The hubs and I were syced for a power walk. First we take in the Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park. We hear the birds chirping, tree branches whistling in the wind and the rippling of the creek in the background. Their appears to be softbal fields on one side of the park. This park is massive! We see other leisurely morning walkers, folks with their fur babies on leashes and even small groups of family members and friends enjoying the park. We did not realize until reading the signage, that Walnut Creek park is a nature park. Totally makes sense given the lush nature of the park. Cyclists ride down the trail with vigor and position. The park is alive! Really enjoyed our power walk.., This family friendly park has an array of playground equipment for children. The is also a large empty swimming pool in background...unsure if it's operational. Picnic tables are strategically sprinkled throughout the park. read more

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Great option for hiking -- large park with lots of trails. According to my quick research, there's only one paved trail -- Northern Walnut Creek Trail. We had our kids in a wagon stroller so needed a stroller-friendly trail. It's a long trail (not a loop) so we just walked it to the creek and turned back. Trailhead is to the right of playground. Playground was pretty nice (with an area for smaller toddlers) but parents could have been more conscientious (some kids were throwing rocks down the slide). read more

I hiked here today and it was sooooo wonderful . My best friend brought me here and we enjoyed the lush green scenery. I cannot wait to bring my husband and son to birdwatch and enjoy nature read more

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This place has great walking trails and is very pretty. Their playground is nice and there is a plethora of shaded picnic areas. It is super big and pet friendly and beautiful! I love coming and hiking with my dogs. read more

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Came out here with a group to hike and had a really great time. The trails were easy to follow and the weather was amazing. This park was full of bikers, joggers, both young and old so I encourage you to come out if you are looking for a great park to enjoy. read more

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Forest bathed lately? You better get to it and Walnut creek park is the best park in Noth Austin. Huge and the trails stretch miles in different ways. There is an off leash dog path that leads to the creek. You can find paved paths, trails, bmx loops and lots of bikers. Lovely scenic creek views abound. The playground was redone a few years ago and is now like a 3 story deluxe model. They also have a littles area in the playground for the smaller tots. Lots of shaded picnic tables and benches to relax as the kids play. A little fairy house from zilker botanical gardens was rebuilt on-site and is sweet. The public pool is open during warm months. Large baseball fields. I've taken my kid here for a decade plus and we never get tired of it, always finding some new view or aspect to explore. read more

Great public park, with a lot of sports fields, and trails. The playground area is really nice. Has a very tall structure that requires a skilled climber to reach the top to get to the tallest slide. Also has some fun swings, and a well constructed fort made of fallen limbs and recycled material. Area is well shaded. There is a large pool behind the playground and a nice paved hike/bike trail. read more

We always have a great time hiking and the dogs love running in the creek. There is a lot of ground to explore and generous areas for off leash play. There is a children's playground and plenty of parking. There is usually a lot of people coming and going but never seems too crowded. Please clean up after your pets and THROW AWAY trash! read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Creek - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Normally a friend attends an event here every so often but I hadn't explored the park. Today we hiked down this long paved path. There is a stream that runs alongside the path at several parts. There are lots of chances for photos if you love plants and even caterpillars. The path is clear and there are no mobility issues. There is a path alongside the paved one that's dirt but be aware there are a lot of bikers there. They do also travel on the paved bath but more of them are on the dirt one. It was a relaxing walk and you will meet many a person with a dog. There is a parking lot and a playground for the kids. Overall I enjoyed this park. read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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One year later, and I decided to give the Walnut Creek Met Park another try. We ventured off and found more than the bike trail. Expect off-leash trails for your pups to wander through, but also, expect tons of dog poop as well. Unfortunately, there aren't many signs that indicate where you are going. It's easy to get lost, but most trails lead back to the parking lot. Also, even though there is a bike trail, adventurous cyclists like to venture out. Be prepared to stop and stand in the corners to prevent getting ran over. read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is our family's go-to park in Austin because there's so much to do! It feels like a new adventure every time because of the many different paths and trails to explore. It can be a little easy to get lost, but we always manage to make our way back to one of the main trails that lead to the parking lot. We also love the playground! Our son has such a great time playing and trying out all the different playscapes and slides. It's very well-maintained and relatively clean compared to most playgrounds. Parking can be a bit tricky on the weekends, and there has been quite a bit of construction the last few times we've visited. Nonetheless, the park never feels crowded, and there's so much space to explore and enjoy nature. read more

