers from both directions may find it a bit tight when crossing each other. There are no water fountains along the trail so be sure to bring a bottle with you. Some snacks would be a good idea too just to keep up the energy level. We parked off Big View drive and the trail ends up at River Place Blvd. You can either walk back the trail, walk through the beautiful residential neighborhood back to Big View, or do what we did and get an Uber to drive us! read more

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Great workout depending on which trails you take. Think of it as a stair stepper on its highest setting. Make sure you map out which trail(s) you take. Ensure you have plenty of fluids for the longer ones. Sometimes there's a fee for use on weekends if you are not a River Place resident. Enjoy the workout! read more

Awesome hiking spot. There's plenty of parking so need to worry about it. I was fine with my running shoes and my Hydroflask. Throughout the hike, it seems you go up and down stairs most of the time. It absolutely makes it a fun and challenging hike. If you start on the south side, you can veer right in the beginning and it's a shorter hike. This hiking spot does not loop so you will know when you reach the end. When you reach the end on the north part, you can turn back around and go back the way you came up. You can also make a right and head south for a bit in the residential area until you see the entrance of where the shorter hike ends. Then you cut through the short hike end area to head back. read more

This trails isn't for amateurs! It was rated 3.81/5 in difficulty and is pretty accurate. Be prepared to walk many narrow stair cases and long winding trails. This is a 3 mile, 1700' incline (from the bottom) that took some oomf to complete. I am not a avid hiker and was winded a few times. The scene is beautiful tho. There is a babbling brook along the trail which has a few spots for photos. And also a few rock formations that are pretty neat. As you approach the top of the trek it becomes very desert like with rock, sand, and cacti. I would do this trail again knowing what's in store for me. Go early enough so you have time to turn around and go back as it doesn't loop but has a start and end point. read more

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Composed mainly of one long, continuous trail (with certain parts being called by different names), this my favorite hiking spot in the Austin area, and by a long shot. It has even more charm than The Greenbelt, but without the crowds. It's also not for the person looking for a casual, easy stroll. If you plan to walk/hike the majority of River Place, you might get your ass kicked. Let me give you an example. Our most recent hike was (according to my FitBit Charge HR) 4.5 miles total round trip which took 94 minutes. I burned 1,160 calories and traversed 230 sets of stairs (both up and down) during this hike. But the physical challenge isn't even the best part. At River Place, you will feel transported to a place nowhere near the nation's 11th largest city. This place is peaceful AF. The majority of the trail runs beside a spring-fed creek, which is almost flowing with crystal-clear water. The sound of trickling water combined with the fact that it's entirely shaded by dense-growth trees leaves you feeling far away from Texas (and the Texas heat). There are also beautiful limestone cliffs with fern growth and water dripping out from the aquifer and plenty of small swimming holes, if you so choose. Plenty of folks bring their dogs--and in a far departure from most places in Austin--the trail is relatively clean and litter free. Please keep it that way. Back to the physical challenge. What contributed most to the 1,160 calories I burned were the constant changes in elevation. The trail is narrow (so take care when passing, as there are steep drops) and composed of constant ups-and-downs via natural stairs bordered by installed pieces of timber. If you're out of shape, you will likely get your butt kicked on these steps. But -- what a great way to get your butt back in shape! In some places you'll go up (in one run) what would be similar to 10-15 flights of stairs. There are two entrances. The main is off Big View Drive where there is a large pond complete with a friendly resident swan. The second entrance is off of River Place Blvd. Plenty of street parking at both. One other thing to know about River Place Trail is that it's not a loop. You have to decide how "far into" the trail you want to go before you turn around. If you want an easier hike, start on Big View Drive. If you want a more intense/fitness-focused hike, start from River Place Drive. River Place Nature Trail is run by a neighborhood-based nonprofit. If you use the trail a lot, consider donating so it can be maintained for our continued use. More info here: http://friendsofriverplacetrail.com/ read more

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What I love about trail hiking is getting away from the sounds of the city and just finding peace in your own thoughts and music. I would take hiking the trails over the gym any day, even a drizzly day like today. River Place Nature Trails offer a peaceful respite from the city while also offering a less crowded scenic hike that is varied in terrain and elevation. I enjoy the Barton Creek Greenbelt, but despise the parking situation there. RPNT offers the peace, quiet and beauty of BCGT without the downtown drive and crappy parking situation. Get out and explore the miles of scenic hikes in and around Austin. It's a great way to get some sun and exercise. read more

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Really good hiking trail if you're looking for something challenging. Not too busy and the scenery is beautiful.

