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.

Make sure you time your visit and check the weather…read more We decided to come here and have a picnic lunch and it was hot, hot, hot at 110 degrees mid-August. The falls were not falling - no water at all - people were still swimming in the swimming hole and trying to have a good time but it was miserably hot. Not the park's fault but - probably not the best in the middle of summer.

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

This was my first visit to Government Canyon. I reserved my day pass, checked in at the entrance,…read moregot my pass, and we were on our way. We drove for a few minutes to a large parking lot. There were trailhead signs on either side and both were clearly marked. We decided to start with the Savannah Loop which is approximately 2.5 miles long. There are about eight differently trails of varying levels of intensity. The trail was clearly defined and well maintained. The signs make it easy to follow the trail and find your way around. There were quite a few hikers this morning, many with pets on leashes. Everyone was pretty friendly and courteous. The trail was very peaceful and very quiet for the most part. We didn't see much wildlife, but we found some lovely views. We will definitely come back for the other trails.

Whether you're looking for a short or long hike, Government canyon is a great hiking spot to check…read moreout dinosaur tracks, the most amazing Texan birds, my husband say the very coveted Painted Bunting! Definitely be prepared with lots of water and good comfy shoes! We did 11.5 miles! We were exhausted but saw some amazing birds, lots of wild flowers and cute families everywhere!

Friedrich is a staple in my life. This parkcan be very busy at times, so plan accordingly when it…read morecomes to parking and carpool if you are meeting up with friends. The trails are well marked and maintained. They have restrooms at the entrance and the trashcans at that area as well. The main loop trail is perfect for the family hike or a chill climb with friends. They have plenty of trails that branch off and they are well marked with difficulty ratings. I appreciate that everyone I come across is friendly and simply enjoying their time with nature. This is a trail in South Texas, so I'd recommend bringing some water and sunscreen, but otherwise you really don't need much. I've never run into any animal other than maybe a bird or squirrel, but clearly there are some night creatures from the trail markings. For being inside a major city, there are surprisingly quite a few places to rest and take in the view of the hill country. Overall, a wonderful local wildnerness park!

We hit the trails at Friedrich Wilderness Park and wandered off the path for nearly four hours. The…read moreday was gorgeous - clear skies and perfect weather. During our exploring, we discovered a windmill and a cluster of old stones hidden just a few inches beneath the surface. We managed to wrap up 10 miles of hiking and climbing. This park is on my top 5 nature walk/hike in San Antonio, TX.

Lovvvveeee this place. I'm a nature girlie and this place did not disappoint. I enjoyed the…read morewaterfall, different paths that offered different views of the beautiful garden and also kept it from feeling crowded. Grounds are very well kept. Felt so peaceful. Beautiful place for pictures as I saw wedding couple and a quinceañera take pics....looks like you can reserve a portion of the garden so that your background is exclusive

Great small area to take photos, walk, or enjoy the serenity of the garden. There is a small…read morerestaurant, which I didn't happen to get photos of, but all around, a great adventure to be taken with family or friends. Hours are open from 7-5PM General Admission: Free

A cute park with plenty of open space and amenities!…read more Located in a family friendly area, this park is perfect for taking a walk or hanging out, and of course, bringing the family. It has a full playground with swings, a tennis court, swimming pool, (I think you need passes for the pool and tennis court), volleyball court, basketball court, picnic tables, and even a paved walkway that wraps around the park. There is plenty of open grassy space to run around, throw a frisbee. It's also dog-friendly with poop bags and a drinking fountain. The parking lot is a decent size although I could see it getting filled up very quickly for an event. Speaking of, this is also where they hosted this past "Hairy Man festival."

Nice small park, had everything needed for small kids, plus basketball and tennis and volleyball…read morecourts.

Some gave all. All gave some…read more A quite little neighborhood park with a pavilion for large groups, a connection to Brushy Creek, plenty of military-related playscapes for kids, and most importantly, a SHADED BASKETBALL COURT. The playscapes have a little bit of that military industrial complex feeling to it because why are kids able to do photo stand-ins of services members? Does that not feel like a touch of mockery to our brave men and women in the armed forces? Maybe I should grow a pair. Singlehandedly, the shaded basketball court is the coolest thing about this park. That should be something every city strives for, but I know they won't. RIYL: hoop dreams

Small but charming neighborhood park…read more The playground equipment is limited but the location next to the creek is lovely. Large trees, waterfall, birds (ducks and we were lucky enough to see a beautiful egret). Cool 4-person see saw. Ample parking on the street and inside the parking lot. Also, good opportunity to talk to kids about respect for veterans.

I've been coming here for a couple of years, and it's honestly one of my favorite spots in the…read moreCedar Park area. The main trail is wide and paved, which is great for biking, running, or just walking the dog. The lake itself is super peaceful--I highly recommend renting a kayak or bringing a paddleboard out on a weekend morning. If you've got kids, the playground and splash pad are fantastic, especially when it's blazing hot outside. There are also plenty of shady spots and picnic tables by the water to just hang out and feed the ducks. Just a heads up, parking can be a nightmare on Saturdays when the weather is nice, so try to get here before 9 AM if you can. Otherwise, it's a super clean, well-maintained park that never really gets old. Definitely worth checking out.

Nice park, especially if you've got kids in a stroller and want to go for a short hike. The trail…read morethat runs over the dam is all paved (not sure how far it continues being paved since we turned around). Lots of pedestrians, bikers, dog walkers. You can also walk on the unpaved trail along the water (it's very smooth and stroller-friendly). There is a playground. It's split into two areas for different ages. It's great in theory but I found it a bit lacking. There's a rudimentary playground that's labeled as 2-5. And a crunk playground (3-tiered, with gnarly slides) labeled as 5-12. Don't get me wrong -- this big playground is awesome for older kids. But it's a bit too advanced/scary for a 3-year-old. Meanwhile, the little playground was too simple/easy for her. So there's a middle age that isn't really catered to. But, great for 2-year-olds and 5+. There are also multiple parks with playgrounds within a short driving distance (Champion, Olson Meadows) so you can easily park hop.

TLDR: Simple playground (with canopy) located next to a lovely pond. Tennis and volleyball courts…read moreavailable. Easy parking in the lot. The playground equipment is a bit basic but enough to keep kids engaged. Plus, canopy for shade! Only the swings don't have a canopy unfortunately. The pond is lovely, surrounded by abundant and varied trees. Nice fountain in the middle. Tennis court and... a volleyball court! I feel like you don't see the latter a lot. Pavilion with tables and bathrooms. Ample parking in the lot.

Fun little park! Ducks are cool and friendly and there are nice places to sit. If you play tennis…read morethere are nice tennis courts here too! 10/10 Ducks

Unsafe at the moment…read more There have been reports recently that I have heard of men hiding in the bathrooms, including the women's bathrooms. One recent report was that 3 men came out of the bathroom and was headed toward someone's daughter. Another mom called the police recently because men were recording the children at the splash pad, but they didn't have any kids of their own. The bathroom by the playground and splash pad has two directions you can exit.. to the left towards the splash pad or toward the right towards the side wooded area. Please don't let your children go in there alone and always check the bathroom first. Lakewood park, please hire security and heavily monitor the children's area.

Chill spot to walk and do some exercise. Maybe close those rings on your watch! Water is very low…read moreright now so that was a little disappointing but it's a nice trail to walk on.