Beautiful park, but very difficult to navigate the trails for the first time visitor. Trail markers are EXTREMELY lacking. I came across more than one split in the trail where there was no signage, and then another split in the trail that had a sign with arrows pointing toward each trail, but it didn't have the NAME of the trails. It's like, "duh, I see that the trail splits in two. Why do I need a trail marker to show me this?" Most of it is wooded and shaded, so that's a positive. There are a couple of places where you can cross the creek and get to the other side - the water is only a couple of inches deep on these parts. Parts of it are an off leash park, so your dogs can run free. If I had the time to wander around I would have, but I didn't, so I ended up cutting it short because I was concerned I would get too far out and not have time to get back to the trailhead I parked at. I'll try it again when I don't have time constraints. #KeepTexasWild #52HikeChallenge read more

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It's a brand new park for all ages of kids. I'd love more information about the hours of the pool and how to access it. There are different areas for different ages and lots of places to sit. We usually hike along the river for a few miles and then come play. The area surrounding this park is laced with fossils of past sea life imbedded into the creek bed. It gets busy on weekends and after 5pm. We love it here. Only downfall is that there are many dog poop bags left around the area causing unsanitary conditions for the creek. Sometimes areas are roped off because of contamination. And some dogs are off the leash and jump on small children. read more

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I absolutely love this park! I do wish that a bathroom, or hand soap near the porta potties, could be provided.

We absolutely love taking our dog to this trail, glad it exists and the other dogs are friendly! read more

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I went for a walk here to clear my mind on a Monday afternoon. The park wasn't too busy but I did come across people here and there. The mountain bike trails were busy and looked like fun. I would annoyingly see people with their dogs off of their leash despite signs saying dogs should be on a leash. Overall a nice place to check out and a lot of parking read more

Fabulous park! Great for hiking, running and biking. Two solid playgrounds and a pool along with access to the creek. Outdoors Austin at its best! read more

Great park with lots of variety. can be a nice family outing or a raging dangerous initiations just never know...lol

Great hard to take your dog in off leash. Nice hike. Saw some snapping turtles. Wish there was more signs on where to hike with your dog. Watch out for the mountain bikers. They come out of nowhere. read more

This is one prime example of the positive aspect of Austin Texas, Great parks. It is almost an understatement to classify this location as an average Park. There are several mountain bike and hiking trails, off-leash dog areas, grass areas for picnics and outdoor games, a swimming pool, and a concrete Trail that's perfect for walking, jogging, biking, Etc. If you are mountain biking, ensure you make note of your path, as several trails are unmarked or marked poorly. Regarding difficulty, there's everything from beginner to expert, so stay alert or you may find yourself unwillingly on an expert Trail. Please keep in mind that the maintenance system here is volunteer-based. So please make sure that anything that you bring into the park, you take with you leaving the park. Additionally, if "Fido" is in tow, please clean up after your pet, as there are very few trash cans around. There are trash cans and litter bags dispensers at the beginning of the main trail entrance. On weekends, it can become very congested in the parking lot. So if you're planning on a park day in great weather, it's probably wise to come early. read more

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So this review is about the park some, but mainly about the trails. First the park part: it has a nice playground for the kid's as well as a community swimming pool. There are several baseball fields there as well. The area is usually kept pretty clean and there are a few picnic tables around. Lots of shade as well for those hotter days. But what I mainly use here is the trailheads that lead through the Walnut Creek Greenbelt. There are multiple trails to choose from with varying degrees of difficulty. The buffet and easiest being a paved sidewalk that runs all the way to Balconies District Park, about 3.5-ish miles away. There are many other trails that branch off, most leading to the creek at some point. If you're lucky and it had been raining recently, there will be plenty of water flowing through that your dog can play in. A good part of the trails are leash optional, but pay attention to the signs for when it turns to on-leash only. Many people don't pay attention to those and there can be dogs running loose even in on-leash areas so be cautious. For the most part people pick up after themselves and their pups. But there will always be people who don't so be cautious where you step if you're on a dirt path. Also, if you're going to be wearing earbuds or something, keep the volume lower that you can hear people coming up from behind you. Some cyclists on the main path think pedestrians should look out for them and not the other way around. Same with the other trails. Some are really narrow and only 1 person at a time can be on the path. You'll need to know to step to the side of a biker cones flying through there. read more

