Mount Bonnell is the quintessential Austin spot for breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Austin,…read morethe surrounding hills, and some of the most impressive homes in the city. I usually visit here as a part of run club destination run as the sounding area is very hilly and a challenging running route. The best time to visit is around sunrise or sunset as the overlook provides plenty of opportunities for photos, whether you're capturing the water, the skyline in the distance, or simply enjoying the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country. The trail itself is relatively short and manageable, though there are a few stairs to navigate. Parking can be limited during peak times, so arriving early is a good idea. Despite its popularity, the atmosphere remains peaceful and makes for a great spot to relax, reflect, or bring out-of-town guests for a memorable Austin experience. Whether you're a local or just visiting Austin, Mount Bonnell is a must-see destination that showcases some of the best views the city has to offer.

Mount Bonnell was a place that we were told we really needed to go when we were visiting Austin…read more You get on top of the ridge (at least this is a ridge to me as I was born and raised and lived in mountain states where the mountains are quite large) and you can get a great view of downtown Austin with it's cityscape and then you can also get a good view of the Colorado River and the neighborhoods across the river which are quite nice. The terrain is rocky on top so watch your step and there are a fair amount of people up here enjoying the view as well. I am sure sunrises and sunsets are beautiful and very impressive. We walked for a ways and got a few different vantage points of the views so if you are able to do that I definitely recommend doing so. It's a great place and indeed a place to go when visiting. The locals enjoy it too!

This trail walk (or "hike") is a fairly pleasant one. We went early March, and it was a bit…read moreovercast that day. It's about 30 mins or so to the very end where the mini falls are. During that time, it was lush and water was flowing pretty high, but you had to go all the way to the very end to see water. Ive also been here one time in April and the water was flowing about halfway through the trail. It's not strenuous at all, very nice refreshing walk. Brought the pup out there and he did really well. Getting there, don't follow the Sculpture Falls direction because it will take you to a non-accessible location. Instead, make a U-turn on Capital of Texas Hwy and head east. Then you'll turn into the mopac entrance but instead of going on ramp, you take a right and you'll see a bunch of cars parked. The entrance to the trail is off the right side.

Decided to go for a little hike and ended up going to see the sculpture falls. The falls weren't…read morelarge but just as beautiful. The walk however was exhausting. Going down wasn't too bad but going back up was. We later learned it was called the hill of death. The pictures do not show the intensity, depth, treacherousness or level of difficulty walking up the hill.

The River Place Nature Trail is the perfect combination of breathtaking scenery and an opportunity…read morefor a great workout. The trail is known for its steep elevation changes, lush greenery, and tranquil water features. This trail is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and fitness evangelists. The trail winds through dense vegetation with a mix of wooden steps, rocky pathways, and shaded stretches. One of the biggest attractions is the seemingly endless staircase sections. Looking up from the bottom, those steps appear to climb straight into the heavens. I was mentally preparing myself for the challenge when I spotted a sign that changed everything: "Beware of Snakes. Stay on the designated trail." Excuse me...what?! Will a snake know whether or not I'm on the designated trail? I'm thinking no. Those slithering little noodles of doom that can inject venom and potentially ruin your entire day or your life? At that moment, my inner adventurer immediately became my inner safety officer. Mission status: Abort. Abort. Abort. Instead, we claimed chairs overlooking the pond and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings from a much safer distance. It was incredibly relaxing...except for the part where I spent a good portion of the time imagining snakes conducting secret meetings somewhere in the bushes. All humor aside, River Place Nature Trail is absolutely beautiful. The scenery is stunning, the atmosphere is serene, and for those brave souls who aren't distracted by reptilian concerns, it's an excellent hiking destination. As for me, I'll admire it from the comfort of a chair with a clear view of the ground. There is a fee to walk the trials. If you do not pay the fee, please feel free to donate to the trail fund. This is a very well-maintained trail.

Nice canyon trail in the middle of the neighborhood. Glad that small piece of nature is preserve…read moreinstead turning into someone's backyard. 2.5 mile one way. It said it has a lot of steps (2736) but they are not continuous so don't worry. There isn't a overlook but at the hill top u can see over the valley a little bit. I started around lunch time . 11am. 89F. Maybe because I was little sick but I drank 24fl oz of water at 2mi mark. So bring more water if u plan on going back. Which will be a 6mi total hike. I see people being kids so it is not very difficult. Scenery: currently Texas is under a drought so all the creek is bone dry as u can see in my pictures. There many different of plants u can see along the path. Flowers and berries too. $10 during peak hours which I assume is weekend. And for parking, you can just park on the street

Oh how I love walking the Greenbelt! It feels like you can go for miles and miles. Well, you can as…read moreit's for nearly 12 miles of trails. Our little furry guy loves a jaunt on the trail in his stroller, especially if that means stopping off for a swim along the way. Can't beat cooling off in natural watering holes during a hot summer in Austin. The Barton Hills entrance gets you to Campbell's Hole while 360 gets you to Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls. I say do it all. Maybe not in one day...save something for the next time. Definitely a precious piece of Austin that we're so lucky to have.