My first hike on the River Place Nature Trail has inspired my first Yelp review. This trail is a beauty, consisted mostly of winding steps peppered with scenic spots which are a great excuse to catch your breath. I'm a hiking novice, if you will, and only completed 3/4 of the trail before turning around and heading back. I'm blaming the increased exertion from taking the hike on a sunny but crazy windy day. No worries, I'll be back on this trail for sure! Tip: start on the Panther Hollow Trail! read more

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An awesome hidden gem!!! Came up from San Antonio to hike and we were so glad we did! The drive through the neighborhood was quite lengthy and we parked in the park parking lot near the bottom trailhead. The park has bathrooms so you can go before/after your hike. The trail is super well marked and dog friendly (super high quality poop bags were available at the trail head) - everyone who we ran into was very nice! Lots of trail runners as well. I loved the multiple creek crossings and the chains that helped you from slipping on the rocks. Compared to other hikes in TX, this was considered a difficult hike on AllTrails. If you're from out of town and regularly go hiking, this would probably be a moderate trail. My hubs and I were able to hike all the way up without taking a break, and we didn't take any breaks on the way down. No grand views at the top, but the multiple changes in terrain and elevation kept it interesting! read more

Hard to find trail and there is very limited parking. It's pretty boring trail in the middle of a suburban sub division. There are definitely better tails in Austin read more

Excellent spot. Beautiful location in the hills near ponds, streams and views of a golf course and houses in the hills. This was probably the best hike I have been on in Austin...it was quite steep and it took a few hours! Well worth it though as I feel like I had a great workout. Not too many people either for a beautiful Saturday. I probably would not recommend bringing your dogs unless they are highly active and have a lot of stamina. read more

River Place Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Expect to pay $10 to use the trail, it's an HOA fee. The trail is beautiful and worth the $10. I call it Natures Stair master.

It is always a sign of a good adventure when the trail I am about to go on has lots of WARNING signs and EMERGENCY EXITS mapped at the trail head kiosk!!! Walking sticks are provided at 2 of the trail heads we explored today with warnings about snakes and instructions to return the stick after use - I did not need the stick for snakes but it sure was helpful in navigating the very narrow trails with steep falls into the ravines. After the most strenuous and dangerous hikes I have ever done in Austin I am no longer humoring the WARNING signs. The first trail head that you will find on the right along River Place Blvd is the most challenging with very steep ups and downs on a very narrow trail with steep drop offs. We actually only hiked 30 minutes into this trail because with 5 dogs it was proving too dangerous with the steep drop offs and super narrow trail so we turned around and drove down to lower more flat trail head. We passed another trail head on the way along River Place before it dead ends at Big View Dr we took a right there and found the southern trail head across the street from Woodland Park overlooking Lake Austin - the park has a lot or you can park on the street. The southern trail head is called Boardwalk here you will find a catch and release fishing pond and a much easier trail. On this trail head we found some beautiful waterfalls and fern grottos there were still numerous very steep and narrow areas but not nearly as dangerous as the northern trail head. If you are not familiar with this area River Place is the stop light before you get to 620 on 2222 drive about a mile and start looking for stone trail head markers and cars parked along the road RP dead ends at Big View turn R and you will see the pond and southern trail head. I highly recommend this trail system for anyone who loves to explore! read more

