Smithville, Texas

Mayfield Nature Preserve is a 21-acre park located just west of downtown Austin, Texas. This nature preserve is unique from all other parks in Austin in that it that features free-roaming peacocks. It's a beautiful park full of beautiful nature and the trail leads down near the lake. The trail is...

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...

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...

The trail up is a combination of manmade and natural stairs that take you up to the top. At the summit, you will find beautiful views of the area, and a pavilion where you can have a picnic lunch. To head back down by a different route, continue on the northern trail, which will take you past mo...

The Hill of Life hiking trail is an out-and-back hiking trail around 3 miles long total. Parking is parallel parking on the street and can be found in the neighborhood where the trailhead is located. The trail begins with a half mile descent down a very rocky and gravel-ridden trail. The descent ...

Sculpture Falls is a hidden gem that is part of the 7.9 mile long Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin. It's considered an urban oasis and is part of the Edwards Aquifer making the water temperatures in the summer about 70 degrees, and is a perfect way to cool off in the Texas heat! To find the trai...

The Dick Nichols Park Trail is a 1 mile loop neighborhood park trail located in Southwest Austin. The trail is completely flat and is entirely paved. It circles the park and is equally shaded and exposed. It's very kid-friendly and perfect for walking the dog, biking, trail running, hiking, and e...

The Western Oaks Trail is a 1.7 mile trail located in the Legend Oaks neighborhood in Southwest Austin, Texas. The trail is looping however there are several interconnecting trails which can shorten or lengthen the duration of the hike. The trail is mostly flat and made of crushed gravel. It is p...

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...

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 ...

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. ...

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 easts...

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is managed as part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and consists of 227 acres of beautiful Hill Country woodlands owned jointly by Travis County (164.4 acres) and St. Edwards University (62.6 acres). Wild Basin is open to visitors who can hike the 2.5 miles of t...

The Valburn to Bull Creek Loop is a 1.6 mile loop hike through the Bull Creek Greenbelt  located in Northwest Austin, Texas. The trail follows alongside the creek and is pretty rocky and steep with many changes in elevation. The trail is very scenic and has many wildlife watching opportunities, a...

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 ...

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...