Loved hiking here for the first time! We first parked at the 360 trailhead and were freaked out by…read moreall the broken glass and signs saying that it's a common smash and grab area. There were broken windows literally everywhere. The car was completely empty and we parked and started to enter, then decided to turn around because it just didn't feel right. We drove down to the other entrance on Spyglass near TacoDeli and felt much better. Residential area with street parking - perfect. We got on the trail and turned left which brought us to the new Violet Crown trailhead. We figured out how it connected to Barton Springs Pool. This was only 3 miles round trip. Next time we will go right past the falls. I am not sure there are even falls right now since it hasn't rained in a long time. The trail is easily marked and there were lots of people out. Can't wait to do more exploring soon!

There are definitely reasons why this park is so popular and why the website recommends purchasing…read moreday passes in advance. McKinney Falls is gorgeous! We went for a hike there right after a big storm and the grounds were so green and vibrant. We mostly stuck to the Onion Creek Trail as it is paved; however, the storm brought in mud to a few places on the trail, so be prepared to maneuver or wear proper footwear if you go during rainy season. Many families line up to take pictures in front of the upper falls (outside the Smith visitor center), so go early if you'd like a picture free of other guests. We then went to the lower falls area where there is an expanse of limestone (I believe) to get to the falls. There's a very small beach and swimming hole area that many families were enjoying. It's important to note that dogs can't enter any of the water at this park. The park also had multiple designated fishing areas as well. We drove around the campgrounds and they have well-maintained water + electric sites at every site. We would highly recommend a visit if you're in the Austin area.

I've been here several times and have explored it fairly extensively. The family-friendly trails…read moreare varied enough to keep the day interesting and the time spent at McKinney Falls is never wasted. For those seeking a bit more of a challenge, crossing the river takes more thought to avoid getting your feet wet. I've usually found there are 2-3 paths at the river crossing, being careful not to slip on any rocks. The homestead beyond the crossing can be observed and appreciated, but it's off-limits to help preserve what's left. The backcountry trails total about 6 miles and it's usually just the right length for me to get a solid hike in. There is very little elevation change, though there can be a lot of mosquitos during the warmer months. I didn't find any benches to rest at and there is no water source to refill water bottles. Given that McKinney Falls is within Austin's city limits makes this state park a gem. There is also a large day-use area near the campgrounds with about 100 picnic tables and charcoal grills the last time I counted a few years ago. Parking is plenty and the rangers are friendly. Definitely either get there early or make online reservations to reserve a time slot to enter as the park can fill up fast over weekends or holidays. Their gift shop also has a variety of items for sale, and you can get a park passport stamp there too!

Totally worth the drive and walking up the stairs. The only thing is to be aware of the parking…read moresituation..make sure to get their early ..parking spaces are limited and the street is narrow.

Amazing view. Very peaceful. Get there early and beat the traffic and get ready for lots of stairs…read moreto climb. Totally worth it.

We had a wonderful hiking experience along the greenbelt. We started at the spyglass trailhead and…read morefortunately found street parking. We went along the trail to the Gus frau trailhead and made our way up to the residential neighborhood above. It was a great hike - lots of woods around us and we saw some areas where folks were trying out rock climbing and bouldering. It's a pretty easy hike - not too much of an elevation gain. We saw a lot of families and dogs along the trail. The Gus Frau portion was a bit steeper but still pretty do-able overall. The hike is shaded which is much appreciated during hot Texas summers. I would certainly come back here to check out more of the Greenbelt!

Back in the day (and by that, I mean about a few months ago), I found this randomly and stopped to…read morewalk/hike around on a sunny sunday morning. I wasn't aware there were multiple starting points for this trail as there's a connection in the Townlake area; but I found this location! It's roughly 3 miles and covers the South Austin area with the trail that crosses underneath route 360 and goes alongside Barton Creek. There is plenty of uphill climb here that will give you quite the workout but it's well worth it! I saw a decent amount of hikers/walkers here with a couple bikers. Some trail areas are narrow so you may find yourself either stepping aside or influencing someone to step aside. I'll be back!

Decided to check out this trail because I was in town and was not disappointed. I may have gone the…read morewrong way because I didn't make it down to the creek but it was still beautiful. Kind of difficult so it is a great workout with great views. Definitely worth going to see the views of hill country! Best, Bob B.

A favorite spot to enter Barton creek Greenbelt. Park along camp craft rd using the park mobile…read moreapp. Enter the trail which is very rocky with loose stones and at an incline with little shade on way down/up. There is plenty of shade along the Greenbelt trail but not the hill of life. Bring plenty of water to drink. The decent/incline takes 10-15 min each way. There is a swimming hole directly at the bottom or a short distance to the right at the lost creek dam. Sometimes the water can be low so ask around before you go. The trail to the left also leads so sculpture falls. There are some trail markers but might be hard to follow for first timers. Can use google maps to help know where you are.