Everyone who has been to Texas knows that the first thing that impresses a person is the feeling of spaciousness.
No wonder there is a slogan: “Everything is big in Texas.”
This is absolutely true: huge fields, parks, roads, huge houses, portions in restaurants and even ordinary coffee cups are unusually large here =)
Texas is the second largest state (after Alaska) and the largest of the continental US states.
Therefore, of course, it will take more than one month to see all its sights.
There are more than 13,000 monuments in Texas alone that have become public property.
Texas is incredibly rich in the number of parks, forests, amazing natural areas, which include valleys, desert landscapes, and unusually beautiful canyons and mountains.
The state has more than 200 lakes (one of them, Caddo, is of natural origin) and five large rivers: Colorado, Red River, Brazos, Rio Grande and Trinity.
Because of this diversity, Texas is home to more than 600 species of birds, including sea eagles, as well as more than a thousand species of plants.
The largest and most popular cities in the state are Houston, Dallas, El Paso, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and its capital, Austin.
Nowadays more and more people are interested in being in good shape while traveling, they are interested in sport areas, trails and activities.
As you understood from the name of the article we are gonna talk today about Hiking in Austin and Bastrop Country.
But Why Bastrop too?
Because Bastrop is located 27 miles east of the state capital of Austin and is part of Greater Austin and many people who move to Austin choose Bastrop to live.
10 Best Places to Hike in Bastrop County, Texas and Austin, Texas
In Austin and Bastrop, both nature lovers and those who want to have fun will be able to find places to their taste…
Here is my list for you:
1.Maverick Horseback Riding
It is a great place for people who like horse-riding in nature.
That’s my lovely place where I had so much fun and spent all day and I already want to come back!
I booked the Horseback Trail Ride 1 week before and it was well worth it.
My horse instructor was an awesome teacher and I learned so much with him. The horses were awesome, calm and the area is amazing itself.
During the ride we stopped to make BBQ.
2.Barton Creek Greenbelt
I’ve only experienced a short stretch of this on my bike, but it’s great to have that kind of access to nature in the middle of an urban environment.
Felt far away from the city when I was there.
3.River Place Nature Trails
These hiking trails are one of the hardest because you have uphills and downhills, sometimes it is hard to walk. The trail was narrow most of the way.
There are some small refreshing waterfalls.
The total walk took me around 1.5 hours with the stops.
My own recommendations: Take plenty of water to drink, that trail takes a lot of energy.
4.Red Bud Isle Park
What I personally liked is that place always has many free spots for parking =)
This is an ideal place to take your pets with you.
The place is basically shaded with wide paths and has gorgeous views and comfortable benches everywhere.
5.Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail
A very pleasant place for a measured rest, jogging, cycling – whatever!And the views are great.Bastrops are very lucky to have a place like this to stay Lady Bird Lake is located right within the city limits of Austin.Along the shore there is a magnificent multi-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, encircling the lake along the perimeter, here you can take a leisurely walk, admiring the generous nature of Texas.
Usually there are few vacationers on the lake in autumn, but you can not imagine what is happening here in the summer. There are a lot of vacationers!
There were many joggers on the track despite the light rain.I myself would love to run every day with such an excellent view of nature.
6.Turkey Creek Trail
It’s nice and well designed area for hiking where I made 3 miles loop.I went t in the summer so most of the water was dry.Actually, I was lucky because many of the creek crossings had no water and it made crossing easy.I did not feel that I was too hot because the hike was had shades everywhere.
7.Shoal Creek Greenbelt
I found this place by mistake and I would say that it is not worth hiking there.
There is a lot of trash and homeless people.
It is like a long commercial street with narrow paths for hiking.
There is a lot of variety here. At times you feel like you are in a forest. Other times, you are in the middle of a city with lots of noise.
Sometimes I was totally all alone, and sometimes the bikes were from the left and right.
8.Spicewood Valley Trail
This is an easy trail for a pleasant walk in nature.
But when I went there I saw a long black snake on the trail.
I saw it from far away. I ran so fast from this trails so I can not tell you more about this paths unfortunately =(
9.South Walnut Creek Trail
This is a nice trail for making sport but You must know that it was built by Youth Corps volunteers a long time ago and already needed to be reconstructed. These trails are showing their age already.
Some of the handrail are beginning to weaken so I was afraid to trust them.
It is a place if you want some adrenaline =)
10.Roberta Crenshaw Pedestrian Walkway
It is a simple walkway area, nothing special.
This walkway is located next to theAustin Nature and Science Center.
It is a calm area where you can walk or run, jogging and it is a well designed area for your dogs too.
It’s pretty clean, scenic and neat.
My Recommendations: When to Come to Texas for Hiking?
I recommend a Texas hiking holiday in the spring or fall, as the summers are hot and hellish, the spring and autumn can be quite chilly but with comfortable temperatures.
April is the beginning of the tornado season – intense whirlwinds accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds.