Outdoors
With all the opportunities for recreation, there is no excuse for being bored in Austin. From cool, spring-fed swimming holes to Ben Crenshaw-designed golf courses.from area team sports to a beautiful trek through Austin's natural settings - there's always something to inspire you to move. The home of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, Austin is a great town for cyclers. And with the Capital 10,000 and the Motorola Marathon, Austin is runner's dream as well.
GolfA naturally temperate climate and rolling hills make Austin the perfect city for golfing. Home to Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw, Austin boasts some of the most scenic and challenging golf courses in the nation. Course designers include Crenshaw, Kite, Arnold Palmer, Tom Fazzio and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Click here for a list of Austin area golf courses. |
Participation SportsAustin has children and grownup leagues for all major sports including soccer, softball, bowling, frisbee (ultimate) and basketball. Also available to the younger set: Little League Baseball and Pee Wee Football. The YMCA of Austin has five sites with workout equipment, pools, indoor basketball courts and more. Austin boasts several golf courses for frisbee golfers, including one in Central Austin that winds along the banks of beautiful Shoal Creek, linking up some of the city's most pleasant greenbelt parkland. |
Parks, Hills, Trails and PoolsBeginning in downtown Austin and stretching 150 miles west and north into the Hill Country of Central Texas lie the Highland Lakes, a chain of lakes created by seven dams along the Colorado River. Within a short drive of the city — or a full day-trip excursion — Austinites have access to boating, waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing, rowing, canoeing, fishing and swimming in some of Texas’ most beautiful surroundings. The City of Austin alone boasts 14,300 acres of parks. The hills west of the city include more than 7,566 public acres. Here you can also enjoy hiking, mountain biking and other land-based activities. Citizens can enjoy the natural beauty of Austin year-round at a variety of lakes, preserves and trails. Don't forget to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water during the hot summer months! AUSTIN PARKS Commons Ford — Trails on 215 acres. 614 Commons Ford Road, 974.6700. East Metropolitan Park — A 273-acre park with a swimming pool, basketball court, playscapes, concession stands, hiking trails, eight multiple-use ball fields, and three ponds suitable for catch-and-release fishing. Southeast of Manor at Burleson-Manor and Blake-Manor roads, 854.9383. Emma Long — Camping, swimming, boat ramps and volleyball located along Lake Austin. 1600 City Park Road, 974.6700. Veloway — A 3.1-mile course for inline skating and cycling; walking, jogging and pets are prohibited. 4900 LaCrosse Ave., 974.6700. Walter E. Long — Fishing, boating, camping, volleyball. 6614 Blue Bluff Road, 974.6700. Zilker Park — This 400-acre park is home to the Barton Springs swimming hole and connects to Town Lake Park. Disc golf, trails, volleyball. 2100 Barton Springs Road, 974.6700. Arkansas Bend — This 323-acre untouched park on the north shore of Lake Travis offers hiking, fishing, camping, picnicking and lake access. Sylvester Ford Road. Bob Wentz — A favorite location for water sports, plus an adjacent 150-acre tract that is maintained as a natural area. Comanche Trail. Cypress Creek — A favorite spot for boating, picnicking and fishing on Lake Travis. RM 2222. Hamilton Pool — Historic swimming hole with a 50-foot waterfall. Hamilton Pool Road. Hippie Hollow — Features a steep, rocky shoreline and spectacular views of Lake Travis. The only clothing-optional public park in Texas is popular for sunbathing and swimming. Comanche Trail. Mansfield Dam — A primary access point for boaters on Lake Travis. Central recreation area also offers picnic sites, a playground, horseshoe pits, chess tables and a panoramic view of the Lake Travis basin. Mansfield Dam Road. Mary Quinlan — 5.8 acres of rolling hills with 200 feet of shoreline access, including the only public boat ramp for several miles on Lake Austin. Quinlan Park Road. Milton Reimers Ranch Park — Almost three miles of continuous frontage along the Pedernales River and more than 18 miles of trails. Rock climbing, mountain biking and fishing also popular. Hamilton Pool Road. Pace Bend — More than nine miles of shoreline along Lake Travis with a wide range of recreational opportunities. Pace Bend Park Road. Sandy Creek — A 25-acre park ideal for swimming, nature walks, birding, camping and fishing. Lime Creek Road, Volente. Selma Hughes — Offers several shady picnic areas with nice views of the upper reaches of Lake Austin. Selma Hughes Road. Webberville — Fishing, picnicking, horseback riding and access to the Colorado River. Park Lane, Webberville. OTHER AREA PARKS Georgetown — Pickett Trail at Blue Hole Park and the San Gabriel Park trails, which are concrete and granite for smoother walking. (512) 930.3595, www.georgetownparks.org. STATE PARKS Bastrop State Park — Camping, cabins, picnic areas, 18-hole golf course, fishing, swimming pool, 8.5-mile hiking trail. Summer passes available. Bastrop, (512) 321.2101. Blanco State Park — Camping, screened shelters, swimming, fishing, picnicking, boating along the Blanco River. Blanco, (830) 833.4333. Buescher State Park — Camping, screened shelters, recreation hall, hiking, biking, lake (fishing and non-motorized boating), picnic tables, group picnic pavilion. Smithville, (512) 237.2241. Colorado Bend State Park — Park rangers lead cavers on walking tours at 9:15 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays; crawling tours at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month. Tours last nearly three hours. Fishing, swimming, hiking and primitive camping also available. Between Lampasas and San Saba, (325) 628.3240. