Erin Newman-Mitchell

The Main Loop to Vista Loop to Fern Del Trail is a 2.4 mile loop trail located in Northwest San Antonio within Friedrich Park. Portions of the trail are paved, however this particular loop is not recommended for those that have mobility limitations because of the more strenuous inclines. This trail is primarily shaded and during the spring time features an abundance of wildflowers. It's a grea...

Caddo Lake is located on the border between Texas and Louisiana. The Canoe Trail is an intermediate 1.6 mile loop trail within Caddo Lake State Park that takes you through the bald cypress trees of Caddo Lake and at one point even meets the water edge. The trail is very moderately hiked and the often becomes overgrown. This trail is perfect for those looking to get in a relatively short but dec...

The Homestead Loop hike is a 3.1 mile loop featuring the Lower Falls of McKinney Falls State Park. The hike is pretty intermediate and is mostly shaded. There are not many inclines. It is both dog- and kid-friendly. The trail does cross small streams, so be weary to bring water shoes/sandals.  This is a great trail for nature spotting and for a nice hike. This hike is not handicap accessible.

The Dante's Trail and Backend Loop is a 2.5 mile loop hike located within the Purgatory Creek Greenspace area just south of San Marcos, Texas. This particular section of the Greenspace is made of flattened crushed gravel and is mostly shaded. The trail is very well maintained and several benches can be found around the trail. There are slight inclines and declines. It's a great area to spot wil...

The Stevenson Preserve Trail is a 1.5 mile loop hike located in South Austin. The outer trail makes a large loop around the entire park, however there are several interconnecting trails within the loop. This trail system is part of the Stephenson Preserve, which is also connected to the Longview Neighborhood Park. Throughout the trail, you can spot several  neat art installations created by a l...

The Limbo, Dante, and Ripheus Loop is a 2-mile loop hike in San Marcos, Texas found within the Purgatory Creek Green space. The trail is a filled with nature and is perfect for escaping the business of town. The trail is beautiful during the spring, with an abundance of wildflowers. It is mostly shaded, with few inclines. The trail is family and dog-friendly, just be sure to keep your pup(s) l...

The Valburn South Loop is a 2.3 mile loop trail within the Bull Creek Greenbelt in Northwest Austin, Texas. The trail is known for its grand views of the surrounding Hill Country. The trail is shaded for the most part and is pretty rocky, good shoes are highly recommended. The trail is made up of an interconnected trail system and its easy to get turned around in, make sure to bring your phone/...

The Valburn Switchback Party is a 1.1 mile loop hike located within the Bull Creek Greenbelt of northwest Austin. This trail is part of the Valburn trail system and is mostly shaded. It features several mild inclines and the switchbacks on the trail are decently moderate. It's a great exercising trail and is not often too trafficked. Mornings on the trail are quieter and the wildlife is abundan...

This hike is about 3.2 miles in total and is an out-and-back trail found within the Barton Creek Greenbelt stretch. The trail follows along the Barton Creek and is popularly known for the two major waterfalls it entails: Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls, which are very popular swimming destinations. The head of the trail is easily accessible, located right off of Loop 1 (aka Mopac Expressway). Pa...

The Three Falls Hike is a 7.35 mile out and back hike located in the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, Texas. The hike is heavily trafficked. The trail takes you past three waterfalls, which during the summer time serve as extremely popular swimming holes. Please note that the flow of the waterfalls is greatly determined by the amount of rainfall that year. It is not uncommon to find the creek...

Located in the small but fun town of Llano, Texas, Badu Park is a great location for catching a sunset, fishing, picnicking, or just plain chilling. This location is located about an hour and a half west of Austin, Texas (75 miles) but is well worth the drive for a day trip!  The dam is a popular swimming, fishing, and photography spot. The parking lot is located right next to the dam and is ea...

The Yucca and Hillview Nature Trail Loop North is a 2.4 mile loop hike located in Northwest San Antonio within Eisenhower Park.  This is a very family friendly park. There is a playground at the entrance of the trail and an educational area. The park is known for its attraction of wildlife and nature. The trails are mostly shaded, but there are several rocky uphill sections (hiking boots are r...

