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 lake itself is beautiful and a great place to walk or run the trail or even sit and reflect…read more The bad is that whoever in charge at Lifetime ( look up owner) and what moron(s) from the city who signed off to let them buy the lake and charge to swim are deadass wrong and they are more than welcome to come see me personally if they have an issue with this post. The lake should belong to the city not a damn overpriced gym. BTW my gym membership is $10 per month. Lifetime is robbing you

I want to like this lake. I mean, it's gorgeous, there's a great walking trail, there's lots of…read morelittle areas to be active but, how the hell do I get here?! There's plenty of entrances from an apartment complex, a fitness gym, and various other areas but there's no clear concrete trail head. It's obvious they want to keep this a secret and you need a permit to use the lake. It's completely surrounded by a gate and unless you break private property rules, there's no way to use it. Such a beautiful spot. Hopefully I'm wrong and there's easier access.

We've used Float On twice now and have had such a great experience. Both captains were…read morecommunicating with us prior to our trip, helpful when getting loaded on the boat and gave us options on how to spend our time on the water. if youre lucky, you could get a lakeside tour of the many houses lining Lake Austin. we can't wait to use them again!

We had such an amazing time on Lake Travis thanks to Willo and Float On. Everything about the…read moreexperience was extremely streamlined from booking to filling out waivers to navigating to the marina. Willo gave superb instructions on operating and piloting the boat including an overview of relevant customs and laws while out on the water. Our group had six adults and one 2-year old and they had plenty of water safety devices for all ages. On a side note, it was wonderful to see how genuinely excited Willo was about Lake Travis once again having a healthy water level after several dry years. In terms of our experience on the lake, we got excellent advice on where to travel based on our team's interests and after following his directions it felt like we had arrived on our own private lake. We probably only saw a handful of other boats during our 3-hour excursion and that was only in passing. The boat came with a Garmin GPS that made it really easy to retrace our steps. For those wondering, there was excellent cell phone service out on the lake and we were able to use our phone GPS, make calls, and stream music. The boat had some nice integrated speakers with Bluetooth connectivity and we were able to jam out to our own tunes. There was also a cool flotation device attached to the back of the boat called the Aqua Lily Pad which we unrolled after anchoring, we had multiple adults laying on it without sinking into the lake. Overall, we could not have asked for a better experience and we would highly recommend booking with Float On.

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.

WARNING: They break into cars here! They shattered our car window and stole my backpack. We called…read morea local car repair shop to fix the window and they said they receive constant business because of this! The hike was great with lots of shade. But I would seriously discourage you from coming here because of the vandalism and theft.

Multiple intricacies within the parks known as Town Lake Metropolitan. Waller Beach, the various…read moretrails and paths, the boardwalk, Ladybird Lake, etc. Such a peaceful and beautiful area to get in exercise (walking/running/leisurely strolling), enjoying the outdoors, year-round. Great to explore alone or with friends and family, or your furry friend. Different spots to sit and relax. Simply a beautiful piece of Austin for locals abs tourists alike.

You haven't explored Austin until you take a stroll through the series of parks through the Town…read moreLake areas. Covering multiple miles, you'll see parts of downtown alongside the colorado river. Along this pathway, you'll be lead to the Barton Springs municipal pool and the Zilker Park & Garden as you go west. Going east, you'll eventually find your way along the Boardwalk near the Town Lake apartments and then at some point, the peace point at lady bird lake, one of the chillest spots in Austin to zone out. Obviously you bike, jog, run, walk, dogwalk, skip, however you prefer to galivant along the way of this beautiful section of the capital of Texas. It's one of many reasons people love living here!

Hippie Hollow is a nice winding drive in North Austin. The park is $8.00 CASH ONLY…read more Lake Travis is 100% full, since 2019! So thrilled that we have the water level back. But with that, you loose space to lay out. And then there becomes no place to walk around. Not complaining. Thrilled we have the water level back to 100% Hippie Hollow is the only nude beach in Texas. So I'm told. Started many decades ago when the catch phrase "keep Austin weird" actually meant something. Weddings have actually been performed here. Maybe someday mine will too. Haha. I went all the way down to trail 6 to see if there would be an easy way down, and easy to get out of the water. Now that the water level is so high, it just becomes a cliff. Easy to get in, just jump. But climbing out, can get a little tricky. Picking a trail to go down can be tricky. Of course you want to give people their private space. You need a spot where you can lay out on a blanket. And getting out of the water easily where you don't have to be rescued. I needed rescuing last time, and luckily I was able to get in and out fine on my own. The second time a gentleman was walking past, and offered his hand to help me out. People are just so friendly here. I met two gentleman separate occasions. Very nice. Apparently they are regulars here. Water was choppy again. It's hard to just float and relax. You just have to keep treading water and keep your head up. Super freeing. Natural. Water is refreshing, the Texas sun is like no other. But the ants! Oh my word, they bit. Next time ant spray. They're brutal. Till next time Hippie Hollow, stay weird.

