State: TX Length: 9.1 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete, Dirt
The Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, named for a former Austin mayor and his wife, is a natural gem in the heart of the Texas capital. The scenic trail follows the banks of Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River, and is bookended by two major recreational areas: Zilker Park on its western end and Guerrero Park on its eastern tip. The lush, tree-lined path also provides access to Lamar and Waller Beaches. A unique highlight of the trail is its passage under the Congress Avenue Bridge, home to thousands of bats that canvas the sky at sundown during the summer months. In the late spring of 2012, construction will begin to close a 1.1-mile gap on the trail's south side, uniting its east and west halves and avoiding a diversion along busy East Riverside Drive. A series of bridges over the water will be included in the new riverside boardwalk.
State: TX Length: 7.9 miles Surface: Dirt
Barton Creek Greenbelt is one of Austin's most popular trails, which runs for nearly 8 miles through Barton Creek Wilderness Park southwest of the city. The trail, flanked in places with rock walls, follows the course of its namesake creek through lush greenery. At the east end, Zilker Park features dinosaurs hiding among the botanical gardens. In summer take a plunge into a refreshing swimming hole. During high water in the spring, water tumbles over low fall. From the Barton Creek Greenbelt you can access footpaths into the hills but cyclists must remain on the main greenbelt corridor. The trail is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Rail-Trail
State: TX Length: 4.6 miles Surface: Asphalt, Concrete
So far 4.6 miles of the Lance Armstrong Bikeway (Crosstown Bicycle Greenway) is complete, with additional sections planned. The trail, which is largely on-road biking, links Town Lake trails, the Town Lake Bicycle Pedestrian Bridge, trails along Austin's creeks, new residential areas and downtown developments, including offices, hotels and the old Seaholm Power Plant, rehabilitated for civic and private use. When finished, the bikeway will extend from Veterans Dr. at Lake Austin Blvd. on the west side of town to the Montopolis Bridge at US183 on the east side. The path is a combination of off-street concrete trails and on-street striped bike lanes and routes. The bikeway begins near Deep Eddy Park at Lake Austin Boulevard and Veterans Drive, following Veterans Drive, under SR 1 and under Cesar Chavez near the eastern end of Stephen F. Austin Drive. Here, it parallels SR 343 to the Seaholm plant. Beyond the Seaholm redevelopment project the bikeway connects to the Shoal Creek Hike-and-Bike Trail but ends just before Nueces Street. Because of traffic rerouting in 3rd Street and proposed rapid transit development on 4th Street, a section of the LAB between Nueces Street and Trinity Street is still in the works. It will be on the street through this section, however. At Trinity and 4th streets the bikeway continues east, crossing I-35 at East 4th Street on a newly constructed bride. At Comal Street the lab is picks up its own path again adjacent to the existing train tracks, with a connection to Plaza Saltillo at East 5th and Comal. The route continues on East 5th Street to the Shady Lane. Some time in 2011, it will continue to the Levander Loop, where US 183 crosses the Colorado River. Finally, a connection is planned to the existing steel truss bridge which is expected to close to motorized traffic in the future.
State: TX Length: 3.7 miles Surface: Concrete, Dirt, Gravel
Although located in the heart of Austin, the Shoal Creek Trail shelters trail-goers from the bustle of the city as it meanders along the creek under a canopy of old oak trees. Built in the early 1960s, the trail is the city's oldest and its surface varies from concrete to crushed gravel and compacted dirt. Along the way, the trail passes through Pease Park and Duncan Park, offering natural beauty and abundant recreational opportunities. A highlight of the journey is passage through a small rocky canyon near the trail's northern end.
State: TX Length: 3.1 miles Surface: Concrete
The Veloway Trail is a 3.1-mile, 23-foot-wide loop trail, paved, through a quiet and secluded area of the Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park on the outskirts of Austin. The trail offers a mix of terrain, including hills, flats, curves and long straight-aways. The Veloway is designed for cyclists and inline skaters only; foot traffic is not permitted. Trail users must go in a clockwise direction. There are covered benches and bicycle racks, as well as portable toilettes. You'll find the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center across the street from the park.
State: TX Length: 15 miles Surface: Dirt
The improved sections of the park hosts little-league sporting events, but Walnut Creek also has many acres of unimproved wilderness laced with trails that range from beginner to expert. The intermediate and expert sections of the trail are access from beginner level trail which circles the wilderness area. Traditionally, the trail is ridden counter-clockwise to avoid head-on collisions, but there is no hard and fast rules governing direction of travel. There are navigational markers throughout the park which can be used by emergency-services to locate a downed rider. The trail itself has several short, but significantly rocky and steep climbs of more than 100' in length. There are some ledges and drops off the main trail too if that is your thing. All in all, very little of the trail is perfectly flat - there is always at least some active elevation change as you ride which is why, of the year-round public trails in Central Texas, Walnut Creek is probably one of the best for TMBRA or NORBA race training as it is both fast, has a lot of single-track, hills, but also has some technical sections as well, all of which are 100% ridable for a practiced mountain biker on the proper bicycle. -TG