Parks and Recreation
 As
important to the success of Austin as it’s strong economy and it’s
diverse real estate options is the beautiful park system with a
wide range of opportunities and areas of interest. Central Texas
residents have a number of quality parks for every kind of use within
a reasonable drive.
Austin boasts nearly 200 city parks, hike and bike trails and greenbelts,
plus several nature preserves encompassing more than 14,000 acres
of scenic retreats. Listed below are a few of the local favorites.
Learn more about Austin parks : City |
State | County
City Parks
Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD)
200 S. Lamar Blvd.
(512) 974-2000
For general information and contact numbers to all city parks, PARD
are the definitive people in the know. They will direct you to all
park information lines and give you the skinny on rules and regulations
as well as hours of operation.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Barton Springs Rd.
3755-B Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Hwy.)
(512) 472-1267
One of the city’s most popular greenbelts, the trail follows Barton
Creek through the canyon that cuts across Southwest Austin and offers
a retreat the Hill Country without leaving the city limits.
Bull Creek Park and Greenbelt
6701 Lakewood Drive
(512)974-6700
This 120-acre greenbelt attracts hikers and mountain bikers, as
well as swimmers and waders during the spring when the rains fill
the creek.
 Emma
Long Metropolitan Park (City Park)
1706 City Park Road
(512) 346-1831
This is Austin’s oldest city park with 3 miles of Lake Austin shoreline
including boat ramps and picnic sites.
Lake Walter E. Long Park
6614 Blue Bluff Road
(512) 926-5230
This 1,300-acre lake is well known for its fishing and water activities.
There are campsites, hike and bike trails. The park roads are popular
with runners and bicyclists.
Mount Bonnell Park
3800 Mount Bonnell Rd., off Scenic Rd.
(512) 974-6700
Tourists have been coming to Mount Bonnell for 140 years and climbing
the 99 steps (785 feet) to the peak to get a great view of Austin.
It is a popular spot for young couples who want to watch the stars
come out and a particularly romantic spot for University of Texas
students who can get a clear view of the UT Tower, aglow in orange
light when the Longhorn’s athletic teams win.
Pease Park
1100 Kingsbury Street
(512) 974-6700
Along Shoal Creek between 12th and 24th streets in Central Austin,
this park is popular with lunchtime picnickers and joggers. There’s
a small leash free zone where well-behaved dogs can scamper about
under the careful watch of their owners.
Shoal Creek Hike and Bike
Lamar Blvd., from 38th St. to Town Lake
A wide, 3-mile-long greenbelt long the urban pathway of Shoal Creek,
winding through Central Austin is popular among runners, walkers,
kids and dogs.
Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail
S. First Street
(512) 477-7273
Along the Colorado River from Tom Miller
Dam in West Austin to the U.S. Hwy 183 Bridge in East Austin, this
park graces the Colorado River as it winds through the heart of downtown
Austin. From dawn to dusk, the Hike and Bike Trail is filled with
joggers, walkers, bicyclists, dog walkers and people just enjoying
a stroll along the Colorado River. The southern shore of Town Lake
is known as Auditorium Shores and is the site of outdoor concerts
and various festivals. On the northern bank of Town Lake is Fiesta
Gardens, a popular community concert and celebration spot.
 Waller
Creek Greenbelt
403 E. 15th Street
Stretching from 15th Street to Town Lake, the Waller Street greenbelt
recently received bond approval from the Austin voters to improve
the trail in order to create an urban river walk similar to San
Antonio’s famous riverside trail.
Waterloo Park
403 E. 15th Street
A quiet retreat in the heart of Austin, the park lies just east
of the capitol.
Zilker Botanical Gardens
2200 Barton Springs Road
(512) 477-8672
There are several gardens within the grounds, including a rose garden,
a cactus and succulent garden, fragrance and butterfly gardens,
woodland trails, a xeriscape garden and the Taniguchi oriental garden.
Zilker Park
2100 Barton Springs Road
(512) 499-6700
The showpiece of Austin, it is the home of our famed Barton Springs
Pool, the Zilker Playscape, the miniature train, the Zilker Hillside
Theater and much more. The greenbelt hike and bike trail begins
just beyond the pool. You can rent canoes and take a glide along
Town Lake. And, at Christmas time, be sure to check out the Trail
of Lights.
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 Area
State Parks
Bastrop State Park
P. O. Box 518
Bastrop, Texas 78602
(512) 321-2101
Colorado Bend State Park
Box 118
Bend, Texas 76824
(915) 628-3240
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
16710 RR 965
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
(915) 247-3903
Inks Lake State Park
3630 Park Road 4 West
Burnet, Texas 78611
(512) 793-2223
McKinney Falls State Park
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway
Austin, Texas 78744
(512) 243-1643
Pedernales Falls State Park
2585 Park Road 6026
Johnson City, Texas 78636
(830) 868-7304
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 Travis
County Parks
Arkansas Bend
Sylvester Ford Road, off FM 1431
(512) 267-4661
Ben Fisher
FM 973 off US Hwy. 290 E
Bob Wentz Park
On Lake Travis, access from Comanche Trail
(512) 266-2544
Cypress Creek
On Lake Travis, Anderson Mill Road at FM 2769
Dink Pearson Park
On Lake Travis near Lago Vista, on Lohmans Ford Rd.
Fritz Hughes
Lake Austin, near Mansfield Dam, on Fritz Hughs Park Rd.
Hippie Hollow
Lake Travis, near Comanche Trail of RR 620
(512) 266-1644
Mansfield Dam
RR 620, on Mansfield Dam Rd.
 Pace
Bend
2701 FM 2322, 4.5 miles off Texas Hwy. 71
(512) 264-1482
Sandy Creek
On Lake Travis off Lime Creek Rd.
Selma Hughes Park
Lake Austin off Quinlin Park Rd., on Selma Hughs Rd.
Tom Hughes Park
Lake Travis on Tom Hughes Park Road, off RR 620,
on Marshall Ford Drive to Park Drive
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