Fun, fun, fun! Great place to hike, swim, and get lost! Con: dog poop is picked up, but lazy owners are leaving the baggies all over the place. Please pick up after yourselves! read more

St Edwards Park - The water was Nice and cold! Make sure to take water shoes :) - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

BEWARE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY THIEVES. The parking lot is covered in glass with cars being broken into. Was gone from vehicle about 30 minutes and had cc stolen from hidden bag. I believe My friend was scouted. Was told by two other hikers that their car was broken into in the last year. Don't leave any belongings in the vehicle. Beautiful park though read more

multiple routes， well shaded, u can choose to go the route with climbing some hills , or crosse the creek, or just east flat land....

This is a magical wonderland! So many different trails, watering holes, adorable dogs and it's pretty well marked so you won't get terribly lost (which i do on the reg.) You'll pull into the park off of spicewood springs and keep driving (and keeeeeep driving) and then there's a teeny tiny parking lot. Don't worry - if that's full, there are a couple of other pull ins on the side of the road. Just put your mirrors in y'all. On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, I ran into about 20 people on and off. The swimming holes were occupied but people seemed friendly enough that you could join them without feeling weird. I hiked around solo but I'd recommend bringing a picnic, a little wine and some friends. read more

Me and my friend went here yesterday. The hike and swim were really nice BUT her car was broken into and these people stole my purse with my wallet and my house and car keys in it. And my Apple Watch. Basically it sucked so BEWARE and if you see broken glass everywhere it's definitely from broken car windows. #yikes read more

This was a wonderful hike if you like to avoid the crowds on the Greenbelt and still cover a fair amount of distance. And if it weren't for one glaring fault, it would be five stars in a heartbeat. After searching for local hiking trails, I found out about St. Edwards Park. http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_0640.asp The site included their own reviews about the hike...all glowing except for the last two posted in early 2011 had enjoyed a nice hike and lovely scenery only to return to their car to find it had been burglarized. I decided this was something to be wary of but probably not too big a deal...until I passed the first park entrance to find it littered with car window glass...and pulled into the second park entrance, greeted by two police cars who were there to address a car theft that had just occurred. Other than that, plenty of trails to explore, multiple swimming spots, a fair amount of uphill and great scenery packed into a 4 mile hike! Hit the Balcones Preserve (you need a permit to hike in the summer months) and am beginning to consider purchasing one to get in even more hiking action. Good for families, bikers and hikers of varying ability. read more

Was there for the 4th of July at the end of the day around 6-8pm and we saw a 3-4ft long cotton mouth water moccasin sitting under the rock by the waterfalls snagging fish that fall off. Be careful under the falls during the later part of the day. read more

This is an awesome trail park to come. Whether you go hit the trail,go swimming or both,this is a nice place to chill. read more

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Yelp led me to this hidden serenity of peace. We parked on the side of the road, which wasn't really designed for vehicles to do so.I did notice a small parking lot, but it was completely full when we arrived. There are so many trails! Trails leading all over the terrain! We stayed on the primary route though which included beautiful views of tree-lines,waterfalls,Bluebonnets, and many other unique views nature has to offer. The park is dog friendly and there were some folks out there fishing. I"ll bring my pole next time because I did notice a few bass swimming around. I only saw one picnic table in the entire park. read more

St Edwards Park - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is by far my favorite hiking trail - not too many people know about it so it is never crowded even on a weekend. The Hill Trail is more challenging and provides greater views than the Creek Trail - you can enter Bull Creek Nature Preserve from the Hill Trail. However, keep in mind dogs are not allowed in the Preserve. Dogs are allowed off leash on trails. There is also a creek for swimming on the Creek Trail. read more

I'm not sure if it's the time of year that we are there? But a large part of the water was really gross. The streams are pretty but I did not want to even go near that larger body of water by the small waterfall. There were also people there getting drunk and leaving their garbage everywhere. read more

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When searching for a pet friendly park, St. Edwards came up on my mobile, and we grabbed the leash and went. Pets are allowed on leash, and there are many trails to explore with your furry friends. Many of the trails interconnect and you can loop from one to another. Most of the trails take you along a creek and are well shaded by trees, yet a few go through open cactus grassland. I wasn't expecting to come across several different swimming holes, many of which had several people hanging out and cooling off. I could see many other trails heading off the main thoroughfare towards the creek, made by people seeking secret swimming holes. A great little park to beat the summer heat. read more

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Love this place as a place to hike with my dog, but it's a bit of a misnomer calling it a "dog Park". It's a hiking area with great trails/creeks where dogs are allowed. No dog amenities, fenced areas, etc, but everyone seemed dog friendly! read more

Very pretty! Great for a low maintenance hike! Found a lot of pretty spots good for swimming when it's 100 degrees out. read more

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Great hidden place to take our doggie babies swimming and big enough were us humans can swim too. Plenty of shade, but not much of a picnic area. A tiny hike gets you to a hidden swimming hole and we just love to come here to cool off from the Texas Sun. read more

