With so many great places to get out and stretch your legs in Austin, we’ve rounded up some nearby options from quick and easy to more ambitious. Check out our picks for nearby options below.
Quick Hikes
We heart hikes with the family; photo by Heidi Okla
Texas State Parks have traditionally offered guided hikes and special programs led by park rangers but with COVID-19 in mind, it’s best to check with each specific park for the latest updates. Day pass reservations are needed at Texas State Parks on busy days and holidays. So if you plan to visit a State Park, you will want to book your day passes ahead to avoid any worry about capacity issues. Here are some details about our own experiences visiting some of our favorite State Parks near Austin:
- McKinney Falls State Park
- Pedernales Falls State Park
- Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
- Inks Lake State Park
St. Edward’s Trail; photo by Heidi Okla
Austin Parks & Trails: For something close to home, there are plenty of amazing parks and trails within Austin city limits — and these do not currently require reservations. A few of our favorites are listed below (some are linked with details of our own experiences and photos). For a bigger and more comprehensive list, visit the Austin Parks Foundation website for more listings of local trails to choose from!
- St. Edwards Trail – overview
- Bull Creek District Park– overview
- Barton Creek Greenbelt – overview
- Mayfield Park Preserve – overview
- River Place Nature Trail – overview
- Zilker Botanical Garden (reservations required) – overview
- Shoal Creek Greenbelt – overview
- Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Walnut Creek Metro Park
- Commons Ford
- Onion Creek
- Turkey Creek Trail at Emma Long Metro Park
- Mary Moore Searight Metro Park
- Circle C Ranch
- Blunn Creek
- Balcones Park
- Lady Bird Lake Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail
Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake; photo by Roger Ho
Travis County Parks offer a variety of wonderful trails, but unlike most of the City of Austin parks listed above, these parks do require entrance fees. Hamilton Pool Preserve is currently the only Travis County Park that requires advanced reservations. Some of our personal favorites among the Travis County Parks include:
Pace Bend Park; photo by Heidi Okla
Parks in Neighboring Cities: We often find ourselves visiting parks in Lakeway, Round Rock, Georgetown and more local communities that surround Austin. Here’s some resources to help you find a great trail in the areas around Austin:
Hamilton Greenbelt in Lakeway; photo by Heidi Okla
For even more ideas on places to go hiking nearby, check out our list of Wondrous Waterfalls Near Around Austin and bookmark our catalog of Hikes & Trails for any future trail overviews to come.
