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

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

Its not much, but for local residents its a beautiful walk/ nature trail. It has been beaten up…read morewith the recent storms, and I would love it if town & country nearby helped restore the area a bit, but still a nice respite with picnic benches and a paved trail.

The Lake Creek Trail is a 1.3-mile concrete path connecting a few neighborhoods inside the square…read morebordered by 183, Anderson Mill, Parmer, and SH45. There are three entrances--all from neighborhoods. The Braes Valley Street entrance has a big parking lot. Pros: - Nice variety of plants - It is a birding destination - Several colorful displays along the western 0.4 miles showing which birds you might see Cons: - Little shade (my estimate is less than 5% overall) - In-and-out walk unless you have a car waiting for you at the other end. - All concrete = hard for joints - Isolated--I only encountered two people on a Sunday afternoon and one was on a bicycle. - You cross the middle of a private sports field facility that has signs warning you to stay on the trail since it's private property. Here's my GPS track: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/342612198 I was pretty bored along this walk but wanted to do all of it in the hope of seeing some interesting birds.

This is a small little guy, but there's a nice gazebo, a playground, and the entrance to the East…read moreside of the Brushy Creek Trail. It's main purpose is connecting you to the trail, but it does what it needs to do. RIYL: Parking to get on the Brushy Creek Trail

The Sunset deck is a serene pavilion high up on the hills providing stunning views of the Hill…read morecountry. To get there you have to drive up an unpaved road to enter a bird watching preservation from the 1431 road not too far from the big intersection in Lago Vista. The sunset deck is completely accessible by car. And for wheelchairs too. There are three trails with each their own parking lot to start with. The Warbler Trail, the Western Trail and Cactus Rocks Trail are getting you there to the sunset deck eventually. Hiking the trail was a nice one, but prepare well and bring water. It can get pretty steep, but is very doable, I have seen kids on this trail. The second parking lot has a bathroom. I think this was a wonderful change of scenery from Austin, only 40 minutes away from Austin/ Cedar Park.

Nice view! You have options to hike up here or drive up here. Very refreshing air, definitely one…read moreof my favorite hikes in Austin area!

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge makes for a great day trip if you don't mind about an…read morehour drive from central Austin, depending on traffic. I did a couple of stops while we were out there, Doeskin Ranch and Shin Oak Observation Deck. The main hike was Doeskin Ranch. There's a restroom right near the trailhead. It's not plumbed, just a chemical toilet, but it was clean, stocked with hand sanitizer, and being able to use the bathroom before starting the hike made the whole experience more relaxed. The hike itself was nice but very seasonal. I went in January, so the landscape was mostly golden-brown grass with limited greenery and not much tree cover. You're mostly enjoying bushes, rocks, and scattered trees rather than lush views. I'd really like to come back in late spring or late fall when things are greener and more alive. The trail is fairly rocky and there aren't many mile markers, although the trails seemed pretty easy to follow. After Doeskin Ranch, I stopped at the Shin Oak Observation Deck, which is very close by. There's a nice gazebo with a scenic outlook and a short, meditative gravel trail with three or four nature signs encouraging you to slow down and be present. It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk through depending on your pace. I recommend starting toward the left and going counterclockwise so you encounter the signs head-on instead of from behind. Overall, both stops were enjoyable. They're not hikes I'd feel the urge to repeat soon, but they made for a fun day hike and I felt worth the drive.

This refuge is a bit spread out, we went to both the Doeskin Ranch and Warbler Vista portions and…read morehiked a few miles. There wasn't any shocking moment of awe, but there's lots of birds around and a neat little creek, it's a good place to get some appreciation of the Hill County and get (mostly) away from development.

Wells Branch Park is the southerly "Godfather 3" in the trilogy of parks within the Wells Branch…read moreMunicipal Utility District, starting with the picturesque and duck-filled Mills Pond to the north, continuing to the family/sports-friendly Katherine Fleischer park in the middle. It's not my favorite, as it seems the least maintained with higher grass and weeds. A lot of it is just a path between the backside of apartments/houses and a ditch. In some places it's just very narrow, and two crossing joggers need to claim their path to avoid each other. Though it is 2.2 miles in a 4.3ish mile figure-8 that centers at Fleischer, which is good if your goal is not repeating the same section over and over to get some miles in. The trail here has more percentage concrete than its northern counterparts, including some tricky drainage patches you could trip on if not careful, and involves three road crossings (plus two tunnels to go under Wells Branch Parkway). But what seems to be the draw of this park is the frisbee golf. It seems well marked, and a full 18 holes. It's busy all times of day, with the golfers, or as I believe they like to be called "stoners", bringing their gym bags filled with all sorts of discs. Some of the discs even light up, presumably for evening play. Perhaps the higher grass is to make the golf more "interesting". Like the Mills Pond area, this park could use the lighting found on the Fleischer paths, and maybe a water fountain. But it is a fairly good use for what otherwise would just be a drainage creek.

This is a pretty nice park area to hang out or chill if you're planning to play some games (i.e…read more outdoor activities) or have a dog and want to do some jogging. I find most parks in TX have a severe lack of ... trees? or shade I find it to be kind of weird since I could't just sit out in the middle of the field and take in the UV index of 9 every day ... but then again maybe there was shade elsewhere and I just didn't find it. The grounds are ok, there are some courts for you to play tennis and basketball if you'd like and they really do like to keep this area fairly clean. I think there's a playground somewhere as well although I could be wrong since it was far and across the park. There is also a golf course here. I think that's what most people come for.

When you're feeling blue, go for a drive, and see the Bluebonnets. Best therapy…read more About an hour drive from N. Austin is Spicewood, TX, and Muleshoe Bend. A gorgeous park with a lake, picnic areas, and RV set ups with grills, but most of all, the star of the park, Texas Bluebonnets. There is a park fee, of $5.00 per person. You are given a pass for the day. And a map of the park. To see the Bluebonnets from the entrance, you're just going to follow the road. Very easy to find. It's a bit of a drive to the Bluebonnets and lake. And it's a dirt road, lots of dust and small rocks. The park is absolutely beautiful. Well worth the drive and the pictures, well, speak for themselves. God Bless Texas. So grateful for the Bluebonnets today.

This campground and recreation area in Hill Country is a lovely way to spend a few hours in nature…read more We were hoping to see the bluebonnets they're known for but alas, late blooming this year. That didn't stop us from seeing a few starting to spring to life. We walked along the water and throughout the property just consuming as much of the beauty as we could. Found some seashells along the way.

This park basically consists of a paved trail that runs behind residential homes and lots of…read morenatural wooded areas. It really is a peaceful and enticing green space where you can find tame deer grazing. The only problem is, this is a private HOA property. So if you know anyone that lives in this area, this trail is definitely worth your time exploring. Check out the photos included.