I've been back several times since my first review and I must say we find smthing new every time. We found one spot that we seem to always come back to and it is very very peaceful. I would have to say this is my favorite park in Austin and I've been to quite a few read more

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Great park for birding and quiet contemplation except for all the free-running dogs and loud radios. While this park is "dog-friendly" owners must follow the park rules which state that dogs must remain on leash at all time. read more

Tight lil park. This is a hidden gem to use a really worn phrase. Great for hikes or a little trail running. It's fairly small with a creek that divides the park between the flats and THE HILL. If you bear right on the hill and follow the trail by the fence line it's quite steep. Blew my cardio running up that and had to walk. It's really quite beautiful with a lot of variety for a small place. read more

This is a nice hike for a number of reasons. It's not a long ride to get there. The drive from 360 along Spicewood Springs is very pleasant. You don't feel like you're in the city. It's rarely crowded. The trails are varied in terms of elevation, terrain, and view. It's nice to go after it has rained, when there is water flowing through. Yesterday we saw a couple of snakes. This was a negative for some of my friends... There are places where it is easy to forget which turn to take, if you're not paying attention. read more

"Dogs, water, abundance of trails, and shade...nature at its finest" I recently came across this little hidden gem when I was searching some pet parks on Yelp for a friend of mine. St. Edwards Park? I've never heard of it. So I packed up the dog and drove over the next morning to check it out. Good lord forbid I try to go in the afternoon and my dog or myself pass out because of the "lovely" Austin August heat. We pulled into the lot (carefully...I might add because there's quite a few pot holes). We started our trek with a nice breeze and just enjoyed nature. There's so many different paths leading you to more paths for plenty of exploration. I found the purple and blue trails to be more adventurous and they led to more water spots. The orange and yellow paths were a little more mundane. Just watch out for snakes and cactus plants in areas. This is also one of the few parks that has clean, flowing water in August. My dog was super excited because I actually allowed her to swim in this clear water. There were also people swimming in the area with a rope swing....you can't miss it off the blue trail. I will definitely be back to this lovely free park for some weekend downtime with the dog and some good old fashioned nature hikes. read more

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This is one very pretty place, great for hiking. I belong to a meetup hiking group and today we went here. The trails are a bit rocky but once you get past that there are some great water views. read more

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St. Edwards park is an area with many intersecting trails and can be accessed from Spicewood Springs. Driving along, I saw two trailheads where you could park. The park surrounds Bull Creek and and is a surprising wilderness considering its proximity to Capitol of Texas Highway and DT Austin. I followed the Hill Trail. It is about 4 miles round trip, but has some nice views and is only slightly challenging. If you follow this trail, you can find the entrance to the Balcones Preserve: an area containing an endangered bird. It seems that the area requires a permit from March 1st until July 31st. The hike in the preserve was fantastic and I saw only a few hikers on a Sunday. No dogs or horses are allowed in the preserve, and groups have to be 3 or smaller. The creek trail is the shorter route but follows the creek for a good part of the loop. The entire park is very pleasant, and you can hear the running water and the small waterfalls throughout much of the park. Go to the Balcones Preserve for even more fun. Make sure you give yourself about 3-4 hours for the complete hike if you do, though! read more

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Aye, my friends, I did not think I'd live ta see it. Actual river water running swiftly enough ta sound like a waterfall in Austin, Land o' the Low Lakes! Seriously, friends, by the water in spots 'tis really nice - it reminded me of places in the northeast, which I can't say has happened in all th'years I've been here. Not really a park, tho, more mostly hiking / semi-biking trails. Be on the lookout for the people on horses in spots (you might think, how could I possibly miss a horse). It's not like they're galloping around, but some corners are tight and those stallions are craftier than ye think. Also, the parking lot is small and you might miss it if you are not careful - it appears a few hundred yards after the sign for the park, and the sign is not at an entrance. I biked here but I think 'less you are an adept with your mountain bike, you will spend a decent amount of time carrying your bike up tricky rocky narrow places. H20! read more

This was a great trail. If you can find parking and manage some some time during good weather I recommend you give this place a visit and get lost. read more

Wonderful place to hike and chill. The energy of this park on a sunny day with running water is 5 stars. I'm giving this 2 stars because of the newly added stress factor of the parking situation. The parking lot is too small, which wasn't a problem when you could park on the side of Spicewood Springs Rd without worrying about getting a parking ticket. But recently somebody decided that you shouldn't be able to park at a park. They put up like fifty of these stupid Towing signs with the confusing arrows where you can't even tell where it says not to park. And how far do you have to park from the sign? Even after they put up the signs months ago, I continued to park off the shoulder when the lot was full; no problems. And finally, this last Sunday, I got 2 parking tickets on the same day while enjoying the goodness of the park with my car parked on the side of the road and not blocking any drive ways. The 2nd one I was just daring them and sure enough that same Travis County Deputy came back and gave me another one. Squeezing money out of people's love for this park. Thanks, Travis County!! Update: My tickets just came in the mail, and they are $125.00 each. read more