Favorite park to run/ walk! This is a great neighborhood park where you can walk your dog or go for a jog! In the evening there's always quite a few people on the trail, biking or running. I feel save going here by myself. Most people are friendly and will even pass a word of encouragement as you workout. Great place to get a outdoor workout in read more

One of my favorite bridges in the north Austin metropolitan area. There was never a doubt in its integrity as I toured across. Lots of dogs and people biking and walking. Really nice park, worth the drive. read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Bridge - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great spot for off leash, friendly dogs. There are signs visible for on and off Leash areas start and end. We've gone since Fall 2020 til now Feb 2021, snow day! read more

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Can I tell you how much I really ENJOY Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park?!! Why you ask? Welllll..I really like how this park really does have a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy and explore. :) This park has.. -a basketball court (2 hoops only on each end of the court) The court isn't covered but it is surrounded by huge trees and located right next to an area that has covered picnic tables. Depending on the time of day you go sometimes the court will be empty but other times both hoops are being used however, those playing are usually very nice about letting you join in to play *FYI-during the summer time when schools are out this park does have a summer program who bring kids to this park during the day -Base Ball fields-the fields are located near the restrooms - Playground for younger kids -PLENTY of parking! which is appreciated for sure because this park is pretty popular, & fyi when all the spaces do fill up people park next to the curb - there's a swimming pool located at this park but I have never been to it so I can't give much feedback but it is located right near the playground -Hiking Trails that are OFF LEASH FOR OUR FUR BABIES! :) Of course this is my FAVORITE part about this park. I love that I get to hike with my 1 yr old fur baby Otis and the trails are for the most part shaded by huge trees so in our Texas summer heat we can get some relief from the heat while we get our exercise in. Please note that there are also bikers who use these trails and the majority of the time there is more than 1 biker biking together so you do want to keep an eye out in case you need to get out of the way, but having just said that most of the bikers who are on these trails are pretty experienced and watching out for those of us walking and navigate around us pretty skillfully...at least this has been my experience. Another thing to note that these trails are off leash areas so you will see plenty of dogs walking/running without a leash on so you may not want to bring your young baby/child to walk these trails if they are afraid of dogs or if you are afraid of dogs. The trails do lead up to a creek and that is always the grand prize for my fur baby Otis, who loves to cool off in the water & play or run with any other 4-legged fur peep he sees. Another helpful "FYI" about the hiking trails is that I did see that other reviews mentioned that the trails aren't marked clearly enough or even marked at all and while this is correct I do want to add that the trails that are marked usually have a "P" on them with an arrow pointing in a direction and during those 1st few times when I was exploring the trails I just kept following that "P" arrow and sure enough I was led out of the trails to the road coming into the park or the parking lot itself so don't freak out if you ever feel like you are totally lost while on the hiking trails and are we ever really lost when we have MapQuest navigation on our cell phones ;). No, we are not and this is what I told my 13 yr old son who was for sure I had gotten him lost while we were exploring the trails. :) For sure Walnut Metropolitan Creek Park is pretty awesome but there are a couple of things that could make this park even better.. Currently there aren't any waste bins located along the trails & the majority of the pet owners are good about picking up their dogs #2 waste treasure ;) & won't leave it on the actual trails but you also have those people who will bag the #2 waste treasure & then leave the bag on the side of the trail ..not sure if those who do this practice make a point to come back to pick up the bag to then throw it away...I'm going to think positively & assume this is the case. :) To sum it up..this really is a great park in North Austin to explore & how lucky am I that this park is only about 10 mins away from my house?! -Rebecca out read more

