Looking to get away from it all and only experience the wonderful sights, sounds, and smells of nature? Check out these best places to hike in Austin!
One of the most popular parks in Austin, the Barton Creek Greenbelt has multiple locations to access the park throughout Austin. Barton Creek Greenbelt is popular for hiking, swimming, mountain biking, rock climbing, and bird watching. During the peak summer months, there's plenty of people on the trails, so be prepared for a bit of traffic. Check out the Violet Crown Trail, a 30-mile trail while you're out there!
The River Place Nature Trail has three trails within it: the Little Fern Trail, the Canyon Trail, and the Panther Hollow Trail. The Little Fern Trail is the most scenic of the trails, the Panther Hollow Trail is the easiest of the trails, and the Canyon Trail is the "big dog" trail that extends the longest of the three trails. Pro tip: parking is limited at the Little Fern Trail, so you might want to think about combining one of the other trails; this way, you can park at another entrance.
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
The Wild Basin Wildnerness Preserve encompasses 31,000 acres of protected preserve, which helps ensure the safety of so many endangered species throughout the area. Visitors can hike the 2.5-mile trail and can visit the Welcome Center where you can learn more about the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. At parts, it can be a rockier trail, so be sure to bring plenty of water and supportive hiking shoes.
One of the only trails that runs along a river, this picturesque 2.8-mile trail is worth checking out! The trail can be quite busy and is graded as "moderate" for skill-level. This trail is dog-friendly, and you can fish, mountain bike, run, and bird watch. Some parts are a little muddy because of the river, so be careful not to slip, and bring shoes you won't mind getting a little dirty!
What's better than a waterfall along your hike? Listen to the Onion Creek as it crashes along the trail, providing little pools where hikers can stop for a swim to cool off! If geocaching is your thing, the McKinney Falls State Park has a few geocaching spots, too! If you plan to stay overnight, they also have 81 different campsites!
Be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen as well as bring a hat and plenty of water because these trails in Austin get hot in the Texas summer sun.
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Cover photo courtesy of Adobe Stock Images
