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St. Edwards Park Yellow & Blue Trails

Austin, Texas

4.7/5
based on 6 reviews

Details

Distance

1.24 miles

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Brooke Simmons

This park is offers great hikes near Austin. There is a family-friendly option and a cold creek for swimming in the warmer months. The park is dog-friendly.

St. Edwards Park offers 2 main trails taking you along a creek, up hill trails with gorgeous views from atop a bluff, through exposed meadows filled with prairie grasses and cacti, and to a small swimming hole with a rope swing.

The Creek Trail is a much easier, family friendly hike compared to the Hill Trail. Creek Trail is a 2 mile round trip out-and-back hike that affords hikers with views of shear rock faces along the quieter section of Bull Creek. You'll begin the hike at the same waypoint as Hill Trail labeled Trailhead. Not far from the start, the trail comes to a T and you will proceed to the right through the parks exposed prairies. Heading towards the creek, the next trail sign is labeled 4-Way and from here you will take a right leading you onto the portion of the trail that parallels the creek. From now, the trail will be easy to follow and ends at Spicewood Springs Road where you'll turn around and retrace your path back to the start of your hike.

The Hill Trail takes hikers on a moderately challenging hike up limestone bluffs overlooking the clear waters of Bull Creek. Hill Trail starts at the large parking area where you'll begin by following the trail titled "Trailhead". You'll cross over Bull Creek on skillfully placed rock stacks leading to the ascend of Hill Trail on the opposite side of the creek. From here, you'll be rewarded with beautiful overlooks. Hill Trail is essentially one large loop taking hikers around the perimeter of the park with various smaller trails branching off inside the loop. If you stay on the Hill Trail you will eventually be led back to the creek where you'll retrace your steps to the parking area.

I recommend taking a picture on your phone of the trail map located in the parking lot. There are multiple trails that intersect the 2 main trails which can be a bit confusing.

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Features

Running
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
River
Scenic
Wildflowers
Swimming Hole

St. Edwards Park Yellow & Blue Trails Reviews

This is one of my favorite local trails. There is very little parking along the shoulder so get there early. Lots to see and do along the trail. It is a hidden gem in the big city.

Loved this place my little daughter and I would always visit. This is a little piece of heaven early morning. Especially in the late fall

The water does mostly dry up in the middle of the summer and it gets hot, but a cool place to explore for a couple of hours.

Really clear waterfalls and streams. There's a "uptrail" if you don't want to walk along the river. Ropes on the trees for swinging into the river. Water is very clear and beautiful

I've lived in Austin for 6 years and St. Edwards Park still tops my list of favorite places to go year-round. There are hiking trails along the river bank (or you can just walk in the river!) and there are also some nice trails that go up higher in elevation away from the river. I frequently hammock, swim, rope swing, and hike here since it’s never too busy. April and May are particularly pretty times since the wildflowers are in full bloom. There's a small parking lot, but people often park alongside the road, too.

Leave No Trace

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

Nearby

St. Edwards Green and Red Loop

St. Edwards Park Greenbelt Loop

Hike the Bull Creek Loop

Bull Creek Trail

Hike Lost Trail

Hike the Great Hills Park Trail