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    Wild Basin Creative Research Center

    4.2 (69 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:30 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Wild Basin Preserve
    Elvira A.

    This Southwest preserve is so beautiful with great shaded trails, beautiful views , restrooms, and I'm not sure about water. We always make sure to carry water with us. It is still possible to hike in the middle of the afternoon in the summer, and not feel like passing out. Yes it's still a little hot, but it's shaded almost everywhere. There are several educational areas to read about the natural wildlife, and it's informative. During the week it's never too busy, so parking is not a big issue, plus it's free. Of course you can make a donation, nonetheless it's not required. I feel extremely grateful for this gem!

    Brent L.

    This park offers an easy stroll. It's not a lot of distance (maybe two miles), but it's very clean. Open 7 days a week from sunup to sundown. A huge plus is they don't close after a rain. Most of it is on rock/gravel, no mud, and not very treacherous. Very limited parking and lots of potholes on the gravel road leading to the parking lot. Trails range from easy to moderate. It's a two mile loop with a few small crossover trails you can take. Good for trail runners, and there are a couple of scenic overlooks, but it's not too exciting for slow paced hikers like myself. It's easy to find, there's a porta potty at the beginning of the trail, and water is available here. No bikes, dogs, or smoking allowed on this trail - hip, hip hooray! There's a decent water fall on one of the trails, but you're gonna have to find that yourself!

    Amanda F.

    This is a shorter hike trail that I am used to but no worries there. The trail did provide some slightly challenging areas as there are stone steps you have to climb up. Most of the trail is in the shade and you have to cross a few streams. Overall a fun short hike that takes less than an hour to complete. Be sure to wear your SPF and bug spray if you get bit up.

    Felecia I.

    Wild Basin Preserve is as gorgeous as ever. And on a cool winter's day, there is no better way to beat the post-holiday blahs than to surround yourself with nature. There is something very peaceful about walking in and among the trees, listening to the wind and, when you're near the stream and waterfall, the gentle trickle of water. At the end of the hike, I feel tired but also calm and refreshed. If you're looking for a place to hike in Austin, give this place a try!

    The waterfall after a rain.
    Mandy L.

    Very beautiful views and environment!! There are numerous hiking loops although they are all quite short. If you want a longer hike, do all the loops! The waterfall is particularly beautiful after a rain.

    Map
    Megan G.

    I reallY love it here! It's very peaceful and quiet, yet so close to the city. The hike is great, lots of steps! Easy trail and a beautiful overlook. Usually see a few people but it is by no means crowded. Options for longer and short walks too!!

    Molly H.

    Fun and easy hike. Pretty place. There's NO dogs allowed, so FYI. I had no idea. Thankfully my friend told me the day before. This trail is about 2.5 miles. Most of it is shade. Maybe a quarter or a third of the time there wasn't any shade. Still, you're in Texas, so consider sunscreen. Overall, this is a relatively easy hike. I saw some families with little kids along the way. I would go back here. But it's at the bottom of the list only because I can't bring my dog :)

    Deniz V.

    We had a great time hiking around the main outer loop at Wild Basin over the weekend, and it was a nice mixture of gravel trails and some lightly rocky terrain with well marked pathways and a moderate elevation change with some rock steps. There are some pretty overlooks in the hill country, and a decent sized waterfall that was flowing really nicely from recent rains. The trails soon after opening in the mornings were not crowded at all and it was probably 30 minutes before we came across anybody else. It's not far enough away from 360 to completely be out of earshot from the sound of distant traffic which unfortunately reminds you that you're not as far out as it otherwise looks. There were a few plaques along the way that have some facts about the area and local wildlife as well. With a couple stops for pictures and listening to the waterfall, we spent just over an hour walking at a pretty leisurely pace heading around the perimeter, so it can be a pretty quick hike, but made longer if going on some of the inner loops. Worth checking out and right inside of Austin.

    Lots of benches along the trail for sitting if you need to rest. Many of these benches were Eagle Scout projects.
    Jackie F.

    Beautiful, well-maintained trail right off 360! I must've driven past this trail hundreds of times before finally deciding to check it out, but I was glad I did. Not too crowded on a warm Saturday right after Thanksgiving, which was great. My three-and-a-half-year-old was able to complete the entire hike on foot, even the moderate elevation portions. The highlight of the hike was the waterfall at the end, but we also enjoyed the easy creek crossings along the way. Best of all? No dogs allowed so no dog poop. Trail is free, but a donation box can be found along the trail.

    Laulel trail
    Ian C.

    This is one of my favorite hiking trails in the area. Its always quiet, its a 2 mile loop but you can make it as long or as short as you want because there are several trails (possum, Yaupon, Laurel trails) with cut throughs. Good elevation gain...you can use this as a lunchtime hike, or keep circling the basin in different ways to extend it. Its very scenic as well, and its location is great. There is a really friendly guard when you come in that will ask you if it's your first time here, and if it is, he is really helpful.

    Tara M.

    Wild Basin is a nice 3 mile hike not too challenging except for the last 3rd to get out of the valley. Wild Basin hosts a variety of family friendly events - see Edison's excellent review.... I can not add anything that has has not already been said in previous reviews so I added some pictures. Leave pets and food at home to protect the flora and fauna.

    Brandi M.

    This is such a gem in Austin. Plenty of walking and hiking trails. We visited a few trails during our time here, one included a small waterfall. The area is rich with plants, trees, and flowers. Super green and beautiful. If I lived in Austin, I would be here all the time to walk, meditate or journal. Donations are welcome, and I highly recommend contributing to them!

    Waterfall

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    5 years ago

    Wonderful visit and plan to return soon! Lots of shade and a large assortment of native Austin plants and trees.

