I can't say I recommend Lockhart State Park from my last visit here. Even though it's the only…read moreTexas state park with a 9-hole golf course, the hiking trails weren't very interesting and I was concerned about getting hit by golf balls as one of the trails cuts right through the fairway. The trail system here seemed almost like an afterthought, as there weren't any scenic viewpoints to look forward to. There were large shrubs everywhere and nothing interesting around. They say to my have a fishing pond, but it was small and it looked like it was devoid of any life. I thought the CCC group area and the day-use areas were cool. I can see locals taking advantage of the amenities. But for me, hiking trails are the biggest draw and unfortunately I left disappointed.

I enjoyed hiking the trails to take a break from the highway while on a roadtrip. It was well…read moreworth the $3 entrance fee. While I've seen prettier landscapes, the ones at Lockhart are decent. No waterfalls, apparently, the creek onky flows when it rains... But there are a few nice views from the higher elevations of the hiking trails. They have some flatter trails and a few that are more challenging. I hiked several as they were short. I managed to finish 5 in 30 minutes, and it was an enjoyable hike. Lockhart also has a golf course, camping spots, and a swimming pool (in season). It would make a nice place to camp out for a weekend get-away. The gentleman at the office was kind and helpful.

This spot requires fishing, long sleeves (for the mosquitos) and hiking boots - not safe for…read morerunning unless you want a twisted ankle. Glad I made my pup walk, I don't think a premium doggie stroller would survive the terrain but maybe a sturdy baby stroller might.

What a great area to get some steps in! Short distance or long. Maps along the way to ensure you…read moreare on the right trail! Although one map was really bad and it was our splitting point to head back cause sun was starting to go down, thankfully I had my phone and was able to see where we needed to go. I'm not no professional at maps I have to admit but this this one this one definitely needs to be replaced. Other then that very well maintained and great info about the wildlife and what to expect while walking.

This is the head of the series of parks that you can walk through on the paved paths. There is a…read morebathroom and parking lot at this side. You can walk alongside the river for most of this parkway. There are some bridges and a historical building alongside the river too. You can fish and swim here. The water is surprisingly warm.

This is the park just off of Charles Austin Drive. Surprised I didn't see a review for it, because…read moreit seemed like a very popular place. I really liked this park. It's got the river flowing right through it, and it's right by the university. My friends and I eschewed the tubes and just floated down ourselves. The river's got a nice current in this area that carries you right along. Plenty of bridges, steps and ladders. Great for kids, families, hot college girls...you get it. Looked like they do allow alcohol, but probably no glass. The river is man-made, and there's plenty of trees for shade. Definitely wanna check this out, if you've got a day to spend in SM.

The construction here makes it sooooo hard to get to on bike from circle C now. It's a pain. But…read morethis is a great 3 mile course.

Cycling track 1.86k/ 3miles in length natural areas featuring Texas wild flowers and a dad yelling…read moreat his daughter, but that's gonna happen I guess. One draw back to the Veloway is accessibility, if you drive there no problem if you cycle there as I do problem. It will force you to ride down Mopac South to reach the entrance. Used to be able to access the track via the Bowie High parking lot but not anymore! Giant fence has been installed. Still the Veloway is a wonderful resource for our cycling city.

Conway Park is a small park on the corner of Bliss and Sturgeon in the Blanco Gardens neighborhood…read more It's fenced in, so your kids or pets don't run off. It's a pretty good sized park at 3 acres and the amenities include a Playground, a half basketball Court, and plenty of Benches. It's a nice looking park, and you can tell it's been recently renovated. The paint is fresh, and the jungle gym looks safe. It's nicely landscaped, and there are sidewalks to ride your bike on, and shady areas to hang out under. Unfortunately, there's no restrooms here.

This is one of those Austin parks that you'll probably never see unless you live in this area. The…read moreplayground area itself sits on probably less than an acre, but there are a couple of acres dedicated to water retention directly next to it. This park has some nice things going for it, but it lacks public restrooms, and there is no parking except along the street. It has a nice paved area with four benches and two picnic tables, but no grills. The playscapes and swings are very well designed and perfect for kids. It should be noted that this park is not connected to any hike and bike trails. It's basically a nice local park for the residents living nearby to enjoy. The photos spell out the rest.

