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    60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin: Including the Hill Country
    60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin: Including the Hill Country
    60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin: Including the Hill Country
    Ebook471 pages5 hours

    60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin: Including the Hill Country

    By Charles Llewellin and Johnny Molloy

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    About this ebook

    The San Antonio and Austin areas are steeped in history -- San Antonio's Alamo stands as a symbol of Texas' fierce independence, while Austin is recognized as the cradle of Texas statehood. This area is also known for some of the most impressive hiking in the Lone Star State. 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin by veteran authors Charlie Llewellin and Johnny Molloy guides readers to the best trails found in the Texas Hill Country, all within easy reach of these two cities. The guide takes you to secluded, low traffic areas as well as those that are more popular and heavily used. The former LBJ Ranch, the Gaudalupe River, the Highland Lakes Chain, and the Lost Pines area are just some of the spectacular places covered.

    With this new edition in the best-selling 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles series, all these visually stunning and ruggedly charming routes are at the traveler's fingertips. This handy guide helps San Antonio and Austin natives get back into nature, with many options right in town. Extensive at-a-glance information makes it easy to choose the perfect hike based on length, difficulty, scenery, or on a specific factor such as hikes good for families, runners, or birding. Each trail profile includes maps, directions, driving times, nearby attractions, and other pertinent details.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMenasha Ridge Press
    Release dateOct 17, 2016
    ISBN9781634040419
    60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin: Including the Hill Country

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      Book preview

      60 Hikes Within 60 Miles - Charles Llewellin

      AUSTIN

      Inga VanNynatten Memorial Trail

      1. Barton Creek Greenbelt (East)

      2. Homestead Trail at McKinney Falls State Park

      3. Inga VanNynatten Memorial Trail at Lower Bull Creek Greenbelt

      4. Lady Bird Lake: Boardwalk Loop

      5. Lady Bird Lake: West Loop

      6. Mayfield Park and Preserve

      7. McKinney Roughs Nature Park: Bluffs and Bottoms

      8. Onion Creek Trail at McKinney Falls State Park

      9. Pace Bend Park

      10. Pine Ridge Loop at McKinney Roughs Nature Park

      11. River Place Nature Trail

      12. Shoal Creek Greenbelt

      13. Spicewood Valley Trail

      14. Three Falls Hike at Barton Creek Greenbelt

      15. Turkey Creek Trail at Emma Long Metropolitan Park

      16. Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

      1 Barton Creek Greenbelt (East)

      Twin Falls

      LENGTH: 11.2 miles

      CONFIGURATION: Out-and-back

      DIFFICULTY: Moderate

      SCENERY: River canyon, woods, creek

      EXPOSURE: Mostly shady

      TRAFFIC: Moderate to heavy

      TRAIL SURFACE: Dirt, rocks

      HIKING TIME: 5.5 hours

      DRIVING DISTANCE: 3 miles from the state capitol

      ACCESS: Daily, 5 a.m.–10 p.m.; $3 parking fee on weekends

      WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: No

      MAPS: On information board at trailhead

      FACILITIES: Restrooms, water at Barton Springs Pool

      CONTACT INFORMATION: 512-974-6700; austintexas.gov/department/parks-and-recreation

      In Brief

      This lengthy out-and-back hike travels up the Barton Creek canyon from Zilker Park to Twin Falls. You will see rock bluffs overlooking a clear blue stream bordered by riparian hardwood forests as well as drier woods of cedar. The beautiful canyon has deep swimming holes, beaches, and cascading falls. The high cliffs are popular with rock climbers.

      Description

      There really aren’t enough superlatives for the Barton Creek Greenbelt, home to some of the best urban hiking in America. It’s gratifying that this wild canyon has been preserved in an Austin that has expanded so much over the last few decades. The water has cut a deep canyon in the limestone, putting the area’s geological history on display along the rock walls. Sycamore and elm grow tall in the riverside forest. Live oak and cedar thrive on the hillsides. The roar and hum of human life is never far away but always mingled with the cardinals’ calls, the insects’ buzz, and the soothing sound of running water.

      There is a great deal to explore up and down the greenbelt. This route covers the lower part of the watershed—the eastern part of the V shape the creek makes across South Austin between MoPac and Loop 360. Along the way you will see side trails that beg to be investigated. This hike sets a baseline by following the route shown on the map at the trailhead, which stays on the northern side of the creek until the approach to Loop 360, but there are many alternate paths to scout out at another time.

      The city of Austin is currently installing stylish new marker posts; like the old ones, they appear every quarter mile. According to the post at the trailhead, this is now the beginning of the Violet Crown Trail, which, if everything goes according to plan, will eventually end up more than 30 miles south in Hays County.

      Leave the trailhead and head upstream on a gravel path. The first section goes through a meadow, but shortly you will come into the recurrent shade of the riparian forest, where all manner of hardwoods grow and the underbrush is thick and leafy.

      The creek to your left is a braid of pools, small cascades, gravel bars, and islands. Myriad spur trails lead to pretty places where people are sunbathing, wading, or swimming in the pools. Bicyclists whiz along the path, though this being Austin they are usually polite and careful. The greenbelt is not an official off-leash area, though this is a divisive issue. Unfortunately, unleashed pets do their business in the creek and degrade the water quality. If do you bring your dog, scoop the poop and please take it with you—little plastic bags beside the trail have become far too common a sight. I mention this out of respect for the stunning beauty and sheer unlikeliness of this wild canyon, so beloved by generations of Austinites. It’s a jewel and needs to be treasured.