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    Ask the Community - Wild Basin Creative Research Center

    Review Highlights - Wild Basin Creative Research Center

    People seem to forget that this is a preserve where they allow nature to run its course with little help.

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    Mount Bonnell - View at Mount Bonnell

    Mount Bonnell

    4.4(518 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    Mount Bonnell is one Austin's top tourist attractions. You climb about a hundred stone steps to…read morereach the top. You see folks coming down steps on the opposite side and your sense of what you might see at the top grows and grows. Alas, you reach the top. Was the climb worth it? Absolutely! When you reach the top, OMG the views are so spectacular! You cannot imagine how beautiful the views are until you actually see them. You see panoramic views of Lake Austin, multi-million residences on the lake and scenic view of Austin. One word...spectacular! We have been at Mt. Bonnell at sunrise and sunset and both views have something special to offer. Sunrise has peacefulness and light dances on Lake Austin. Sunset turns the overlook into connectiveness, where folks you met a few minutes ago or maybe not have met experience this quiet together as the sun retreats. While this location is quite popular, you still have vestiges of human life - graffiti on signage. Mount Bonnell has welcomed visitors since the 1800s and remains one of the city's oldest and most beloved natural landmarks. Austinites beam with pride regarding Mt. Bonnell

    Mount Bonnell is a local gem, a perfect date spot or somewhere to just enjoy the sunset. It's a…read moreshort walk up the stairs (maybe about 100 steps) from the parking to the pagoda-like terrace that overlooks some very scenic homes and has an excellent view of sunrise and sunset. I never actually did the full hike, only just went up to enjoy the scenery. It's less than 15 minutes from major Austin eateries and local spots, so it's a true gem within the city area as opposed to some hikes that are 30 minutes or an hour away. No bathrooms or garbage bins here is the one downside. Take your trash with you!

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    Mount Bonnell
    Mount Bonnell
    Mount Bonnell

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    Barton Creek Greenbelt

    Barton Creek Greenbelt

    4.7(283 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    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.

    Loved hiking here for the first time! We first parked at the 360 trailhead and were freaked out by…read moreall the broken glass and signs saying that it's a common smash and grab area. There were broken windows literally everywhere. The car was completely empty and we parked and started to enter, then decided to turn around because it just didn't feel right. We drove down to the other entrance on Spyglass near TacoDeli and felt much better. Residential area with street parking - perfect. We got on the trail and turned left which brought us to the new Violet Crown trailhead. We figured out how it connected to Barton Springs Pool. This was only 3 miles round trip. Next time we will go right past the falls. I am not sure there are even falls right now since it hasn't rained in a long time. The trail is easily marked and there were lots of people out. Can't wait to do more exploring soon!

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    Barton Creek Greenbelt
    Barton Creek Greenbelt
    Barton Creek Greenbelt

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    McKinney Falls State Park - Bluebonnets

    McKinney Falls State Park

    4.0(310 reviews)
    10.6 miSoutheast Austin

    I've been here several times and have explored it fairly extensively. The family-friendly trails…read moreare varied enough to keep the day interesting and the time spent at McKinney Falls is never wasted. For those seeking a bit more of a challenge, crossing the river takes more thought to avoid getting your feet wet. I've usually found there are 2-3 paths at the river crossing, being careful not to slip on any rocks. The homestead beyond the crossing can be observed and appreciated, but it's off-limits to help preserve what's left. The backcountry trails total about 6 miles and it's usually just the right length for me to get a solid hike in. There is very little elevation change, though there can be a lot of mosquitos during the warmer months. I didn't find any benches to rest at and there is no water source to refill water bottles. Given that McKinney Falls is within Austin's city limits makes this state park a gem. There is also a large day-use area near the campgrounds with about 100 picnic tables and charcoal grills the last time I counted a few years ago. Parking is plenty and the rangers are friendly. Definitely either get there early or make online reservations to reserve a time slot to enter as the park can fill up fast over weekends or holidays. Their gift shop also has a variety of items for sale, and you can get a park passport stamp there too!

    When we first heard about McKinney Falls State Park we liked the photos and things to do there but…read morewere generally apprehensive about paying $6 just to go to a park and swim. However, after our time there we can confidently say it's one of the best ways you can spend a few bucks here in Austin. The park itself is in a bit more of a secluded area which is nice because you truly do feel away from things. As a heads up when paying at the entrance they only take card. If you're looking to use tap to pay or cash you have to go inside in order to make that payment. The visitors center is nice though with very helpful park rangers as well as merch, drinks, and maps for you to use. Once you drive to the upper falls parking it's just a short 5 minute walk over to the swimming hole. The walk is cool as you traverse over what looks and feels like moon rock. We chose the upper falls instead of the lower falls because we heard the water here is deeper and there are less kids around. It was definitely the right choice as the water was perfect for a hot day and parts of the swimming hole are definitely 10+ feet in depth. There are a lot of places around to set up blankets and there's multiple rock formations jutting out of the water in case you need a quick break once you're in the water. The coolest part of the swimming hole is the jump you can make off the rock ledge. It's about a 15-20 foot jump and people line up in order to get there. There's also some wildlife around the pool which is cool to see. As a note, they don't allow radios or drinking and everyone was pretty respectful of that. Whether you're a young group of friends looking for a nice swim getaway or a family looking for somewhere to unwind, McKinney State Falls is a great option to beat the heat. Just make sure to layer on some sunscreen.

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    McKinney Falls State Park - Newly engaged couple portraits by the falls

    Newly engaged couple portraits by the falls

    McKinney Falls State Park - EV charging

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    McKinney Falls State Park

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    Wild Basin Creative Research Center - hiking - Updated May 2026

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