A nice small trail system. Not a very long trail but quite beautifully wooded, partially shaded,…read moreand easy to navigate. I did a little over 6/10 of a mile on my lunch break in 18 minutes so not a lot of up-and-down. Quite a few birds, mostly Cardinals, but I did see some warblers and a couple of deer while hiking. Surrounded by neighborhoods I imagine that it's a pretty cool little getaway for people that live here. .

Schulle Canyon Nature Area is a small "pocket park" near TSU. It is well maintained by the San…read moreMarcos Greenbelt Alliance and has some very nice trails in a nice-ish area. It is on the very small side at 21 acres with about 1.2 miles of trails if you do them all. But, if you want a chance to catch some local birding or need to stretch your legs and soul between classes, this might be the place for you. If you are looking for an easy hiking area for some very young kiddos, this also might be your spot. Many of the trees are marked so it could be a good chance to identify trees with the little ones. Be careful though, as many of the neighboring folks use this as their personal dog walking / "airing" loop and not all of them may be on leashes.

Overlook Park and Dam at Canyon Lake (about 50-60ish miles from both Austin and San Antonio) is the…read morepublic park I visit most often since joining the CL community in June 2020. At least a couple of times per month, we make our weekend run over the dam from North Park and bask in the seasonal beauty of the big blue lake, the variety of plants on the slopes and forest, and the joy of other visitors taking it all in. Who knows how long it will last in these troubled times for public works, but today, the park remains free to enter from dawn to dusk. The enforcement of parking and capacity limits is by Comal County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), while the authority for the water and 1964-built dam falls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Game Wardens, and the Guadalupe - Blanco River Authority (GBRA). Finally, the Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) helps with safety signage and waste management around the park by providing free litter bags to make it as easy as possible for visitors to pack out their trash. The park technically doesn't promote swim access, and there is no lifeguard or buoy barrier system for protected swim zones, but you will see many swimmers and floaters in the cold water around the rocky shore during warm weather. The closer to the dam you are, the more likely you'll see fish swimming in the clear water, so bring your snorkel and enjoy. Keep in mind, depth drops off steeply down to 120 feet, so if you're not a strong swimmer, a life vest or other safety provisions may be in order. Certainly, keep an eye on your kids at all times. If you want a coveted spot for the day at the shoreline, you're going to need to plan ahead. Pack up your provisions, chairs, shade tent, what-have-you and get to the park as soon as possible after dawn to secure a parking spot. You'll need your goat feet and maybe an all-terrain wagon to get down the rocky trails to your place at the water. The shore is entirely limestone, so you typically won't be able to use stakes for a pop-up; plan to weigh down with something else, as Canyon Lake gets VERY windy. Restrooms are at the far southeast end of the park, near the Gorge overlook. You'll also find porto-johns near the dam gate and disabled parking spots. If you're still there by sunset, you'll hear the sheriff's deputy over a PA system asking you to leave. There is no camping or overnight parking allowed. Note that this park is also home to USACE headquarters for Canyon Lake. Their visitor center is open Mon-Fri, 8a-4:30p except for federal holidays. A few times per year, special events may open up an opportunity to drive across the dam's paved path (a.k.a. the Verada Real). These spots are secured through a charitable donation to the DAM Community Alliance (damcommunityalliance.com) and tend to sell out fast. Otherwise, only pedestrians, strollers, and bicycles are allowed on the paved path. Dogs should be on leash and poop should be picked up, please, for the love of all that is holy. More to come....

We have lived next to Overlook Park and Canyon Dam for 10 years and it has gone to hell in a…read morehandbasket in the last two or three years. It's like the county government, in coordination with the Army Corp. of Engineers has decided that they just don't want people here. First it was erecting "no parking signs" on the road and handing out tickets by the sheriffs department. Then they installed tire flattener spikes at the exit and gate barriers so that access was restricted. They had the sheriffs department come in every night to throw people out at sunset. We used to call that person the "Dam Nazi" (Canyon Dam). Now they close the place early even before hours are over and sometimes they don't open it at all. And worst of all they've started lining tow trucks up to tow people's cars at sunset without warning. It's ridiculous. It's like they are practicing for totalitarianism. It's like the government has decided that they hate people. My daughter and son-in-law walked the over-the-dam walkway with our 3-year-old granddaughter; when they came back to leave, his pick-up truck was in the air - the tow truck driver said he would take $150 to lower it again so they could drive home. People are literally starting to move out of Comal County. It has become downright evil and the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority seems to be getting rich by selling all of Canyon Lake's water downstream. This is the rural version of Los Angeles, Seattle or Denver. It's getting nasty.