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Great park to do anything outside with family and friends and best pals , your dogs. Enjoy the trails

There's a fort with the roof made of beer cans. Not really child/kid friendly, but these kids- they gotta be indoctrined somehow. Thanks parks &rec; my kids will love Modelo in no time! read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Beer can fort - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is my favorite park for dogs to go off leash! Once you're in the off leash area, you're not met with enclosures of gates like most dog parks. Instead you'll be surrounded by trees, rocks, and cliffs. You'll take an easy, enjoyable hike down to the green belt; find streams of water and areas for dogs to jump in and cool off. My favorite part is hopping across stepping stones to get to the other side. Scratch that, my favorite part is seeing the light bounce off the rocks and water when the sun is setting. It's very picturesque. Bikers love coming here, but paths are sometimes rocky, so beware the possible danger. Bring dog shampoo and a towel if you want to wash off your dog! read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Off leash trail - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Such a gorgeous park! It's got pretty much everything you need. Trials, whether for cycling or walking, basketball courts, baseball/softball fields and more! Great parking lot and didn't get really packed. The sights are gorgeous and the trials are amazing! Great for runners as well but be careful with some of the trails as they get a bit bumpy. I loved how shady it is as well on some of the trails so you don't get all the sun in your face. Great spots in the trials to sit and enjoy a snack and recover. I highly recommend to individuals looking to get away from the city a bit and enjoy some of the nature side Austin has to offer! read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Trail - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This park is beautiful and great as long as no one else is around. On the weekdays in the middle of the day, at least 90% of the time, no one is around, so we get to have a chill, wonderful time. I wish the people and dogs here were as great as the park is. I guess that's just the risk of going out in public, and to a place where there are people and off-leash dogs. People leave poop in bags along the trail, and during busy times, they won't pick it up at all, not even to put in bags. Mostly, I won't go on weekends because of this. I'm truly impressed by how well the park is kept. Someone keeps it clean. People's dogs often don't listen to them until they've already barked at and chased my dog around for a bit because, not only is the other dog running off ahead of its owner, it also gets to torment mine until the owner passes and on until the owner is out of view when the dog thinks maybe it should finally pay attention and catch up. These things just don't listen when called or the other owner doesn't care. Good thing my dog is small, smart, and flighty enough that she is able to dodge those other dogs in the underbrush until they lose interest. She is quite well trained and knows how to handle this as well as how to get out of the way of the bikes. This place is secluded, so there is opportunity for some weird stuff to happen... But that would make this review too long to recount. I'll make sure to bring a pocket knife and pepper spray with me to help me feel safe. read more

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Long paved hilly trail, partly in tree shade. Best for running and walks. Not so good for cycling as too many folks do not control their of leash noisy dogs at all. Lots of unpaved trails, but dog problem gets worse there, Reddit is full of stories of folks being bitten here by some dogs. And I can confirm, dog owners here just do not control them at all or call them back and some folks have like 2-4 off leash big dogs at same time. read more

Fantastic place to take children to for their playground. It's quite unique and can be fun for both children and adults. There is also a walking path right next to it and restrooms. read more

So this place is a great little "gem of nature" in the urban sprawl of North Austin. I have done a couple of trails here now and have really enjoyed my leisurely hikes through this little pocket of wilderness. The creek actually had some water, so it was nice to just take a respite sitting on a rock in the middle of the bubbling waters and take a deep breath and forget about the #strugglebus that has become daily life in our ever burgeoning metropolis. Alas, that moment was short-lived as the 20-something hipsters, 30-something new parents w/their feral spawn, and the array of dudebros and duckfaced barbie-types amongst their packs of unleashed dogs came full-throttle into my little bubble of Zen and burst it with the inconsiderate vigor of entitlement that seems to be the current plague of Austin. Though, I have a feeling, despite whatever time of day I came, this would be a daily occurrence. On my hike back to the parking lot, I was almost run down by various mountain bikers who for some reason had it in their heads that they had more of a right to be ravaging the trails than my feet did walking them. They seriously YELLED at me...I guess pedestrian right of way is not a thing here. I really liked the natural space here, so 5-stars for the haven-esqueness of what could be here, but 1-star for the people I encountered on and off the trails. Like w/most good things, certain types will always find a way to ruin it and sadly they seem to be en masse here. read more

