Austin is known for its great outdoors, both
within the city limits and in the nearby rural Texas Hill Country.
Get out and explore everything from winding hiking and biking trails to cool
swimming holes and lakes perfect for paddling.
HIKING
Hike
along the leafy 10-mile Ann
and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, which
skirts along shimmering waters and has picturesque views of Austin’s skyline.
Snap a selfie with the memorial statue of Austin music legend Stevie Ray
Vaughan, stationed along the route at Auditorium Shores.
Just 30
miles west of Austin, hike through a Texas Hill Country landscape of limestone
cliffs and stone river beds along the Pedernales River at Pedernales
Falls State Park. Follow Juniper Ridge Trail, which wends
through a shaded mesquite forest and leads to the park’s rushing Pedernales
Falls. Reservations are encouraged, as the park regularly reaches capacity and closes to those without permits.
Make the trek up the Lake Austin/360 Bridge Overlook Trail for spectacular views of Austin's Pennybacker Bridge, Lake Austin and the surrounding Texas Hill Country. Don't miss the view from the top at sunset — a marvellous spectacle while golden hour illuminates the area and reflects off Lake Austin's glassy waters.
BIKING & CYCLING
The Violet
Crown Trail offers great in-town mountain biking, with
rocky surfaces and steep slopes. The Barton
Creek Greenbelt is also a great destination for mountain
bikers (enter at the Loop 360 access point), offering varied terrain within a
beautiful landscape of cliffs and shaded groves alongside scenic Barton Creek.
Road
riders will want to bicycle from downtown to Mount
Bonnell, peddling Scenic Drive along the waters of Lake Austin
and catching an awesome sunset view from Pennybacker Bridge. The paved Southern
Walnut Creek Trail, part of the city’s Walnut Creek Trail
System, is an urban trail designed for both bikers and pedestrians.
SWIMMING
Combine
great swimming with people watching at the historic Barton Springs Pool,
just minutes from downtown Austin. Located in the heart of the 360-acre Zilker
Park, this swimmer’s paradise features clear water fed from
underground springs that stays a refreshing 68 degrees year round, along with
grassy hills for sunbathing.
Located a
40-minute drive from Austin in Texas Hill Country, Hamilton Pool Preserve is
a geological wonder. This historic swimming hole was formed by the Hamilton
Creek spilling out over limestone outcroppings, creating a dramatic 50-foot
waterfall that plunges into a canyon.
CAMPING
Emma
Long Metropolitan Park, situated along the shores of Lake
Austin, is one of the few places where visitors can camp inside the city
limits. Located just 25 minutes from downtown Austin, the park features
waterside campsites, giant cypress trees, hiking and biking trails, swimming
and boating, and spots for picnics and grilling.
Southeast of downtown, McKinney Falls State Park offers 726 acres with nearly nine miles of hiking and cycling trails, playgrounds, picnic areas and a campground with 81 sites (featuring electricity and water hook-ups) and six cabins.
CLIMBING & BOULDERING
Hike or bike along the Barton Creek Greenbelt to reach Gus Fruh, a swimming hole known for its famed Urban Assault limestone rock wall that’s a favorite of climbers. Explore further to discover the hidden Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls areas, where you’ll find relaxing shallow stream waters and plenty of rocky areas for adventurous climbing and discovering the falls.
Reimers Ranch Park offers more than 300 different sport climbing routes on highly technical limestone cliff walls that skilled climbers love to scale. Many of the routes have bolts, anchors and fixed cable draws in place, so climbers can access popular routes with protection.
BIRDING
Austin's diverse ecosystem makes it an incredible destination for birding. Travis County is home to hundreds of avian species, most notably the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. Look for the bright yellow-headed bird along the creek and viewing sites in St. Edwards Park from mid-March through the end of May.
Visit Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to wander among colorful native flowers and plants. Count how many different birds you see — over 150 species have been spotted here. Zilker Botanical Garden is home to a year-round pollinator garden that attracts a variety of migrating birds.
BAT WATCHING
Join the curious crowds and witness a nightly urban wildlife encounter in Austin. At dusk from late March through early fall, watch 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge, filling the sky with a breathtaking display. Stake out a spot on the grassy hill at the Statesman Bat Observation Center next to the bridge for a great view.
WILDFLOWERS
Austin and the Texas Hill Country burst with color when wildflowers blanket the landscape each spring. Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and Mexican hats thrive along highways and in parks, creating stunning views. See showy displays in gardens and fields at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and St. Edwards University, perfect settings for Texas’ vibrant blooms.
KAYAKING & WATER RENTALS
Lady Bird Lake is a reservoir created by two dams on the Lower Colorado River that flows through downtown Austin. Motorized boats aren’t permitted, so Lady Bird Lake is a perfect destination for paddling.
Rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes from Greenbelt Outdoors, the Rowing Dock and other outfitters. For an insider’s perspective, take a guided kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour of downtown Austin with Austin Kayak Tours. Both beginner and experienced paddlers are welcome.
Head northwest to explore a different section of the Colorado River, better known as Lake Travis. Rent a paddleboard, kayak or pedal kayak from Austin Pedal Kayaks to enjoy the area's calm, clear water and the Texas Hill Country surroundings.
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Posted by: Visit Austin
Posted on: 28/04/2025