Was in the lago vista area and decided to kill some time by going here. Totally worth my $5. It's…read moregot great hiking trails and even 1 small ADA trail. Has an awesome looking playground that makes me jealous that I'm not a kid. Has charcoal grills at almost every picnic tables that are in the shade. An area to go swimming. Can also drop your boats in and camp if you choose too

My first visit to Arkansas Bend Park was very enjoyable, pleasant and impressed with the over…read morelayout of the park. Due to COVID-19, it was one of the very few parks opened the weekend of my visit. It wasn't crowded, plenty of open space for social distancing. I was impressed with the cleanliness, even the picnic tables and park restrooms were well maintained. The park offers a nice view of the lake with lots of boating & jet skiing activities. Boat ramps are available on the park. The over night camping section of the park remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. I will definitely consider Arkansas Bend Park in the future for outdoor activities. Next time I'll be better prepared for some picnicking & BBQ, along with some extended fun in the sun.

The River Place Nature Trail is the perfect combination of breathtaking scenery and an opportunity…read morefor a great workout. The trail is known for its steep elevation changes, lush greenery, and tranquil water features. This trail is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and fitness evangelists. The trail winds through dense vegetation with a mix of wooden steps, rocky pathways, and shaded stretches. One of the biggest attractions is the seemingly endless staircase sections. Looking up from the bottom, those steps appear to climb straight into the heavens. I was mentally preparing myself for the challenge when I spotted a sign that changed everything: "Beware of Snakes. Stay on the designated trail." Excuse me...what?! Will a snake know whether or not I'm on the designated trail? I'm thinking no. Those slithering little noodles of doom that can inject venom and potentially ruin your entire day or your life? At that moment, my inner adventurer immediately became my inner safety officer. Mission status: Abort. Abort. Abort. Instead, we claimed chairs overlooking the pond and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings from a much safer distance. It was incredibly relaxing...except for the part where I spent a good portion of the time imagining snakes conducting secret meetings somewhere in the bushes. All humor aside, River Place Nature Trail is absolutely beautiful. The scenery is stunning, the atmosphere is serene, and for those brave souls who aren't distracted by reptilian concerns, it's an excellent hiking destination. As for me, I'll admire it from the comfort of a chair with a clear view of the ground. There is a fee to walk the trials. If you do not pay the fee, please feel free to donate to the trail fund. This is a very well-maintained trail.

Nice canyon trail in the middle of the neighborhood. Glad that small piece of nature is preserve…read moreinstead turning into someone's backyard. 2.5 mile one way. It said it has a lot of steps (2736) but they are not continuous so don't worry. There isn't a overlook but at the hill top u can see over the valley a little bit. I started around lunch time . 11am. 89F. Maybe because I was little sick but I drank 24fl oz of water at 2mi mark. So bring more water if u plan on going back. Which will be a 6mi total hike. I see people being kids so it is not very difficult. Scenery: currently Texas is under a drought so all the creek is bone dry as u can see in my pictures. There many different of plants u can see along the path. Flowers and berries too. $10 during peak hours which I assume is weekend. And for parking, you can just park on the street

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.

Great spot for a jog and hike with the family! There is plenty of parking, though it can get pretty…read morecrowded on weekends. The bathrooms are clean, and the walking trails are beautiful. It's very family friendly, and there are pickleball courts a short ways away.

Amazing trail! Lots of inclines and declines. Be prepared for your calves and quads to get a…read moreworkout. Really good trail. Lots of nice places to stop and enjoy the elements. It's of natural creeks. The sound of running natural water is so relaxing. Extremely beautiful. If you are biking be careful because there are some low spots that will take you head off if you are a tall rider and not paying attention. The Lakeway police are really nice and will let you park at their police station. Great for walking, biking and or meditation. I really enjoyed his ride. With all the inclines and declines you can definitely burn some calories fast. I highly recommend this trial is you are visiting Lake Travis or live in the area. I will definitely be stopping here next time I am in Lake Travis! Very nice trail!

