Hike the Little Fern Trail

Austin, Texas

Save

View all 1 photos

All 1 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

0.5 miles

Elevation Gain

140 ft

Route Type

Point-to-Point

Description

Added by Erin Newman-Mitchell

The Little Fern Trail is a gorgeous, family-friendly hike in Nature Preserve at River Place in Northwest Austin.

The Little Fern Trail is a 1.9 mile out-and-back hike that is a part of the River Place Nature Trail. It is perfect for hiking, walking, running, and biking. The trail is open for use year-round and is easy to follow, with lots of small, side waterfalls and lush greenery scattered along. The trees offer lots of shade in the warmer summer months. Dogs are allowed in this nature preserve but must be kept on leash and be sure to clean up after them!

Parking is easily accessible and abundant. There is a parking lot, but once filled there is plenty of street parking available. The trail is narrow and there are inclines. It is not very permitting for those with mobility limitations.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Fitness

Cycling

Chillin

Mountain Biking

Running

Hiking

Dog Friendly

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

River

Scenic

Waterfall

Wildflowers

Wildlife

Hike the Little Fern Trail Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Riverplace Nature Trail

This is a great trail to get some exercise close to downtown Austin, Texas. The trail at Natural Preserve at River Place is well maintained and has stairs and plenty of elevation gain to make your legs a little wobbly by the time you get back to your car. The trail is a 5.5-mile out-and-back hike, but you can turn around and head back to your starting point if this distance is more than you'd l...

Turkey Creek Trail

Turkey Creek trail is a 2.7 mile out-and-back hike located within Emma Long Metropolitan Park in Northwest Austin, Texas. This trail is perfect for cycling, running, walking, and general exercise. The trail is made of dirt with few inclines. Please note, however, at the beginning of the trail there are some stairs and uneven grounds. You must cross the creek to continue the trail, though at thi...

Swim and Relax at Common's Ford Ranch

Commons Ford is a lakefront park offering a boathouse that can be reserved, fishing, volleyball net and picnicking. Many people go to the park with the expectation of lounging on the large grassy area for many hours so be sure to pack food, blankets, sunscreen, and tubes if you plan to float in the water. The crowd at this park is generally laid back and you’ll often find many furry friends ru...

Photograph Pennybacker Bridge (Austin 360 Bridge)

If you're looking for excellent views of hill country, the skyline, or just an awesome place to watch the sunset this is the place to be. If you're heading southbound from 183 on 360 just before you reach the bridge there will be a dirt parking lot on your right. There are trailheads on the eastside and westside of 360 (the westside trail is a lot less traveled and has some great short hikes th...

Hike the 360/Pennybacker Bridge Overlook Trail

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...

Bull Creek South to North

The Bull Creek Trail is an Out-and-Back trail along Bull Creek; it's a pretty beginner to intermediate hike. The trail follows along Bull Creek which runs between the hills of the Austin Hill Country. There are several waterfalls which can be found along the creek. The trail has multiple access points, many of which are located right next to the major waterfalls of the trail. It is not necessar...