The park sits on a rugged stretch of Lake Travis, and the scenery alone is worth the trip. The…read morecliffs, the water, and the wide‑open views make it one of the more striking spots around the lake. The hike down to the shoreline is rocky and uneven, so it's not the kind of place you wander into by accident -- you earn the view a little, which honestly fits the whole atmosphere. When you arrive, the staff makes sure you understand the rules, especially the one about no sexual activity. They're clear, direct, and they repeat it enough times that you'd think no one could possibly forget. And yet, once you're inside, you occasionally encounter someone who seems to have the memory retention of a goldfish or the attention span of a distracted squirrel. Thankfully, the vibe of the park is mellow enough that these moments are more eye‑roll than incident. The crowd is a mix of regulars who clearly know the place well and visitors who show up curious or just wanting a quiet spot by the water. The atmosphere is laid‑back, nonjudgmental, and surprisingly calm. Even with the clothing‑optional reputation, it doesn't feel chaotic or wild; it's more like a group of people who collectively decided they're done pretending swimsuits are mandatory. The water access is great once you get down there, and the rocky shoreline gives you plenty of places to set up without feeling crowded. The views across Lake Travis are some of the best you'll get without renting a boat or owning one of the massive houses perched above the lake. If you're looking for a typical beach park, this isn't it. But if you want a quiet, scenic spot with a very specific kind of freedom baked into its identity, Hippy Hollow delivers exactly what it promises.

It's called a park but, basically a parking lot with a porta John and a trail head leading down to…read morelake Travis. That's what a lot of these parks are. After decades of development it's getting harder to get to the lake free. I came here today to hike down to the lake which has gone from an almost all time low to almost full in a matter of weeks due to recent flooding.

Yay, a "new" place to get in the water. I'm always looking for somewhere new to go cool off in the…read morewater. A friend told me about this little park, so I headed out there. Let's start with the cons: it's seriously off the beaten path- there's nothing out there. Bring everything you need- water, food, sunscreen etc. Secondly, there is literally no beach- just rocks, lots of rocks. Lastly, it is not dog, kid, or "out of shape" friendly. You have to climb around and over all those rocks to get to the water. (Oh, and there is a fee per person, if there's someone on duty). Now the pros- it is seriously off the beaten path, which means there's parking and very few people. Secondly, the water is clear and beautiful as are the views. It is near a marina, so boaters give nice waves every so often. Lastly, I loved sitting in my float just listening to the water hit the rocky shore. Very peaceful. I enjoyed it, but it's not for everyone. Let me know if you go- enjoy!

Met friends at Town Lake also called Lady Bird Lake for the Links Family Health Expo & Walk for…read moreHealthy Living, an uplifting community event promoting wellness. The walk motivated people of all ages to stay active, highlighting the health benefits of simple actions like walking. The expo provided valuable resources from health professionals and focused on family and community well-being. The Links, Incorporated showed strong leadership, addressing health disparities and fostering long-term wellness through education and collaboration. The event was well organized, inspiring attendees to prioritize their health beyond the day.

It is so nice to see the completion of the Wishbone Bridge. So now it will be a smooth transition,…read morewith no interruptions, as you walk the whole trail. I have been walking this trail for a long time and have really enjoyed the views and the many stops along the way. I first started coming with my furbaby. I brought my mom here over the years, and she loved it too. Let's say I have many memories here. But do you know that you can easily exit the trail at so many different spots? I think some people think you have to walk the whole ten miles. Well, let's end that myth! Also, you can start at any point you like, too. I have also started the trail on both sides of the I-35. Also, if you hear someone say "Town Lake," they are speaking of this trail. Another favorite thing about this trail is stopping at the different exits to grab a bite to eat, shop downtown, and hop back on the trail. There's so much to do on this walk, but all in all, this is the most beautiful trail to exercise or take a scenic stroll!

I'm sure that during its peak season and at its full potential, the well will be much more…read morecaptivating and visually appealing than my experience of it. But despite that notion, Jacob's Well overall is very underwhelming. The hike is probably the shortest and least challenging I've ever experienced. There are several mini trails that are great for kids to explore, along with a large tire swing at the front entrance. Jacob's Well is definitely very kid- and senior-friendly as it's not very strenuous at all to hike or walk around. It's a nice that it's there for everyone to experience nature but again, very underwhelming. We spent about half an hour there which was enough time to experience the entire area. Definitely worth a visit if it's your first time in Wimberley.

My family and I stopped by here while driving around and was a fun experience. They had a play area…read morefor kids, a garden, some swings, picnic tables and few trails you can walk. They are known for the well so we naturally went there first. I was expecting a bit more honestly but it was cool to see regardless. The park itself is free but if you want to swim, you have to reserve it and only can during season (starts in may). I can't speak much on the swim itself but the hike there wasn't really bad honestly. There are a few paths that require you to be careful (climbing rocks and bit of steep hill) so hang on to the rails, ropes and don't step close to the edges. The paths themselves are actually really small not very far hikes. You can complete most of the trails in a day if you like but watch your step on some of the paths. The ones I liked were more rocky paths and a bit challenging but nothing too painful. There wasn't many people around either on the paths so was able to just enjoy and do some bird sightings. We even enjoyed a picnic there and nothing around us to bother us. Overall this was a fun experience to visit if you happen to be around. I think this place is fun if you have kids and need to burn some of their energy.

Such a great lil lake in north austin…read more Leave your loud music and alcohol- for safety and enjoyment A short lil trail around the lake super pretty but also bring your bathing suit and floaties you may want to get in So clean so fresh

Lake Pflugerville has been a consistent place I visit since moving here in 2015. I've always felt…read moresafe; it's always clean, and I love that a portion of the lake is marked for swimming. (Both human and doggo) I would eventually love walking lights along the trail on the ground, especially when walking around the houses. It gets so dark back there - again, I've always felt safe - but it would be nice to have it a little brighter back there.