This is a great park if you have a dog or love to mountain bike. I come here 4-5 times a week with my pup and it's one of his most favorite places to go. It's an off-leash park so it gives him the freedom to run around and explore. He's always on the hunt to find all the squirrels. There's also a creek that also that runs through the park that can be dry a lot of the time, but filled quickly with a day or two of full rain. You'll usually find a bunch of dogs playing in the creek. There are poop bags that are provided for you at the entrances to the trails, and while some owners are good about it, there are those that still don't pick up their dog's waste. I don't mine if it's off the trail in the woods, but the ones that leave them on the trail need to be more conscientious. If you love mountain biking, there are some great trails here for both novice and advanced riders. Most are very mindful of hikers and dogs since they know it's very popular for dogs to run around. If you love biking, definitely check this park out. Other than these 2 things, the park has a playground, public swimming pool, baseball fields, and many other amenities. It's a great place for a family gathering or just getting together with some friends. read more

Pretty cool place, well shaded, popular place for lots of bikers, make sure you stay aware - we used it as our introduction to the kids for their first walking and it did a great amount of good. Teaching the kids to go single file in a line when bikers or other peoe would come through - pretty narrow trails and it is a very popular spot also taught my kids to always ask before petting any ones dogs with all the dogs off the leash - awesome experience read more

I started and still mostly come to this park to play kickball under Austin SSC, but that's for another time. We made a trip here to actually walk the trails, and I was hooked. Who knew such a park can be found just off of North Lamar? To be honest, I don't like walking around in circles at parks, and there's none of that here. Despite the paved dirt roads, this place is mysterious and large. Every minute or two, the paths would fork and a decision would have to be made. And each split in the path would take you to different parts of the park, not just to simply connect later. There are creek beds, flowers, and areas of tall weeds. Pretty much different plantation in different regions of this park. I can come to this park over and over and end up on different trails. No really, don't underestimate the wilderness here. If I got dropped off in the middle of this park, I'd be completely lost and would see no sign of civilization in any direction. If you're super adventurous, there are ample opportunities for jumping over fallen trees, hill climbing, and heights. I remember a point where I nearly hurt my ankle getting up a rocky hill. I really love this place. For casual bikers and walkers with kids and/or dogs, this place is also fantastic. Plenty of people here, but it's not at all crowded just cause this place is so huge! read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

we come here regularly now because we just love it here. great spot to bring our senior dog who can't do a lot of elevation or rough terrain. beautiful views, and when there is water, especially after a storm, it is so serene! people are respectful of distancing during this pandemic time and there are plenty of paths to take if one seems crowded. this is a great way to get out of the house and get some fresh air. read more

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My dog and I love it here! There is tons of room for Archer to be off leash and the creek for him to Splash around and cool off in. There are always dogs playing in the water and you can always chat with the owners before heading off. I recommend the shady (forgot the second part) trail, it's the image with all the trees. It's gorgeous and of course shaded. Perfect for hot days!! Just make sure to watch out for bikers, they don't always pay attention read more

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I want to like this place... but it feels post-apocalyptic. There are dogs running everywhere, and the poop is a-plenty. There are lots of people on the bike path, and everyone has ear buds, so I've already been knocked off my bike after yelling "coming up on your left." Also, really dangerous to have little kids hanging out on their bikes on fast, downhill, blind turns. Some of it is pretty. But, it's a medevac waiting to happen. read more

Beautiful park! My husband and I are new to Texas, and this is one of our favorite places to take a morning or evening stroll. The paths are quaint and the creek area is beautiful. You gotta watch out for the fast mountain bikers or the people with their dogs not on leashes! We haven't yet encountered a mean dog (however we did see a German shepherd almost go ballistic on another dog!). Every once in a while though you will see doggie poop bags that an owner didn't discard. (Dog owners please throw away your poop bags!) We have yet to discover all the trails this park has to offer; we will be back soon! read more

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park - Walnut Creek Trail - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas