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

A good place for outdoors activities. These include cycling, walking, running and taking pictures…read more The trails are wide and fairly easy to walk. They connect several parks where restrooms and parking are available. There are also playgrounds, picnic tables, tennis courts and even splash parks along the way. Dogs are also welcome. The dog stations are supplied with waste bags and trash cans. Additional benefits of coming here include fresh air, peace of mind, good aromas, wild life and beautiful sights. So if you need something to do, then stop by and get caught up In the fun. You could even meet a friend while getting a good dose of Vitamin D.

I absolutely love this trail. This trail is so extensive and pretty. This review is really for the…read moreportion of the trail in Round Rock that starts from AW Grimes and ends at Redbud Ln. I think it's important to download a map that outlines the whole trail. There are parts when you think it ends but it actually detours and continues. One of these parts is at Kenny Fort Blvd, the trail really goes an additional two miles east if you start at The Rabb House on AW Grimes. The doggo loves this trail and the shade it provides. There are some awesome benches to stop, rest and enjoy the sights and sounds of the creek. There are also plenty of poop bag stations and fountains along the way. I absolutely love these Round Rock trails and we visit often. Just be prepared for a crowd during the weekend.

This was a great trail after a rainy day as it was paved throughout which is great for biking or…read morewalking . Minimal parking in the designated lot, however it's in a neighborhood so street side parking is avaliable. Multiple picnic tables and small charcoal grills throughout the trail. Very shaded trail, so perfect for a sunny day! -lots of greenery , a few glimpses of the creek below, not alot of wildflowers.

I went for a run of the east side of the Brushy Creek Trail. The whole 4.5 miles and back. I ran…read morepast the awesome Play for All Abilities Park. I ran up and down Mt. Kenney Fort. I ran to the absolute dead end of the trail and back up to Joe B Freeman Park. Do you know there are no working water fountains through the entire trail? Not even in the Play for All Abilities Park were they working. Granted there's only two water stations on the whole trail, neither worked. Other than that it is a beautiful trail, a great distance, with many things to look at. It is nice to get lost in the trees as well. The day they connect the east trail to the west will be a miracle. One day... RIYL: The biggest trail in Round Rock

There is something peaceful about spending time in the morning I the morning. I found a l hidden…read moregem in our neighborhood...great hills park. Out odds family friendly with a number of apparatuses for children. The park also has a small pavilion for eating or playing games. This park is very clean and well maintained. You will need to travel through the great hills residential area in order to reach the park, which is off Raincreek parkway & San Souci. Enjoy!

Great Hills Park might be the best hidden getaway trail in Northeast Austin. The trail begins at a…read morepark that features a number of activities from a sand pit to workout equipment to playgrounds. The trail itself is not difficult, only spanning a mile or so if that but there is a lot packed into that mile, especially as there are many branches of pathways. From winding slopes to running streams and rocky alcoves, you get a little bit of everything on this trail. Throughout our entire walk through there was hardly anyone on the trail which gave it a sense of peace and serenity that can sometimes be very hard to find on Austin trails. The only qualms we have about this trail are that there are no garbage cans anywhere, and as litter conscious people we had to wait quite some time to get rid of our trash since only one end of the trail has a waste bin. The other issue is that is is incredibly rocky, and not large rocks that take time to hurdle and climb over, but small loose rocks that always have you feeling unsure of yourself, even on flat ground. Both are very minor issues to have but important to note nonetheless. Ultimately, Great Hills is a lovely trail that is convenient and quiet allowing for a solace filled escape. We recommend it to anyone living in the area.

Sometimes the best hidden treasures are in our own back yard. Inga Trail is one of those hidden…read moretreasures, not literally in our back yard...just a few miles away but close. My hubby and I decided to go walking at Inga trail near Bull Creek this morning and ended up going back in the evening. It's a relatively short trail and surrounded by little pools of water. It is literally underneath Capital of Texas highway near Old Spicewood Springs Road. The Inga VanNynatten Memorial Trail offers a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of Austin City life. Mostly locals know about it because you have to turn off old Spicewood Springs Road to get to it (off the beaten path.) The trail is named after a University of Texas naturalist Inga, which honors her legacy. In the morning, the quiet is hypnotic...you can hear the bird singing, crickets chirping and the tree branches gently whistling in the wind. While this is a short trail, it is a good aerobic workout while basking in early morning sun. Surprisingly, we were not the only early morning trail enthusiasts. Two creeks on each side of the street were gurgling, including little bush debris floating around. Trail hikes are appealing because you get to enjoy nature, get a great workout and it is free. Along the trail you can see large stones, many green trees, and bushes along the path. You can also take in a few wildflowers along the path. In the evening, we went back and sat on a rock while dipping our feet in the creek. Nice and relaxing... Inga Trail is Austin's little hidden gem. It is ideal for a short hike, a time to relax or meditate, or a dip into creek.

