Austin Area Hiking Guide -- by Jeremiah Griffin

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

As an avid hiker, who lives in Austin and loves to take advantage of its many easily accessible trails, I thought I'd post a short list of my favorite nearby hikes with some brief descriptions. As I get to it, I will add to and refine this list. Enjoy!

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge ***** -- (24518 FM 1431 Marble Falls, TX 78654) Known mostly for its bird watching opportunities, there are actually several great trails within the refuge, but the trail nearest Austin is a good 45 minutes away. The trails are well developed, well marked, and one even has numbered plant identification guides at the trailhead. From the trail, there are several great views of Lake Travis, which was very low on the day we went. Also, the trail has good tree canopy coverage for most of its distance, which is a plus for us paler outdoorsy folk. On the day I hiked here, I only saw two other people. I got sense that these trails, although immaculate, were lightly used. A good hike, if you have time for the requisite drive there. 2 miles plus per trail.

Bright Leaf

Bright Leaf Nature Preserve ** -- (4200 Old Bull Creek Rd., 78731) Visitors to this area must attend guided group tours to be allowed on the trails. See website for tour times here. Because hikes are guided, they are good opportunities to learn about native plant and animal species as well as learning about the area's history. Unfortunately, the trails are restricted from general public use, so you can't simply decide to hike here and show up. Also, although the preserve is nice, the land and its features are no different from other nearby hiking areas, so don't expect to be wowed by anything particularly spectacular. Lastly, the scheduled tours usually draw decent sized crowds, so don't expect to move quickly or get much exercise. This would probably be a good choice for those with young, curious children. 4 miles total length, but it can be shortened. 

Bull Creek

Bull Creek Trail ** -- (6874 Lakewood Drive, Austin, Texas) A good, nearby choice if you don't mind wading through a field of crazed, leash-free dogs at play to get to the trail. Upon crossing the creek (which usually has enough water to demand some wading and shoe removal), one finds several trail choices leading in divergent directions. I usually head to the left and eventually climb high on a ridgetop trail that wraps around the entire length of the preserve. The ridge climbs several hundred feet over the adjacent valley, so there are many good views, but unfortunately the 360 highway stays front and center for most of the hike and, at times, can be quite noisy. Still a favorite of mine, when the mood strikes and worth a visit. 1.5 miles in length, but what it lacks in distance it makes up in elevation gains, twists, and turns.   

McKinney Roughs Nature Park *** -- (1884 SH 71 West  Cedar Creek, TX 78612) A bit out of town and there was an $8 day usage fee the few times I've been. This park is maintained by the LCRA, so its facilities are well kept, but it lacks many old growth trees. As a result, little shade can be found -- something I consider a must for hiking in Texas' hot summer sun. As usual, I recommend this place if you have worn out other haunts and are looking for new ground to cover, but this place isn't high on my list for scenic beauty. Despite it's rather plain/typical Central Texas landscape, it does boast nearly 18 miles of possible trail combinations, which is certainly notable. For more info, click here.  

Falls on the Austin Greenbelt

Mopac Turnaround Greenbelt Access Point (Twin Falls) *** -- (Location: From Mopac and 360 intersection, follow Mopac feeder road and then park on the right side of the road, trailhead is down by metal guard rails) While this spot is no "hidden" gem, it is a gem, nonetheless. I've hiked here more than any other area and I like it for many reasons. During years when we receive rain, this area offers several great places for swimming. The two more popular areas are found down the hillside and to the right. Lesser frequented sites, with rope swings, can be found across the creek and to the left (not far past the Mopac overpass). From this starting point, one can walk for miles in either direction. Trails line both sides of the creek, but the North side always has fewer people. Several great caves and cliff escarpments can be found in either direction, along with some popular spots for repelling. It's no wonder that this portion of the greenbelt receives the most foot traffic. The total length of the Greenbelt is rumored to be 9 miles, although I've never done the whole thing in one day. If one were to try this, I suppose it might be a better choice to start on one end (like Zilker Park) and head towards the other, rather than jumping in at the middle, as this entrance point does.   

St. Mark's Episcopal Church Greenbelt Access Point *** -- (2128 Barton Hills drive, 78704) Another great spot to access Austin's Greenbelt trail network. This particular entry point features a nice meditation trail cared for by the church, which has several great benches, some crosses, and a labyrinth. The trail's easy grade makes this a great place for the elderly, disabled, or those with small children. If one follows the trail down into the creek basin, the creek bottom can be reached in 15 minutes.

Turkey Creek Trail

Turkey Creek Trail **** -- (1600 City Park Rd. 78730, On the right, just outside of Emma Long City Park). I adore this trail! It features some of the most interesting topography in the Austin area and it has excellent tree canopy coverage for most of its length. There are great views of neighboring hills (from the upper portions of the trail), a few 50+ foot cliff escarpments, and it is well marked. The first leg of the trail follows a wet weather, runoff creek that usually has some water (which the dogs love to play in). The second portion heads fairly gently up a hill to catch some nice views and then circles back around to the creek-side leg. The main trail's length is about 2 miles, but there are smaller break-away paths at the top of the hill if you wish to make the hike a bit longer. This trail is dog friendly and fairly heavily trafficked on the lower portions.


Wild Basin Wilderness Park ** -- (805 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., 78746) A nice place to head if you're burned out on your favorite trails or looking for new terrain. On the day I went, it was very quiet--in fact, we practically had the place to ourselves. I got the sense that this place was off the radar of most Austinites, so it might be a nice place to head if you're seeking solace within city limits. It's also a nice place for bird watching. To hike here they expect a small $3 donation, well worth the quiet if you ask me. For more info, click here.