Take a Hike

The 11 best hiking trails in Austin and beyond

McKinney Fall State Park Austin Texas hiking hiker trail outdoors 2015

McKinney Falls State Park is one of our top picks for hiking in Austin.

Austin is adorned with a host of outdoor gems just beckoning to be explored. Maybe you've always wanted to try hiking, but you weren't sure where to start. Or maybe you're an outdoor enthusiast and looking for new trails off the beaten path.

No matter your experience level, here are 11 of the best trails around Austin.

Barton Creek Greenbelt
Where: West
Difficulty: Easy to vigorous
With several entry points and unofficial trails crawling across the 7-mile stretch of greenery, you can easily explore different areas each time you go. If you're just starting off, try the Loop 360 access point or the entry near Zilker Park.

Violet Crown Trail
Where: West
Difficulty: Easy to vigorous
The first 6-mile leg of what will eventually be a 30-mile regional trail is now open to the public. This inaugural portion shares real estate with the Greenbelt, from the Zilker Trailhead running south past the 360 Trailhead.

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
Where: North
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
This northern haven offers a handful of different trails, most of which are long, winding paths looping around the entire park. The terrain here is varied, showcasing everything from grassy areas to wooded enclaves. Walnut Creek is both dog and bike friendly. This is a full-fledged park, so you can also find sports complexes, barbecue pits, picnic tables, a swimming pool, and more.

River Place Nature Trail
Where: Northwest
Difficulty: Moderate
River Place is a beautiful neighborhood spot worth the trek to northwest Austin. The trails include an easy boardwalk, rocky staircases, and a more natural trail. Clear streams trickle in the springtime, but abundant wildlife and manmade rock formations can be found all year long. A few changes in elevation offer great views of the surrounding landscape. Some of the trails are easy enough for a stroll, but other areas can be more taxing than they initially look.

Mayfield Park
Where: West
Difficulty: Easy
Mayfield Park (the Mayfield Nature Preserve) is a great option for families or those looking for something more leisurely. This easy adventure lets you choose different paths that take you through a variety of native landscapes with abundant wildlife near the Colorado River. When you find yourself close to the cottage grounds near the parking area, keep an eye out for the roaming peacocks.

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Where: West
Difficulty: Easy
Wild Basin is one of the best spots to spy on native wildlife, including the golden-cheeked warbler. There are 2.5 miles of trail, but the looping paths around the preserve allow for a longer hike if you're into exploring. This spot has a really beautiful Central Texas vibe with tons of trail guides to point out animal and plant life. There's not a lot of change in elevation, but there are a few great lookout points. Admission is free, but there is a suggested donation of $2 to $3.

St. Edwards Park
Where: Northwest
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
This lesser-known jewel has multiple trails offering a variety of experiences, from a laid-back walk with a splash in Bull Creek to an elevated trek with great views of the surrounding Hill Country. The creek is stunningly clear when the water is running and the landscape is a perfect mixture of taller trees and low-lying cactus. In a word? Lovely.

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
Where: Northwest
Difficulty: Easy to vigorous
Here you have the Hill Country in a nutshell: Rugged Texas landscapes with juniper and oak trees as well as beautiful plants and an abundance of native animals (it is a wildlife refuge, after all). Balcones Canyonlands is huge and includes about 7 miles of trails. In addition to hiking, this is a great place for outdoor photography and bird watching.

Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park
Where: South
Difficulty: Easy
Mary Moore is a "love it or hate it" kind of park. The trails are easy to access for those living around South Austin, and the park's many amenities make it a great place for families to check out. However, it's not very removed from the surrounding city so it doesn't offer much of a wilderness reprieve. Pay close attention to the trail markers, because some of the paths can get a bit confusing.

McKinney Falls State Park
Where: Southeast
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Splurge for a day pass at this state park and explore the multiple trails around the land. For a more isolated hike, opt for the trails on the northern side of the park past the Lower Falls (and cool off in Onion Creek afterwards). While you walk, keep an eye out for historical relics like the old Thomas F. McKinney homestead.
Cost: $6; Admission is free for children 12 and under

Emma Long Metropolitan Park
Where: West
Difficulty: Moderate
Another popular camping destination, Emma Long is a large park nestled against the banks of Lake Austin. Swimming and boating are big draws, but the varied terrain on the hike and bike trails offers an adventure that's a little off the beaten path. Depending on which trail you pick, you may find rough terrain, creek crossings, and sweet hilltop views.
Cost: $5 Monday through Thursday; $10 Friday through Saturday and on holidays

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Red Light

San Antonio leads Texas on ending horse-drawn carriage rides by 2030

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Horses will no longer pull carriages on the streets of downtown San Antonio.

San Antonio has pulled off something that the rest of Texas has yet to do, but it didn't come without some contentious conversations. City Council has unanimously voted (with one abstention) to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages over the next five years. That means by January 1, 2030, there will be none on the streets at all; instead, there will be electric carriages.

These plans have been in the making since 2022 — if not always at the same level of intensity — when District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran wrote up some concerns about the horses' wellbeing. A special session at the end of October 2024 hinted to San Antonians that the end for this practice was neigh — sorry, nigh — and the final vote was made on December 12. In addition to accepting the plan, it extended its timeframe by two years.

The initial proposal included worries about the horses' exposure to traffic and pollution, as well how their presence might exacerbate those issues for the environment at large by slowing traffic. It also raised concerns about the effects of standing or walking on hard surfaces for too long, or spending time in extreme weather.

At the December 12 meeting, San Antonians gave impassioned speeches about animal welfare — both to call attention to the need for better conditions and to defend the reputations and jobs of current horse drivers — but it wasn't the first time the council heard from the public about the issue.

In a prior city survey, 50,476 respondents weighed in. Of those respondents, 51.98 percent said they liked the idea to "Transition horse-drawn carriages to electric carriages and pedicabs and ban horse drawn carriages completely." There were alternative solutions listed, but respondents were less drawn to them.

A cultural divide emerged in the data and continued in the December meeting: some people avoided the carriages because they worried about the treatment of the horses, while others enjoyed them because of their historical echoes and living legacy. Many speakers in favor of the plan used this to form their argument, raising questions about history versus progress.

More tangible objections to the plan hinged on the businesses — specifically five companies — and jobs that would be lost, which was the main factor behind extending the adjustment period.

Discussions about the particulars of the electric vehicles are still to come, as confirmed in the discussion near the end of the meeting. Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez addressed concerns about what would happen to the horses, mentioning the Brady Hunter Foundation as a future partner in finding them rescue homes.

Some council members also brought up rhetorical questions about animal exploitation by groups like Sea World, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, military and police forces, and even various groups in the Fiesta parade, although these did not come with a formal motion to pick the issues up.

This decision could have a ripple effect on other Texas cities. Dallas has recently considered a similar ban, but it appears to have stalled; Austin's attempts at a ban have been unsuccessful, but according to the Austin-American Statesman, only one operator is permitted to bring horses downtown. She declines to do so because the long hours are unfair to her and the horses. Houston does have horse-drawn carriages, and there seems to be little conversation about banning them.

Cities like Chicago and Salt Lake City have led the charge in the United States with some of the most prominent successful bans. Other cities around the world with bans include Brussels and Guadalajara, which both switched to electric models. Bans that have been around for years, like Guadalajara's and Prague's, still aren't out of the woods — people are still pushing back on the decision, so it sounds like San Antonio still has much work cut out for it.

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