Love it! I use my…read moredog as an excuse to hike this trail. My dog loves it but I think I love it more. As many folks here already said, this is an off-leash trail for all practical purposes. It's beautiful any given day. But after some rains, when the creeks are full this place is just magnificent.

Good for early morning enjoyment on the lake. Visit during…read morethe week. Crowed on weekends

This has to be one of my most favorite hikes in the area. Plenty of shade, elevation, and scenery…read more This hike has a rough terrain, so be mindful of that when planning your trip. As the trail is unpaved, I would also be mindful of the weather within about seven days prior to your hike because it can get muddy. spotted beatutiful vegetation & wild life along the way. I'm not sure if there's many or any waterfalls this beautiful in the Austin Metropolitan and surrounding areas. 10/10 recommended

I love walking here from my house. It's a fantastic place to go for short & long walks…read more There's turtles and ducks sometimes tooo! Water is full of fish you can catch (with restrictions of course). Love this place to ponder and get my legs stretched without going too far from home

So glad I found this trail! It's ducked off in a neighborhood off grand avenue/ wells branch area…read more Perfect place for a walk, a jog, or to just come chill & clear your mind. semi shaded area with plenty of trees through out. there were wild flowers, ponds with people fishing, swings, restrooms, basket ball courts, small stair cases, a play scape , picnic tables ,& plenty of open space. parking is the only down fall as the designated lot holds about 10 or so cars. definitely enjoyed my time here and can't wait to come back.

Garey Park is an absolute gem!…read more We celebrated my son's birthday at Garey Park a couple of months ago, and I can't say enough good things about the experience. From the moment we booked to the minute we packed up, everything was smooth, easy, and honestly kind of perfect. The park is stunning and has so much to do. So much space, beautiful scenery, and tons of options for kids to run wild . My son had the best time celebrating with his friends. Between the playground, splash pad, and shaded picnic areas, the kids were entertained the entire time. No one was bored, not even for a second. There's something really special about this place. It feels like you're in the middle of nature but with all the modern conveniences nearby. It made the whole party feel relaxed and joyful.

Please ignore the other reviews. Many people seem frustrated and upset about the fees, but there's…read morea good reason for them! Those fees help maintain this BEAUTIFUL park, which offers tons of activities for families with kids and dogs. The bathrooms were quite clean and stocked with toilet paper. The playground was filled with kids having a great time. We enjoyed walking the trails along the San Gabriel River, and our dogs had a blast! They even have horseback riding and zip lines, along with numerous trails to explore! We've visited free dog parks throughout Austin, Leander, and Cedar Park, and they often end up neglected and trashy! I completely understand why they want to keep this place clean and welcoming!

What an amazing trail! One of the best we've hiked in the greater Austin area. Being from Cali and…read morehaving moved to Texas about three years ago, we have high expectations for trails, but this one made me feel a little less far from "home." Great natural features abound along the whole of the trail, such as a babbling brook, some jutting rocks creating an alcove, a big boulder, elevation changes, and offshoots to explore. Some lucky inhabitants of the area actually have access to this trail from their backyards! I was supremely jealous. It's a relatively easy trail but some patches are a bit rocky, so best to wear a sturdy pair of boots if you can. Lots of shade though, so you may not require a hat or sunscreen if you won't be out long. We were able to hike the entire length of it, and back, in a little over a couple hours, so it's not an all-day type trail, but a great get-out-of-the-house-for-a-spell trail. The Boy Scouts also put up a sign to indicate the direction of Mountain View Park that you should absolutely follow as part of your visit/journey. At the top of the stairs you'll find ample green grass, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a modern children's play structure, picnic tables, restroom, and a water fountain. So if you need a break from the trail, to relieve yourself, refill your water bottle, or just to sit down and enjoy, it's a perfect intermission. While we were there, we discovered some joyful soul had left extra sidewalk chalk out for people/kids to play with during their visit. I couldn't resist leaving a drawing myself. =) Note: there doesn't seem to be any official parking lot for this trail. Most folks were parallel parking on the slope of Scotland Well Drive and proceeding the short distance to the trail head. There was sufficient room to do so.

Easy and short trail in between houses in northwest Austin. Nothing spectacular and the water…read morequality also isn't the best; there's a sulfur smell from the creek. Nice shaded trails and parking is available on the street or in very small parking lot.

This park, which is tucked away behind a Round Rock neighborhood, is basically a series of paved…read moreand primitive trails. Street parking is allowed on Greenlawn Blvd and at the main entrance on Heritage Springs Trail. The only amenities at this location are a few benches, a paved trail system and further inward you will find primitive trails and a dry creek crossing at Lake Creek. You can stick to the paved trails which run behind the local residents or veer off onto the primitive trails which take you into the woods. If you're looking for a quiet place to hike or bike, this would be a good starting point.