We're not experienced hikers, but this was a great trail for beginners! It's mostly flat and easy…read moreto follow, though very rocky in many sections, so good shoes are a must. The trail was beautiful, well maintained, and clearly marked once you're on it. One thing to note: mileage between points isn't posted at the entrance. Distance markers only appear after you start hiking, which made it a little hard to plan upfront. We ended up hiking about 5 miles round trip and didn't even cover the full trail. We brought lunch but underestimated how far we'd go and left it in the car. Definitely a lesson learned! There were several scenic spots along the way that would have been perfect for a lunch break. Overall, a solid option for beginners who want a scenic hike without intense elevation, as long as you're prepared for rocky terrain and bring what you need with you. I highly recommend to go early! We arrived around 10:30am on a Saturday and parking was filling up fast. Once we got back to the car around 1pm, there was a long line waiting for parking. Another notable mention is the restrooms! It could have been due to the time of day we arrived, but it was one of the cleanest and well maintained for a public facility.

Hiked a little over a mile and a half down the violet Creek Trail at the spyglass Trail entrance…read moreduring my lunch break. It was very nice. Not too hot or humid today in Austin. The trail is covered with different types of trees and a rock canyon that goes up quite a way as you go further down the trail. The trail is well marked and has mile markers along the way. There are even houses at the top of the canyon. They are pretty cool to look at as you make your way down the trail. The trail does have quite a few hikers, including families and mountain bikers riding down the trail. I plan on coming back soon on my bike and ride quite a ways further than I hiked today to see where the trail goes. I would definitely recommend this is a really cool trail in Austin to get out to nature and enjoy the day.

this is my go to place to go and disc golf with my dog! I have also come here multiple times to…read morewalk the trail and to go fishing! overall, it is a great nature escape inside of Austin! this park really has it all honestly though. whether you are coming there to shoot the basketball, practice tennis or play pickleball, or making your way to the sand volleyball court! If you've never been to this park, I highly recommend checking it out

It's a beautiful park BUT please be careful and cautious walking here with your dogs as there have…read morebeen coyote attacks. My dog was killed on a walk on 7-8-26. There have multiple attacks so please report to animal control (311) if you've encountered any stalking coyotes. Rip Shadow

This is the closest trail to where I live, and my husband and I walk on it almost daily. It's a…read moregreat spot to see wild animals. We've seen bunnies, owls, a baby snake, a field mouse, roadrunners, an armadillo and even a coyote on Via Fortuna last week! The trail is blooming with color in the spring. Fellow hikers always say hello, and the total walk time is about 45 minutes to an hour. It's a fun trail for kids, older people or experienced hikers. We've been walking this trail for 3 years and have really fallen in love with it.

Really nice trail and it was very clean. Not a lot of people which we prefer. We brought our dog…read morewho loves it as well. It's a strange area where the trailhead begins, a business park if you will. They have dog poop bags and trash cans set up along the trail as well.

This area has to be one of my favorite places to unwind, walk, and breathe in fresh air…read more It's got an easy walking trail to follow which makes walking under the bridges easier. Once there you're so immersed you don't even realize you're in the middle of a bustling city.

while I was looking for more of a trail hike we had a nice walk at this location. the start point…read moregiven on all trails took us to a close portion of the trail however we were able to walk along side lamar to get onto the trial. lots of trees , wild flowers, & random art. this trail leads you into peace park where there's restrooms, splash pads, picnic tables and sometimes you will catch a event going on in the park. perfect for a stroll with the family. taking off one star due to closed portions of the trail.

Wild Basin is Austin's first wildlife preserve and it was established in 1976. It is part of the…read moreBalcones Canyonlands Preserve system and co-managed by the City of Austin and St. Edward's University. While it is only about 270 acres it is packed with all kinds of features to satisfy any Texas outdoor enthusiast. Today (August 7) I attended the First Friday Walk and Talk led by their research director, Dr. Gabriella Pardee. While August can be brutally hot here in Austin, the walk started early enough to avoid the blazing sun plus the lower trails were mostly shaded. Inside the research center Gabby talked about the history of the preserve, how it is managed and some of the programs offered to the public as well as students at St. Edward's. Then we hit the trails which are well-maintained and have signage so you can easily find your way. During the hike, many topics were touched on like bumble identification, the diversity of animals/birds and stream ecology. Bee Creek runs through the preserve. I highly recommend signing up for one of these "First Friday" of the month hikes led by Wild Basin staff. You will learn a lot. Diving deeper into the natural history of this preserve builds a feeling of community and connection to the wildness so close at hand.

