Want to personally see the view that the tourist bureau wants everyone to think about Austin? Then park on the north side of the river on the southbound side of 360, park on the gravel and take the short hike up to a stunning overlook. You are rewarded with a view of the hills, the river, the bridge, the skyline. While trail is kind of steep in places and not well maintained (it's not an official trail system) its not at all difficult. Well worth the effort, just watch your step. read more

AKA the 360 Bridge...beautiful & iconic. The beautiful cable stay bridge was constructed using special Japanese steel so it would need minimal maintenance and blend with the surrounding environment. The cliffs on the NW corner of the bridge offer tremendous views. Parking is on the right of way below. I have seen a lot of broken glass in the parking area, so make sure to take/hide your valuables and lock your car. There is no formal trail and no railings so I also recommend no pets, no small children and those who are faint of heart need not attempt. There is also a very nice boat ramp for Lake Austin below the bridge. One of the great views of Austin, but avoid this area during rush hour(s). read more

This is a beautiful bridge and it's an Austin icon. I will drive out of my way sometimes just to go down 360 and cross over this bridge. The view from the overlook is very nice and I've even done a little fishing (not catching) under the bridge. read more

Pennybacker Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great little detour spot if you have some time to kill in Austin. Park on the side of the street on 360 South just North of the bridge - you'll see cars all parked on the side of the road. Take a quick trail up the hill and you'll be treated with gorgeous views of this bridge. Depending on what you do up there, it can be a quick 30-60 minute detour for a great little slice of Austin heaven. Perfect for a sight-seeing tour of Austin. read more

The most gorgeous views of Austin. Period. (wear some good shoes if you go, there's a little bit of a rocky hike to the top!) read more

Simply stunning view of the Colorado River and downtown Austin. A short easy hike up the cliffs. Extraordinary ! read more

Pennybacker Bridge - The Pennybacker - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Should for sure be on everyone's bucket list. It was an easy hike up (if you're coordinated and athletic) So be careful on the way up. Only took about five minutes to get to the top and a breathtaking view. read more

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It was a nice view of 390 and the Colorado River. You have to park on the side of of the road along 390 right before the bridge comes up near W Courtyard Dr. If you want you can hike up the left or right side of the hill. Just be careful hiking. Even though it says "No Parking", you can park there. On the side of the road. read more

Beautiful view at the top! Nice hike. You can take a harder way up with a little more climbing, or an easier uphill walk on more even ground. Worth it when you're done! You get a great view of the river. read more

Pennybacker Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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For how long I lived in Austin, I didn't know this place existed. We came on a Sunday afternoon after brunching at Jack Allen's. Park your car on the side and do a mini hike in order to get a good look of the bridge and snap some pictures. The drive to this bridge is beautiful and a great scenery, so enjoy it. Another must visit place in Austin. read more

Great views. Quick 16 minute hike to the top. Worth a trip. Visited from NY to Austin and the view was breathtaking. The brief bike is well worth it!!! read more

It was a little hike up, but the view was totally worth it. I just wish people wouldn't drop trash all over the place. Perhaps the city should have someone clean it up more frequently and possibly install some trash cans for those people that have no respect for nature. read more

Pennybacker Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

I went for the first time to Austin this past weekend and visited this bridge. The view is breathtaking. It involves a hike to get the best view. Worth the visit. read more

Pennybacker Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Awesome spot in Austin! I've been wanting to go here for more than a year and this past weekend, my boyfriend and I finally went and it did not disappoint! We parked right on the highway and made a short 10 minute, and at some points, steep, hike to the top. Wear shoes that you can easily maneuver around in! There's a beautiful view at the top and lots of small little trails that you can go exploring through. We had a little picnic at sunset and it was great! Although the clouds blocked most of our view, it was still a great experience. read more

Pennybacker Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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A review on a bridge??? It's a nice bridge... I drive over it all of the time. It seems structurally sound and has a beautiful view. There's a boat launch under/to the side of it, that I have never been to. Once a year you can see the Dell Match Play going on at the Austin Country Club below the bridge. I haven't been to that either.... But, the bridge is nice. read more

This a beautiful bridge. Will go out of our way to drive over this bridge. The outlook is a good hike with beautiful benefits. If your in Austin and haven't been over this bridge, I highly recommend checking it out. read more

Well worth a visit! Any visit to Austin should include a drive to the Pennybacker and a hike up on the cliffs!

What??? I hate you, you stupid bridge. You're just a place for me to get stuck in rush hour traffic. YOU are just ANOTHER reminder of our sucky transportation system and lack of planning in the city I grew up in! BOOOOO! read more

A beautiful adventure for a beautiful day! I absolutely got lost trying to find this overview of the bridge. Coming from the north, I parked on the right as instructed. The entrance is somewhere there. I ended up walking towards the bridge and not finding the entrance and kept walking until I was under the bridge, crossed to the other side, then walked down the bridge to the complete opposite side of where the overlook is at. Still a pretty view of the bridge on that end btw. I walked back to my car and FINALLY found the entrance. There's no complete clear entrance but it's a clear shot to the overlook from there. A nice little hike up and TA-DA! PENNYBACKER BRIDGE!! I wish I lived a tad closer/ I wish the bridge was a tad closer to me. I would love to go to the bridge more often than I have already. I went back at night and boy was it dark. Had to use a phone as light for guidance (highly recommended). I also wish the view of downtown was more visible and that the bridge had some sort of lighting to it. It was just dark at night. You can probably see the stars clearly, but that's about it. Overall, beautiful during a great day. read more