The Lost Maples Extra Loop Trail is 7.1 loop hike that loops around the majority of the park. It is highly trafficked and offers stunning views of the Texas Hill Country landscape. Please be advised that there are several challenging inclines and steep portions of the trail, so hiking shoes and poles are recommended. The best and most popular time to visit and hike this trail is during the fall...

The Violet Crown Trail: 360 Trailhead to 290 trail is a 1.8 mile point-to-point hike that stretches from Loop 360 to Highway 290. Only a portion of the trail follows alongside Barton Creek before heading south towards HWY 290 while the creek veers off to the west. Dogs are more than welcome as long as they're picked up after. Leashes, though not required, are strongly recommended due to this tr...

Lost Trail is a 1.3 mile loop hike through the Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt in northwest Austin, Texas. The trail features a beautiful waterfall, an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers, several benches, and many beautiful scenes. During the wet season, the creek fills up and flows very nicely. The main waterfall found on this trail is a popular swimming hole. Though depending on the amount of ...

The Limbo Loop is a 1-mile loop hike in San Marcos, Texas found within the Purgatory Creek Green space. The trail is a filled with nature and wildlife. The trail is beautiful during the spring, with an abundance of wildflowers. It is mostly shaded, with few inclines. The trail is family and dog-friendly, just be sure to keep your pup(s) leashed and pick up after them! Parking can be found at t...

The Onion Creek and Homestead Trail Loop is a 6.5 mile loop hike within McKinney Falls State Park, just outside of Austin city limits. The trail is long however pretty beginner level as there are not many inclines. The trail features two waterfalls: the Upper and Lower falls which are popular swimming destinations. The trail is dog friendly, just be sure to clean up after them! The Onion Creek ...

The Good Water Trail which is part of the larger Good Water Loop, is a 12.6 mile point-to-point hike. This trail is heavily trafficked by both hikers and mountain bikers alike. It's a great trail for scenic views, nature, and wildlife. Please be advised that the trail is severely rocky and uneven at times. Because this is a point-to-point trail, it's recommended to have a shuttle car parked at...

This spot is located right off of the North Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360) on the west side of Austin. It faces east and is perfect for catching the sunrise over the city or just overall chillin'. It provides easy and accessible parking. It's a popular spot for sunset and sunrise. There are limited parking spots, however I have never seen it completely full.  It is handicap- and child-frie...

Located about 6 miles from downtown San Marcos, the Five Mile Dam Park is a popular destination for swimming, boating, and other outdoor activities. It has a large flat field for playing soccer as well as many bathrooms. The Blanco River flows through the park and as the name implies, there is a dam. This area serves as a very popular swimming spot during the summer months. But do note that the...

The Limbo, Dante, Old West, Beatrice, and Ovid East Loop is a 2.98 mile loop trail that begins in Prospect Park and makes a  loop around through the Purgatory Greenspace in San Marcos, Texas. The trail is mostly shaded and a little rocky at certain sections. However, this is a great hiking trail for nature observing and wildflower watching.  Parking is easily accessible and found right at the ...

This is a pretty challenging hike but the view is most definitely worth the effort. There are two sides you can hike up on: the east and west. The west side is more popular as it gives a view of the Austin skyline as well the Pennybacker Bridge. However, the east side is good for sunset viewing. Both sides require significant rock climbing, however the climb is not very long. The Overlook is ac...

The Hamilton Greenbelt is a 5.1 mile out-and-back neighborhood hike located in Lakeway, just 15 miles outside of downtown Austin. The trail is located in a neighborhood and is extremely well-maintained. At the entrance of the trail you will find a little garden area with a small waterfall and a sitting bench. The trail features an abundance of wildlife and running streams. It's the perfect trai...

Located about 25 miles from downtown Austin, Westcave Preserve is a beautiful and family-friendly day adventure. The trail is out-and-back about .7 miles long. It leads down into a very lush green canyon filled with a variety of plant species and ferns. At the end of the trail is the main feature- a natural grotto with a 40-foot waterfall that trickles into the blue pond below. The waterfall ca...