      Steep bluffs and boulders appear to your right, some overhanging the trail. At 0.7 mile you pass a pretty waterfall where a feeder creek comes in on your right. It is most likely moist enough that ferns decorate the stones. Shortly thereafter the creek and trail make a dogleg to the left and then back to the right. There is often a deep pool at the bend. Sometimes bathers will jump off tall bluffs on the other side. Around the corner a series of stone slabs is popular with sunbathers and picnickers. The trail forks—one path goes by the creek and the other through cedar, but they meet up again soon, so take your pick. This splitting happens in several places, as hikers have taken differing paths over the years. In other places one route will be for bikers and the other for hikers. It’s hard to get truly lost because the canyon will keep you on course.

      Swimmers at Barton Creek

      At 1.2 miles the Spyglass Access Trail leaves to the right. A convenience store sells food and drinks at a little mall near the trailhead. On some sections of the trail the sky is visible, and on others groves of different trees provide shelter. Sometimes the path is very rocky, and sometimes it is smooth walking. At 1.6 miles look for a spur heading for a stone dam of sorts. Today you will stay on the right side of the creek, but remember this spot—on another day you can cross the creek and pick up an alternative trail on the other side of the streambed. Both options have plenty to offer.

      Staying on the right side, pick your way over boulders that have tumbled down from the cliffs. Rock climbers with helmets and colored ropes might be attempting to scale the bluffs to your right. At 2.2 miles a spur to the left leads to the Gus Fruh pool, another popular swimming hole. Take this spur if you want a break and maybe a swim; otherwise keep right as the trail moves away from the main creek.

      Barton Creek splits at Gus Fruh pool, and a channel that’s usually dry makes a loop to the south. Pass through thick woods, and at 2.3 miles look for an arrow pointing left across this channel. Step across the streambed, and enter cedar woods. This next portion of the hike stays away from the creek, crossing the juniper-covered plateau on the inside of a large bend in the watercourse. It’s likely to be the most solitary section of your walk. Cross the other end of the branch, and then at 3 miles go left at a junction and ford the multiple channels of Barton Creek, picking up the earthen path on the left side of the creek in the riparian forest.

      At 3.2 miles you must walk up along a feeder branch until you find a crossing point. The trail comes back to Barton Creek by a fork in the trail. Keep left to head toward the 360 Access through thick cover, passing more spur trails. As always, if you find yourself heading away from the creek, you have left the main trail. You will start to hear the traffic on Loop 360 as you approach the highway. At 3.6 miles come to the access point and continue under the highway; then at 3.8 miles keep right at a fork. The riparian vegetation remains very thick around and above you.

      At the 4-mile point a spur comes in from the right, and shortly you come to a wooden bridge over a feeder branch. The bluffs are very close to the path and the creek, and at one point a chain has been put into the cliff to keep you from falling into the creek. Stay along the bluffline through some of the greenbelt’s best scenery. Overhanging rock, green ferns, deep water, and shade make this a pleasant spot on a hot day. Make your way around another side stream, and the valley widens and the greenbelt reaches a pool where there is a rope swing tied to a live oak. This makes for a good stopping spot.

      Arrive at the MoPac Bridge, 4.7 miles into the hike. This bridge could be your turnaround spot. Otherwise keep on through the woods, and reach Twin Falls at 5.2 miles. Here you must cross the streambed. If there is enough water, you may want to kick your shoes off and swim or even jump off the falls into the pool below.

      Pick up the trail on the eastern side of the creek, and backtrack through the slightly less lush woods on this bank. At a junction, go left, climbing the slope to reach the top of the bluff and then the Gaines trailhead. Alternatively, cross the creek anywhere after the MoPac Bridge and come to the ascent from the other direction.

      Nearby Activities

      Zilker Park offers sports fields, swimming at Barton Springs, the Zilker Zephyr minitrain, refreshments, a picnic area, and a hillside theater.

      GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES

      N30° 15' 51.1 W97° 46' 23.7

      From I-35 in downtown Austin, take Exit 233, Town Lake/Riverside Drive. Cross Town Lake to reach Riverside Drive. Head west on Riverside Drive and follow it 1.1 miles to Barton Springs Road. Turn left on Barton Springs Road and follow it 1.3 miles to Zilker Park. Turn left into the park on William Barton Drive and follow it to the parking lot by the Barton Springs Pool entrance (or anywhere you can park). The greenbelt starts at the western end of the parking area. Note: The trail is sometimes closed after heavy rain. The out-and-back hike is lengthy, so consider going with a friend and leaving a car at the Twin Falls Access, the turnaround point. See "Three Falls at Barton Creek" for directions to Twin Falls.

      2 Homestead Trail at McKinney Falls State Park

      McKinney Falls

      LENGTH: 4.8 miles

      CONFIGURATION: Loop

      DIFFICULTY: Moderate

      SCENERY: Thick hardwoods, the ruined homestead, and the Lower Falls

      EXPOSURE: Mostly shady

      TRAFFIC: Light, but watch for mountain bikers

      TRAIL SURFACE: Dirt

      HIKING TIME: 2 hours

      DRIVING DISTANCE: 10 miles from the state capitol

      ACCESS: Daily, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; $6 entrance fee per person over age

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