Erin Newman-Mitchell

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") nearby that is only about three quarters of a mile long. The road leading up to the deck is a dirt ro...

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 even rollerblading. During the spring/summer months the trail is filled with pretty wildflowers. Ther...

The Spring Lake Preserve Trail is a 4.3 mile loop trail located within the The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment in San Marcos, Texas. The hike offers beautiful and scenic lake views. It's perfect for families and those of all ages. There are a wide variety of nature and wildlife spotting opportunities. Note that especially in the spring the wildflowers grow along the trail shoulder ...

The Hillview Nature Trail is a 2.9 mile loop hike located in Northwest San Antonio within Eisenhower Park. This trail is extremely heavily trafficked. This is a very family friendly park. There is a playground at the entrance of the trail and an educational area. The park is known for its attraction of wildlife and nature. The trails are mostly shaded, but there are several rocky uphill sectio...

The Main Loop to Vista Loop to Fern Del Trail is a 2.4 mile loop trail located in Northwest San Antonio within Friedrich 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 spring time features an abundance of wildflowers. It's a grea...

Caddo Lake is located on the border between Texas and Louisiana. The Canoe Trail is an intermediate 1.6 mile loop trail within Caddo Lake State Park that takes you through the bald cypress trees of Caddo Lake and at one point even meets the water edge. The trail is very moderately hiked and the often becomes overgrown. This trail is perfect for those looking to get in a relatively short but dec...

Walnut Creek Metro Loop is an 8.8 mile loop hike located within Walnut Creek Metro Park in north Austin, Texas. The trail is moderately hiked and relatively easy. It's great for walking/running/cycling. There are many smaller trails that connect portions of the main loop and it's easy to get confused. The trail is paved at certain points but for the most part is flattened dirt. Keep in mind tha...

The Dante's Trail and Backend Loop is a 2.5 mile loop 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 great area to spot wil...

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 limited parking spots, however I have never seen it completely full.  It is handicap- and child-fri...

The Great Hills Park trail is a 2.3 mile point-to-point nature trail found within the Great Hills neighborhood of Northwest Austin. The trail is perfect for cycling, hiking, or just for taking a regular walk. The hike features a multitude of wildlife and is primarily shaded. There are several bat houses along the trail. During the months of summer in either the early morning or right before sun...

The Wolf Mountain Trail is a 7.2 mile loop hike within Pedernales Falls State Park, right outside of Johnson City, Texas. The trail is pretty wide and great for all sorts of exercising and social distancing. The trail is relatively moderate and well maintained. There is little shade but it is still a great hike and the most perfect trail for exploration, especially for kids. There are several ...

Wolf Mountain and Juniper Ridge Trail Loop is a 11.2 mile loop hike within Pedernales Falls State Park, right outside of Johnson City, Texas. The trail is pretty wide and great for all sorts of exercising and social distancing. The trail is relatively moderate and well maintained. There is little shade but it is still a great hike. There are several scenic views as well as dips down into the c...

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 an interconnected trail system and its easy to get turned around in, make sure to bring your phone/...

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 trail and is not often too trafficked. Mornings on the trail are quieter and the wildlife is abundan...

The San Gabriel River trailhead is found within Cedar Breaks Park, just northeast of Georgetown, Texas. The trail is a 7.6 mile moderate out-and-back trail. 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 b...

This hike is about 3.2 miles in total and is an out-and-back trail found within the Barton Creek Greenbelt stretch. The trail follows along the Barton Creek and is popularly known for the two major waterfalls it entails: Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls, which are very popular swimming destinations. The head of the trail is easily accessible, located right off of Loop 1 (aka Mopac Expressway). Pa...

The Lost Maples Extra Loop Trail is 7.1 loop hike that loops around the majority of the park. It is highly trafficked and offers stunning views of the Texas Hill Country landscape. Please be advised that there are several challenging inclines and steep portions of the trail, so hiking shoes and poles are recommended. The best and most popular time to visit and hike this trail is during the fall...

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 long as they're picked up after. Leashes, though not required, are strongly recommended due to this tr...

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. The main waterfall found on this trail is a popular swimming hole. Though depending on the amount of ...

The Limbo Loop is a 1-mile loop hike in San Marcos, Texas found within the Purgatory Creek Green space. The trail is a filled with nature and wildlife. 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) leashed and pick up after them! Parking can be found at t...

The Good Water Trail which is part of the larger Good Water Loop, is a 12.6 mile point-to-point hike. This trail is heavily trafficked by both hikers and mountain bikers alike. It's a great trail for scenic views, nature, and wildlife. Please be advised that the trail is severely rocky and uneven at times. Because this is a point-to-point trail, it's recommended to have a shuttle car parked at...

The Limbo, Dante, Old West, Beatrice, and Ovid East Loop is a 2.98 mile loop trail that begins in Prospect Park and makes a  loop around through the Purgatory Greenspace in San Marcos, Texas. The trail is mostly shaded and a little rocky at certain sections. However, this is a great hiking trail for nature observing and wildflower watching.  Parking is easily accessible and found right at the ...

Main Loop and Juniper Trail is a 2.7 mile loop hike located in Northwest San Antonio within Friedrich Park. This park and trail are both highly trafficked and popular for hiking. Portions of the trail are paved, however there are parts that are not and have a dirt/natural path. This trail is primarily shaded and during the spring time features an abundance of wildflowers. It's a great trail fo...

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 trees offer lots of shade in the warmer summer months. Dogs are allowed in this nature preserve but must...