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area — Hiking, tent pads, restrooms, showers, picnic area, rock climbing, primitive camp sites. 16710 RM 965, Fredericksburg, (325) 247.3903. Guadalupe River State Park — Fishing, canoeing, tubing, picnicking, hiking, equestrian trail, bird watching. Two-mile guided tour of the Honey Creek State Natural Area at 9 a.m. Saturdays. Park Road 31 west of Spring Branch, (830) 438.2656. Hill Country State Natural Area — Undeveloped natural area with 40 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Tent sites, equestrian campgrounds, group lodge with equestrian facilities. Southwest of Bandera, (830) 796.4413. Inks Lake State Park — Hiking trails, golf, primitive backpack area, campsites with water and picnic tables. Paddle boats and canoes can be rented. Park Road 4, about 10 miles west of Burnet, (512) 793.2223. Kerrville-Schreiner State Park — Eight miles of hiking trails, camping, screened shelters, one cabin, group facility areas, primitive campsites, swimming, lighted fishing. Three miles southeast of Kerrville, (830) 257.5392 or (830) 257.2267. LBJ State Park — Near the LBJ Ranch, which is the LBJ National Historic Park. Tours start from the state park. Nature trails, wildlife enclosures, historic exhibits, two lighted tennis courts, swimming pool, picnic sites. Stonewall, (830) 644.2252. Lockhart State Park — One and one-half miles of hiking trails; nine-hole golf course, swimming pool, campsites with water, electricity and sewage, picnic areas, recreation hall. Lockhart, (512) 398.3479. Lost Maples State Natural Area — Showers, picnic sites, campsites with electricity, primitive camping. 37221 FM 187, Vanderpool. (830) 966.3413. McKinney Falls State Park — Four miles of hiking and biking trails, 3.5 miles of paved trails, campsites with water and electricity, fishing. Group facilities include screened shelters and dining hall. Onion Creek is open to swimmers unless bacteria count is high. Austin, 243.1643. Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites — Ruins of one of the first commercial breweries in Texas and the home of stone mason Heinreich L. Kreische. Visitor center, self-guided, wheelchair-accessible, interpretive trail, nature trail, picnic sites, playground. La Grange, (979) 968.5658. Pedernales Falls State Park — Discover 19.8 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, 10 miles of equestrian day trails and 14 miles of backpacking trails, fishing, campsites with electricity, water and grills. Swimming permitted in a portion of the river. Johnson City, (830) 868.7304. |
Austin Nature PreservesAustin's Parks and Recreation Department has several preserves that are sanctuaries for native plants, native animals and natural features. Firearms, hunting, motorized vehicles, bicycles and pets generally are prohibited. Noise should be kept to a minimum. Visitors must stay on trails and should not remove or damage plants, animals or other natural features. Many preserves are open to the public; some are available only by reservation for educational groups. Call 327.7723 or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/preserves. The Balcones Canyonlands Preserves, managed by the water utility, conserve endangered species and their habitat. Public access and activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, dog-walking, swimming and rock climbing, vary among the preserves. Call 263.6437 or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/preserves. Barrow Nature Preserve — 7715 Longpoint Drive. |
Rock ClimbingAspire Adventures Classes & Club, 11008 Jollyville Rd. # 219, (512) 343.1071. |
Rowing/Sculling, Clubs and RentalsAustin Rowing Club/Juniors, (512) 472.0726 |
SailingAustin Sailing Society |
Inline SkatingVeloway |
Dog ParksAuditorium Shores, 920 W. Riverside Dr., 974.6700 |
OUTDOOR ORGANIZATIONSAustin Cycling Association — Meets monthly; rides on weekends. 282.1987. |
MARATHONS3M Half Marathon and Relay — A 13.1-mile urban, mostly downhill road race from Gateway Shopping Center to House Park Field. 984.RACE (7223). |
YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONSThe NFL and Pepsi present the Punt, Pass and Kick program Youth Sports Programs Coding:
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Adult SportsBlazeTrack Wheelchair Sports, 974.9011, julia.narum@ci.austin.tx.us |
210 Barton Springs Road, Suite 400 | Austin, TX 78704
P: 512.478.9383 | F: 512.478.6389