8 Best Hikes in Austin

You do not have to leave the city limits to get lost in the Hill Country.

Austin has creek trails, cliffside stairs and a 10-mile loop around the lake, many of them minutes from downtown.

Here are the hikes locals keep coming back to, with trailheads and trail lengths from the City of Austin and each preserve's own site.

Bring more water than you think. Several of these trails have none.

1. Barton Creek Greenbelt

The main Greenbelt trail runs 7.5 miles along Barton Creek, and the City says it is a popular escape for locals and tourists alike.

Pick your trailhead by what you want to see. The Gaines Park/MoPac trailhead is the City's listed access for Twin Falls, and Trail's End on Camp Craft Road is listed for the Hill of Life.

2. Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail

This is the 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake, and The Trail Conservancy says it hosts more than 5 million visits a year.

The boardwalk section over the water was finished in June 2014, according to the City.

3. Mount Bonnell at Covert Park

The summit sits about 775 feet above sea level on the east bank of what is now Lake Austin, per the Handbook of Texas.

The trail is short, just 0.32 miles in the City's directory, so this is a sunset climb more than a workout.

In 1939 the Covert family deeded the land in memory of Frank M. Covert Sr., and it later passed to the City of Austin.

4. Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

Wild Basin protects 227 acres of Hill Country habitat and is co-owned and co-managed by Travis County and St. Edward's University.

It has almost three miles of trails. Pets, bikes and picnics are not allowed.

5. Lower Bull Creek Greenbelt

The Lower Bull Creek Greenbelt Trail runs about 4 miles in Northwest Austin, according to the City's trail directory.

It is a shared trail, so expect bikes as well as hikers.

6. River Place Nature Trail

The River Place trail system links three trails: Panther Hollow, Little Fern and Canyon.

It is about 3 miles one way and not a loop, so plan on roughly 6 miles there and back. There is no water on the trail.

7. Turkey Creek Trail at Emma Long Metropolitan Park

This 1.92-mile trail is listed by the City as a shared hike and off-leash trail, which makes it a favorite for dog owners.

Emma Long Metropolitan Park is open year-round from 7 AM to 10 PM.

8. Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park

Walnut Creek's main trail runs 5.32 miles, and the City also lists a 10-mile intermediate trail in the same park.

It is a shared-use network in North Austin, so watch for mountain bikers.

Creek trails can flood after heavy rain, and summer heat is no joke.

Start early, carry water, and check the City's trail page for closures.

Which Austin trail do you hike the most? Tell us in the comments.