Wild Basin Writing Workshop -- A Hidden Gem!…read more A friend told me about a writing workshop happening at Wild Basin, so I decided to check it out -- and I'm so glad I did! Wild Basin offers an Artist in Residence program featuring creatives in photography, writing, pottery, and more. From what I learned, residents spend about three months sharing their craft by offering a few workshops, and at the end, there's a celebration showcasing their work. One special piece even becomes part of Wild Basin's permanent collection -- how cool is that? Our workshop was led by Sarah Cypher, and it was absolutely lovely. We sat in a circle on the deck on a perfect, "almost-fall" morning. Most attendees seemed to already have their own writing practice, but Sarah made everyone feel welcome and at ease. She's a wonderful facilitator and presenter. We read a few poems, discussed what resonated with us, and then took some time to wander the trails for reflection and writing. It's been years since I've been in that kind of creative space (probably since college!), and it felt so refreshing to tap into that part of myself again. As a teacher, I spend my days helping kids become writers -- but this time, I got to write just for me. My favorite part? Honestly -- all of it. Huge thanks to Sarah, Paul, Wild Basin, and my friend Laura for sharing this experience with me. Funny enough, I drive past here all the time but had never stopped in -- that won't be the case anymore!

This is the trailhead located at 51st southbound on 183, for the 183 Trail. The parking lot…read moreconsists of 24 non-handicapped parking spaces, and 1 handicapped parking space. The parking lot has lighting. There are no trees to provide shade on the lot. From this location there is easy access to the following 3 areas: the bridge which crosses over 183 leading to the YMCA across 183 to the Walnut Creek Trail; the 183 trail (it's a sidewalk next to 183); and the Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt. The YMCA has a larger parking lot than this area though, however, that parking lot is located on 183 northbound. Additionally, there is some workout equipment at the base of the ramp leading up to the bridge, a couple picnic tables near the highway, and a map of the historical Chisholm Trail. An auto collision business and Enterprise-Rent-A-Car are located next door. If you walk up the ramp towards the bridge, you will see a few cameras mounted on a pole monitoring the bridge and surrounding areas. Note that no stairs can be used to access the bridge; onto the ramp. This allows those with wheeled apparatus, such as unicycles, tricycles, bicycles, and wheelchairs to access the bridge and cross over. For runners coming from the west on 51st Street, seeking to access the Walnut Creek Trail, this provides great access in that direction. I have also observed many cyclists take this route over the bridge in both directions, as bike lanes are available on 51st street.

The Greenbelt is one of several within Austin. This one in Travis Heights connects Big Stacy Park…read morewith Little Stacy Park. It's an urban hikers dream because of the ample shade provided by trees, the flowing of Blunn Creek, and probably the fact that it's only a mile long. There are picnic tables and benches along the route. The paths are paved and gravel. Lots of open green space as well.

I needed to clear my mind after sitting in a meeting all day at work. Luckily, this nature preserve…read morewas nearby the hotel just located in South Austin. All the trails are flat, but not wheelchair accessible since they aren't paved. Some of the paths are rocky, muddy, dirt and covered in leaves. No need for trekking poles, just need some good hiking shoes with grip support. The best time to come out is by spring. You can see all the TX State flower, bluebonnets and other TX natives in bloom! The ones off the path aren't as vibrant in their blue color as the ones near the water supply of Blunn Creek. At the creek, the rocks are slippery with algae so be careful not to fall. I almost did, but thankfully caught myself before I had a medical emergency. The park rules says, "no dogs", but of course I spotted dog poop. That's two things pet owners aren't good about: following rules and picking up after their furry ones. I love how the trails are shaded and easy to navigate. All paths are well marked so it's fairly simple to not get lost. There's no parking lot, only street parking. I parked in a residential area behind a car dusted with pollen. During the week, the parking isn't crowded. A nice hike with secluded trails.

Peter P. and I and our pups explored this short but scenic greenbelt today and I will definitely be…read moreback when in the area. The trail runs parallel to Hurst Creek with several pretty waterfalls which makes it feel more away from the city rather than a neighborhood trail. For a longer hike it connects with Hamilton Greenbelt that has over 4 miles of trails. Hamilton Greenbelt has a parking lot across the street from the main trail head or you can take the Hamilton Greenbelt about 10 minutes in you will see a Smith Greenbelt sign on the left so you can cross under Lohman's Crossing instead of having to cross a busy street. If you take Lohman's Crossing from 620 the parking lot is just past the first stop light on the right.