Taylor, Texas

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 tree...

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...

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 ...

This look out point is less than a quarter mile hike and is located within the Rollingwood neighborhood, just west of Loop 1 (Mopac Expressway). It faces east and is a great location for catching sunrise. The trail to the overlook is crushed gravel, but is very flat. This overlook is kid- and dog...

Barton Springs Pool is a historical staple in the city of Austin. Located within Zilker Park, the location is easy to find and even has easy accessible parking. Now with that being said, it is recommended to arrive somewhat early in the day if you don't want to be resorted to fishing for a parkin...

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...

Outside of the fantastic job market, one of the most magical things about Austin is how quickly you can go from city life to being immersed in nature. Nearly every day, I take a quick jaunt down to the Barton Creek Greenbelt with my trusty companion, Sage the Chocolate Lab. We live within walking...

The Chalk Ridge Falls Trail can be found within Chalk Ridge Falls Park just outside of Belton, Texas. The trail features one main waterfall as well as a neat suspension bridge. The hike to the waterfall and the bridge are not but about half a mile from the parking lot. Overall the trail is about ...

The trailheads are located in neighborhoods and parking isn't really too much of an issue. The shortest entrance is located off Barton Hills Dr. A quick google search and you will find it and the labeled trail. You walk down into the Barton Creek Green Belt and your spirits are uplifted. That cra...

NOTICE:For this activity it is necessary to have someone with lead climbing and belaying expertise. There is a wide range of difficulties on the routes. A guide that has climbed at this wall before is recommended. GETTING THERE:You can enter Gus Fruh from a couple of different points starting in ...

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 ...

The Barton Greenbelt Trail via Barton Creek Plaza is a 6.6 mile out-and-back hike located within the Barton Creek Greenbelt. This trail follows along the creek and features a couple prominent waterfalls that also serve as popular swimming holes in the summer months. Depending on the rainfall for ...

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.  Th...

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 lo...

The Cathedral of Junk is a hidden gem within the Austin City Limits, actually located in the Artists backyard. Construction was started back in 1988 by Vince Hahnemann and he still continues to add to it to this day! Climb to the top of the tower to rock out on the drum set or maybe even catch a ...

McKinney Falls is separated into the Upper and Lower Falls along Onion Creek just 15 miles outside of Austin. The pin I dropped on the map gets you to the parking lot at the Upper Falls. From there it is a very short walk past the Smith Visitor Center to the falls. The upper falls offers some sha...