Been a member since 2006. Tons of activities to do every month from walking/hiking, bike riding,…read morekayaking, to camping, cultural events and dining. The group is open to people of all ages and fitness levels. Come try it out and meet some great people!

The event organizers really have their act together. People are warm and inviting. They make…read morecertain that everyone feels included. The calendar system for the events assures that when you sign up to do a group hike that a group hike actually occurs leaving on time and as advertised - not just one person showing up to discover it was cancelled. You know in advance if it is a brisk hike or a slow meander more appropriate for slower types like me, recovering from a knee injury but still wanting to get out for a nature walk.

Longhorn Caverns is a great place to go to see some natural Texas beauty. Our tour guide Emily was…read moreabsolutely amazing. She is extremely knowledgeable, confident, and has great puns! We lucked out and got her on a walking tour but you can normally find her on the Wild Cave Tours. My wife has severe anxiety, Emily was extremely understanding, helped her stay calm throughout the walking tour, and gave our family an unforgettable experience. I couldn't thank her enough for everything she did. I highly recommend checking out these Caves, and if you have the gumption to get muddy, spring for the Wild Cave Tour. Either way you go, it's a great experience!

Pictures don't do this place justice!…read more On this beautiful Saturday, I was seeking adventure! This tour is such an amazing deal. My tour guide Eryn was amazing and so funny. Caves are so interesting and there is so much to learn about them . Longhorn Cavern offer 3 different tour options. The cavern walking tour is just like a casual walking tour. The black light tour is where you wear hard hats and walk with a light. The Wild Cave tour is for the extreme explorers who are okay with tight spaces . I chose the cavern walking tour. I highly recommend shoes that have a tight grip. The gift shop has really good options for keepsakes. Also, if you get thirst drinks are available to purchase. I saw a section for pizza, but it was sold out. I had amazing time during my visit. The cave is beautiful and there is so much to see.

This is a perfect getaway for a weekend camping! We live in round Rock it was hardly 11 miles!…read moreSince we picked a weekend where the weather was perfect and breezy it was amazing. The camping sites are nice and the restrooms are clean. Overall it's a great place to camp or hike.

Very strange that this place has the word "sandy" in its name. The beach looks like a rocky…read moreconstruction site. Not exactly child friendly. If the folks that curate this park would just clean up the strand and actually get some real sand on this beach it would get a 5 star rating. Otherwise, save your money.

Woot! I did It! I swam from Volente Beach out to Starnes Island today! Ok I had to get that out! It…read morewas that exciting. The 5 stars is for the actual overall experience not the island itself. This morning 4 of my adventure friends and I met at 620/Bullick Hollow and piled into James' truck for the ride out to Volente Beach Water Park - since the Island does not have an address that is the address I used for the island. To swim out to the island pass the water park and turn into the first private driveway on the right pay 5.00 per car and drive all the way to the water - you will see the island out off shore. If you want to swim out to this island you must have swim fins a flotation device for water and dry pack and I highly advise some sort of flag since there are boats in the area. We swam up to a sandy beach and hiked over to the other side that has cliffs and huge boulders to jump off of. The guys jumped first to prove to Tracy and I that it was safe:) yes the water is still deep enough here. Even though the water is low it was a good 1/8 mile swim out to the island that took about 20 minutes. I highly recommend the island for anyone who likes to explore, swim or scuba dive.

A buddy and I decided to go kayaking on Lake Travis, little did I know just how far we'd go. We…read moreput in at Jones Brothers park in Jonestown and just started paddling. We were having a great time but neither of us wanted to be the first to say they were getting tired. Next thing we know we could see the main body of the lake and see Starnes island (isn't it aka "Snake Island?) and paddled furiously towards it. We got there and were well rewarded. I am totally going to pack the 'yak for an overnighter on the island, its a great place! That is, once my shoulder heals up. Next time I'll probably wuss out and put in at Volente. Great times had by all!