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Finally, a trail in Austin with some elevation gain and mileage. For the first time since I moved to Austin 2 1/2 years ago I felt like I could say I went for a hike. In total, the trail was about 7-8 miles in length. The only downside is that the hike is one way, unless you walk along the road back to your car. There are several entrances to the trail. We started at the Boardwalk entrance. The majority of the trail is well shaded, and runs along a creek. After a dry spell, the creek was dried up. But, there are definitely times of the year that you will find water in the creek, and need to cross the creek a couple of times on your journey. Their are wooden stairs along the trail, that will take you up and down, and back up again. The trial overall provided a good exercise, but I didn't find it technically difficult. The trail is dog friendly, as long as your furry friends stay on leash. My dog did happen to pick up her first tick in Austin here. read more

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Awesome hiking spot in northwest Austin! It's a little slice of semi-wilderness to enjoy while hiking on its many well-maintained/marked trails. The main hiking trail (Canyon) is about 2.5-3 miles one way for a 5.5-6 mile round trip hike with lots of stairs. It takes about 3 hrs to do a round trip so plan accordingly. Thankfully most of the trail is shaded but if you come at noon be prepared for a lot of sunshine and heat...bring water since there aren't any bathrooms/water fountains on this trail. I came in mid-February and the high that day was 82...but it was difficult for breezes to make it through all the trees and down to the level of the creek so the air was fairly still, making the hike hotter than it should have been. There are excellent maps along the trail and it's very straight forward/hard to get lost. Someone even put in QR codes on each trail marker so you can scan it with your phone and pull up a map showing you exactly where you are. Neat! I loved this hike because... -- Lots of water (but not to drink!)! We came during a dry spell so were disappointed to find the creek dried up after about 1.5 miles in on the Canyon Trail but the bottom half of the trail near the Little Fern trail offered a babbling creek with multiple creek crossings and pools to enjoy. I could see this place really coming alive after a Texas rainstorm! Definitely do the "Little Fern" trail after you've done the Canyon hike, it's got lots of stairs to climb as well but it's entirely along a creek so it was quite beautiful. -- Lots of elevation change! There were many stairs to climb up and down along the trail interspersed with some level areas to catch your breath. -- Lots of landscape to look at! From hill country views, to desert areas with cacti, to clear creeks/pools, it was a nice microcosm that captured the Austin-area landscape! ...we also saw glimpses of the golf course, nearby houses, and powerlines...haha. -- Trail was very well maintained and offered benches/lookout points at multiple places along the trail. Will definitely be back to this trail if we're in Austin, and especially if it's rained recently! Would love to see the creek during high water. read more

River Place Nature Trail - Big pool along Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Hidden gem for Austin. Absolutely beauty within the city. Hidden treasure. You hike through different elevations and hills and rivers. The scenery in absolutely beautiful. The hike take you through lush forest and walk through the crystal clear river. The beauty is you walk in your pace. I suggest the morning hike. Due to the intense hiking trails. Bring lots of water, and don't try to be a hero walk your own pace. Do not do it if you are totally out shape, the trail is definitely not for beginners. But the scenery is definitely worth it. read more

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Favourite trail in Austin. Hands down. I'll happily hike anything - but river place is particular special to me An out and back trail of three-ish miles of steep and narrow paths each way (about 6 miles total) is shaded and quiet (unless you go on a weekend morning in which case you deserve to be crowded!) through canyons and with the occasional glorious view from the high points. I'm a pretty regular runner and keen hiker but I still feel like I've worked when I've done this one. Allow three hours if you're about average fitness and make sure you take water. That being said it's still manageable for most people, I've done it with a neighbour who self confessedly doesn't exercise at all and with my seventy year old parents - and both were entirely fine with the occasional pause on one of the (many) strategically placed benches along the way. Dogs do need to be leashed - But there are plenty of them and I've never met an unfriendly one there. read more

River Place Nature Trail - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas

Awesome hike close to home for us in the northwest. It was a beautiful day, and everything about this experience was great. The park was easy to find, there's plenty of free parking, and the trail maintenance and signage are some of the best in memory. Veek, Fenway and I scrambled our way up and down the trails, stopping occasionally to let Fenway splash in the water. Veek eventually couldn't take it anymore and removed her shoes and socks and joined Fens in the stream. What a little gem this park is, it was a nice diversion from our usual Sunday morning jaunts around Town Lake. read more

River Place Nature Trail - Berries - Hiking Near Me - Austin, Texas