Erin Newman-Mitchell

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 not completely level and is not paved and thus is not very handicap-friendly, however the area in w...

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 terrain so hiking boots/sturdy shoes are highly recommended. It also follows along the banks of Lake ...

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 usually busy and parking can be difficult to find, The trail is mostly shaded and is perfect for hiking, r...

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.  This is a great trail for nature spotting and for a nice hike. This hike is not handicap accessible.

The Hamilton Greenbelt is a 5.1 mile out-and-back neighborhood hike located in Lakeway, just 15 miles outside of downtown Austin. The trail is located in a neighborhood and is extremely well-maintained. At the entrance of the trail you will find a little garden area with a small waterfall and a sitting bench. The trail features an abundance of wildlife and running streams. It's the perfect trai...

The Onion Creek and Homestead Trail Loop is a 6.5 mile loop hike within McKinney Falls State Park, just outside of Austin city limits. The trail is long however pretty beginner level as there are not many inclines. The trail features two waterfalls: the Upper and Lower falls which are popular swimming destinations. The trail is dog friendly, just be sure to clean up after them! The Onion Creek ...

The outer loop trail at Mary Moore Searight park is 2.1 miles and is interconnected by several smaller trails, which can be used to shorten the length of the hike. The trail is relatively easy with very few inclines and declines. The trail is mostly very thin crushed gravel and great for an easy walk/run/bike. Along with the trail, there are several large fields located around the park perfect ...

Located about 25 miles from downtown Austin, Westcave Preserve is a beautiful and family-friendly day adventure. The trail is out-and-back about .7 miles long. It leads down into a very lush green canyon filled with a variety of plant species and ferns. At the end of the trail is the main feature- a natural grotto with a 40-foot waterfall that trickles into the blue pond below. The waterfall ca...

The Three Falls Hike is a 7.35 mile out and back hike located in the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, Texas. The hike is heavily trafficked. The trail takes you past three waterfalls, which during the summer time serve as extremely popular swimming holes. Please note that the flow of the waterfalls is greatly determined by the amount of rainfall that year. It is not uncommon to find the creek...

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 dam. This area serves as a very popular swimming spot during the summer months. But do note that the...

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 swimming, fishing, and photography spot. The parking lot is located right next to the dam and is ea...

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...

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-friendly, just be sure to clean up after them! There are also no bathrooms nearby.

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 loop shorter. There is also a boardwalk that extends out onto the river. The boardwalk has several sitt...

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 great swimming hole. The trail is a dirt path and does have some elevation inclines and declines. ...

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 dedicated for this event. Once you park, you are able to walk up on the bridge or relax in the gras...

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 2.5 miles long and is an out-and-back trail. It's mostly shaded and follows alongside the creek. Thi...

The Limbo, Dante, and Ripheus Loop is a 2-mile loop hike in San Marcos, Texas found within the Purgatory Creek Green space. The trail is a filled with nature and is perfect for escaping the business of town. The trail is beautiful during the spring, with an abundance of wildflowers. It is mostly shaded, with few inclines. The trail is family and dog-friendly, just be sure to keep your pup(s) l...

The Purgatory Creek Overlook via Dante's Trail is a 2.8 mile out-and-back hike located within the Purgatory Creek Greenspace area just south of San Marcos, Texas. This particular section of the Greenspace is made of flattened crushed gravel and is mostly shaded. The trail is very well maintained and several benches can be found around the trail. There are slight inclines and declines. It's a gr...

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 anything along those lines but rather perfect for observing nature.  The trail features a boardwalk that s...

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 primarily used by families and runners. Along the trail are several additional work out stations. The...

Start the route by walking back to picnic ground entrance, crossing Can Creek where it flows into the Sabinal River, then going up Can Creek to the dam and "The Pond", reverse direction at The Pond and backtrack to the picnic ground startpoint. Then continue on to the East Trail trailhead and follow West Trail, including Maples Trail, to "The Grotto". At The Grotto, reverse direction and backtr...

The Restoration Way Trail Loop is a 5.1 mile loop hike located in Northwest San Antonio within  Friedrich Park. The trail is definitely one of the more challenging trails in the park.  Portions of the trail are paved, however this particular loop is not recommended for those that have mobility limitations because of the more strenuous inclines. This trail is primarily shaded and during the spr...

The Laguna Gloria Trail is a 0.4 mile out-and-back hike beginning in Mayfield Park, a popular park located in west Austin. The trail is very short and relatively easy. The trail is made of dirt and is completely shaded. It's a very calming walk and beautiful walk, full of lush greens and depending on the season lots of wildflowers. The trail head is found within Mayfield Park. Please be advised...