Why 5 stars for this iconic bridge? Simple. There are no lights on it of any kind. None. So at night, it doesn't spoil the terrific moonlit view you can get from the nearby ridge, or Lake Austin, or as you drive across. Totally tasteful. The bridge is notable for being anchored only to the land (doesn't have to go underwater). The Ridge Above The Bridge has a great view of the hills along the river (rivaling Mt. Bonnell) and is also great for a quick hike, if you can ignore the garbage that sh**heads often leave at the top. But once you sneak through the super-secret hole cut in a boundary fence, you can walk along a classic Austiny trail for a mile (?) or so. read more

Carefully park on the northwest side of the bridge and scramble up the short, rocky trail to the top of the cliffs. It's not a rigorous climb and offers beautiful views of downtown, the lake, the hills, and Pennybacker Bridge. A good place to take out-of-town guests for photos. read more

This bridge is a bamf amongst bridges. Curves and lines and a long fall to water, epic. Once I find a friend with a boat, and a gopro I'll gladly hop off the ledge and record the entire freefall. Definitely. The north side of the bridge is 10-15 ft higher than the south end. That would be an epic video for yelp, me, jumping off PennyBacker. I'll be sure to add some photos mid jump to this review later. If you have a boat and want to snap a pic for me that'd be great. I'm free weekends. This icon is about to become a historic moment in my life in Austin. I love this bridge. read more

Awesome. We went there to watch the 2018 Dell matchplay tourney at Austin Country Club from a boat that we launched under the 360 bridge. What a great day! Bring some comfy clothes and a light jacket. Even for March it got a bit nippy! Check out the boating rules at https://www.austin360bridge.com/faq/. Austin PD and Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens do patrol the waters and you will get a ticket for glass bottles and intoxicated drivers. read more

Second time coming here now. One of my favorite spots in austin. Great scenery! I would love to buy a house on the lake nearby one day.

Every time I see this bridge I'm reminded of Austin as it used to be. In the 80's, 360/Capital of Texas Hwy was an open road and you could see trees for miles. At least this beautiful reminder holds the picturesque surroundings of lake and trees even though the traffic is taking over. From the lake, it was and still is a great reference point while on the water. I never tire of seeing the Pennybacker Bridge and hope it is a spot everyone coming to Austin gets a chance to catch a glimpse of. read more

The 360 Bridge Overlook trail is supposedly a 1.7 mile, out and back, moderate hike with an elevation gain of 167 feet. We only went up to the main overlook by the Pennybacker Bridge, but our round trip was clocked at only 0.2 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 43 feet. Most of this was much more a scramble than a hike; there were a couple of spots in which I had to literally sit on my butt to safely get down. There are a lot of steep uneven stone steps and loose rock on the trail, so be careful. The view from up there really is remarkable, but there are so many people that it's difficult to get good shots. We went late afternoon on a Sunday, so that's probably not the best time to go. Head up there early on a weekday if you want a better opportunity for photos. If you decide to go, parking is just before the bridge (NW side); don't leave any valuables in your car as we saw a lot of glass in the parking lot where previous visitors got their windows broken. read more

very nice views the only thing i didnt like was there wasnt many trails or other spots to have a view from besides the main cliff. read more

Pennybacker Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nice small hike for new adventurers. You could bring your furry friend and not worry whether they will make it or not. Fear not, you will also make it, for you are stronger than your furry friend. No matter how small, big, healthy, or unhealthy you are, there are rocky roads for the courageous and flat roads for the weak. Once you reach the top you'll enjoy the view with so much peace, you will feel the bites of every mosquitos. It's definitely a nice view for sunrise and/or sunset, but it may not last as long as you would like. read more

Went there impromptu on a workday morning at 7 am. It was chilly and foggy, the sun dyed the fog yellow and red. Fog emerged from the lake into the sky. It was mesmerizing. Great place to think about life and enjoy a silent moment. It was harder to go down than go up. read more

Easy 2 minute hike to the top....just be sure to wear tennis shoes! I saw several people wearing sandals and high heels. It's an easy hike, but still pretty rocky and you need good shoes! Parking is off the road were the "no parking" signs are. Beautiful view at the top! read more

Amazing view!!! We took our family up there to see the top of the bridge and it was gorgeous! You do have to climb up some rocks and it can be a little challenging if you're not wearing the right shoes, but it's worth it. I'll be taking everyone up here that comes to visit me. read more

Easy hike up the side of the mountain and gorgeous view. I took away one star only based on the parking because if you go during rush hour and you live more by mopac you end up sitting through traffic leaving to make a uturn so have to go over the bridge twice is heavy traffic read more

Climbing the cliffs and checking the view out is cool but at the end of the day it's just a fucking bridge. The view is about to be ruined too. Thanks Obama. read more

An absolute icon in Austin. Beautiful. Austin wouldn't be Austin as we know it without it. Serves its purpose as a bridge too.

This is for Randal; you are a TOTAL Jacka**, along with the (as another writer said) sh**t heads that leave trash all over the overlook grounds. We went yesterday and we could have filled up a large garbage bag with the trash that thoughtless others left. Have some respect people! read more

Nice spot for a short hike. Beautiful views of Austin. The campers hanging out in their hammocks was a little awkward, since they hogged decent photo spots. read more