Texas

The Violet Crown Trail: Zilker to 360 is 3.7 mile out-and-back stretch through the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The trail begins in Zilker Park and follows Barton Creek all the way south to Loop 360. Parking can be found at Zilker Park. Though on weekends and during the summer time, the park is usuall...

Just north of Huntsville and Houston, Texas, the Blue Lagoon is the perfect place to cool off and watch the sunlight reflect off the water. There is also a great opportunity to walk through the wooded area behind the  lake and take some pictures of the trees and the water. This is really a lovely...

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...

Every evening, just as the sun sets, you can watch the 1.5 million bats take flight into the evening sky. This is great family fun and a must if you visit/are new to Austin. Parking is easy and nearby, however it is paid. There is a separate lot located in the Austin American Stateman parking lot...

The Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake provides great views of the city skyline from several different perspectives. It's perfect for exercising or just taking a stroll on. It's about a 10 mile looping trail however there are several points in which you can cross the river and make the loo...

Copper Breaks offers some great, private and group campsites that boast beautiful, Texas overlooks, click here for reservations. The two loops to the northeast and southeast are group camping sites. This quiet park is great for camping, picnicking, backpacking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewi...

The Good Water Trail Loop from Cedar Breaks is a 10.1 mile loop hike that begins within Cedar Breaks Park, just northeast of Georgetown, Texas. The trail is heavily trafficked and even more so on weekends. There are several inclines and declines, but nothing too significant. The trail has rough t...

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 the...

The Bull Creek trail is a dog-friendly loop trail found in the Bull Creek Greenbelt area of northwest Austin, Texas. This trail, which may be confused with the South-to-North Bull Creek Trail, actually does not follow the creek and instead winds around the hills of the Austin Hill Country. The t...

If you're interested in kayaking, paddle board, or just chilling, this spot is perfect for you (you can also fish, take photos and bird watch). To get to the spot, you will need to take I-10 from Houston, 71 from Austin, or 239 from San Antonio. The launch point is literally at the end of county ...

The Sunset deck at Balcones Canyonlands is an amazing family- and pet-friendly spot. Parking is only about 100 feet from the overlook and is easily accessible for any and everyone. The overlook is absolutely serene and great for a picnic. There is also a small beginner trail ("Ridgeline Trail") n...

Start your hike from the campground area. There are several trailheads there. Hike for about a mile through some forested and cacti covered area with great views of the river valley and the Permian reef.  After the first mile the trail descents into a wash and you can follow the wash doing some ...

St. Edwards Green and Red Loop is a 2.7 mile loop hike located in northwest, Austin, Texas. The trail is heavily trafficked, but has a great nature scene, including a multitude of bird species and wildflowers. Bull creek flows through the trail, creating a waterfall at one point which makes for a...

The Spring Lake Wetland Walk is a 0.7 mile loop hike located in The Meadows Center for Water and Environment. It's a great walk with a self-guided tour purposed for learning about the surrounding nature, wildlife, and invasive species. This area is not particularly great for exercising or anythin...

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. T...

This small isle is a nice feature of the section of the Colorado River that flows through Austin. The isle is pretty small and is a good scenic location for a quick 1-2 hour outing. All the trails are pretty flat and easy to walk. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a nice park i...