Great trails. Dogs are allowed, however, a leash is required. But, it didn't stop a few hikers. At some points along most of the trail it was isolated and peaceful. We stopped a few times to enjoy the site and sounds of waterfalls on Bull Creek. And took several pics. At the northern part of the trail, it does run parallel with Spicewood Springs Rd. This is a reason why I didn't give the park a higher rating. You can hear and smell the cars. Overall, it's a great park for the individual or a family. read more

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This is an adorable little park for a short hike. And there is even a stream rushing through. With all that water it is hard to believe Austin is in the midst of a drought. The only negatives are the very small parking lot and the limited terrain of the trails. But you could also consider this limited terrain a plus as it makes for relatively flat and easy hike. As for the stream, the water was cold and so clear you could see down to the river bed on the other side of the little dam. The little lake formed by the dam made me think that this is a place I want to come swimming on a hot summer day. Sure hope there is water left then! read more

I don't know if I missed something, but it wasn't that great. We walked all the way to the right, I think it was the brown trail maybe, some water areas were pretty, some were slippery, some were swampy and green looking. The parking was awful, only on the side of the road and cars driving by extremely fast. Also, the road noise was audible the majority of our walk, so that was disappointing. If you have to pass others walking there is no space to. read more

One of the best hiking trails in town! I took my beagle out for a hike on a crisp November morning and we had a great time peering over the steep cliff drop-offs. He lost his footing a time or two but lived to tell about it. It seemed virtually everyone there had a dog or a kid, so I'd say it's family friendly. The trail was easy most of the time, moderately difficult at other times. There really are a few spots where you need to watch your footing. I stumbled at least four times. Overall, great experience. The views were probably the highlight with the creek and rock walls. Didn't encounter any parking or break-in problems as others had mentioned. I'm sure we'll be back! read more

Quiet and peaceful. I call it my sanctuary. Go in stressed, come out rejuvenated. It's probably one of my top places to hike in N.Austin. Lots of shade for when it gets warm. read more

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if you go further up, water become a bit more moving. close to the entrance, water is still... so not feel like putting foot in. We walked 15 min walk in, water become a bit moving. Still not like those posted on pictures, but may be next time we will try to go up more and see the rocks and running water. But the spot we found was very scenery and was able to take great photo with kids and dog. I will definitely comeback and walk further up next time. read more

Loved it! Good view, nice trials.... Although very rocky. Loved it though, and so did my dog! read more

St Edwards Park - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was awesome.... nice trail. Crystal clear water. West Austin gem!!! We were visiting on SXSW Week and wanted to stay away from the crowds. This was perfect! read more

This place is really fun. We come here on cooler days, and there aren't too many people here. The creek is really neat, and there is wildlife everywhere! So cool! read more

Such a magical place, perfect park to go hiking with all the shade the trees provide it isn't too bad in the heat!

I feel half guilty in describing this place as it is one of my favorites and I'd rather it stay uncrowded. That said there is always something to do here year round. Paralleling bull creek and going back into he hills this park contains amazing ecological and geologic diversity in a really small location. In Fall, the creek has a way of staying pleasant and bug free long into the day. The leaves turn, beckoning you up the hillside to gaze upon the colored valley and unrecognizable ridges. The fall wildflowers are all about. In winter the trees are stripped bare and the crowds are most absent. On a nice day you can hike all the way to bull creek via Forest ridge. Indeed I consider that connecting trail to be one of the finest. The occasional frosts form complex patterns on the highland mosses. When the trickle of the creek is the loudest sound, you know you have found the quiet season. Look out for Cardinals and deer. Although the Connector trial closes in spring, there are still many great hikes to be had up and down the creek, watching the first leaves and blossoms emerge from the ground. Bluebonnets and paintbrush carpet the meadows. watch out for mud! Summer however is the prime season here. When there has been rain the pools are fresh and deep. Little sunfish and trout dart about your ankles and crazy spiders colonize the ledges. I most love standing under the waterfall. This is the season for Mustang Grapes which are in abundance around here, so sour they burn, but also so flavorful. This is Austin's Eden. read more

I think I picked the wrong trail. While I am all about nature, and trying new places and hiking to picturesque locations, I found the set up of St Edwards park to be super confusing. I looked at the map at the entrance, but it was very unclear as to which trail started where. We made our best guess and picked a trail that took us up at a sharp elevation for .75 miles, and then down through an incredibly rocky/steep path. The views I saw in pictures were missing. At the bottom, we reached a creek, there was no visible path to cross, so we hopped rocks in the middle to get to the other side. Not my favorite. Maybe I'll try again with more direction and an alt path = that would lead to the creek views I was searching out. read more

Parking can be tough, but I luckily landed a spot in the lot and not along the road. The trails are great and not too difficult with great views. I would say 50% of the people had dogs. I highly recommend! read more

It is hard to believe such a scenic park right in the middle of Austin. Once inside you would not believe you are inside of a city. Great escape for a couple of hours or longer. If people would only clean up after their dogs it would be even better. The other drawback is the very limited parking in the lot, forcing you to look for street parking. read more

Love this place! So many trails and water. My dog loves to poop there and I love to carry his poop. (I don't really love it but it's better than leaving it). read more