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Print Friendly MapBrushy Creek Regional Trail offers an important commuting corridor linking neighborhoods, shopping areas, and workplaces in the northern suburbs of Austin. As you travel the route, look for signage detailing the area’s early history and inhabitants, and keep an eye out for deer. Its surface is primarily crushed stone and the trail is currently open in two disconnected sections totaling just over 10 miles.
The larger segment of the trail winds through the city of Cedar Park for nearly 7 miles from Twin Lakes Park to Hairy Man Road. Along the way, it connects a half dozen parks, offering many recreational opportunities, including swimming, rock climbing, fishing, picnicking, canoeing, and kayaking. Children will especially like Champion Park, located about mid-trail, with its “fossil” dig and climbable structures shaped like dinosaur bones. Another highlight of the trail is passage under a railroad trestle dating back to the 1880s that once carried granite to the state’s capitol. Near its western end, the trail connects to a 7-mile paved path along the 183 Toll Road that heads north to Leander.
The other section—dubbed Brushy Creek East Trail—stretches more than 3 miles from A.W. Grimes Boulevard to Forest Ridge Boulevard in Round Rock. On its western end is Play for All Abilities Park, and, from there, the trail runs through woodlands along the north bank of Brushy Creek. It crosses the waterway at Kenney Fort Boulevard and then winds through neighborhoods along the southern bank, ending in the Sonoma subdivision.
The trail is planned to total 30 miles by filling in the gap between its two segments and continuing the trail farther east to Hutto and farther west to Sandy Creek Park on Lake Travis in Travis County.
For the western trail segment in Cedar Park: Parking and restrooms can be found in Twin Lakes Park (2300 S. Bell Boulevard), Champion Park (3830 Brushy Creek Road) and Brushy Creek Lake Park (3400 Brushy Creek Road).
For the eastern trail segment in Round Rock: Parking can be found in Play for All Abilities Park (151 North A.W. Grimes Boulevard).
Very nice scenery, water views! Just found at least half of the trail is gravel most packed some loose, just be prepared.
Really nice views
Loved the trail! Better to go there during weekdays. Weekends can be crowded with walkers and bikers.
Several cute parks on the way. Each of them offers unique experience. Brushy creek park offers lake, kayaking rental and wild flowers!
I enjoy walking my dogs, jogging, and mountain biking along this trail. It’s a fantastic spot for getting in those miles. I would also like to respond to the reviews saying cyclists are causing a problem: I’ve found that not to be true and that pedestrians with stray toddlers out of their parents control and dogs on extended leashes cause more issues than any biker I’ve come across. Share the trail folks!
Weekends and afternoons can be busy. I suggest going during the week within normal business/school hours for the best experience.
Trails are in great condition. Families though have to compete with bikers. I am a cross country biker and I was appalled by the general biking etiquette and the adrenaline rush nature and just run you off the road attitude of the on the sidewalk and off road bikers. They are dangerous and encourage that the trail needs some type of restrictions and policing. There are too many walkers and children for them to act this way at a very nice public park.
Trails are in great condition. Families though have to compete with bikers. I am a cross country biker and I was appalled by the general biking etiquette and the adrenaline rush nature and just run you off the road attitude of the on the sidewalk and off road bikers. They are dangerous and encourage that the trail needs some type of restrictions and policing. There are too many walkers and children for them to act this way at a very nice public park.
Beautiful trail. Can't wait for more segments to get built. Some people in these reviews have complained of entitled riders, but my experience has been exactly the opposite. Entitled pedestrians very frequently walk side by side covering most of the path and sometimes the entire path, and this doesn't just annoy cyclists such as me but joggers as well. Treat the trails as shared use, walk only on the right side, keep your children and dogs with you at your side (not 50 feet in front of you, swerving left and right in the middle of the trail), and there will be very few problems.
Went for a bike ride with my husband this morning. From Stone Creek Pool parking lot to the Twin Lakes YMCA parking lot and back it was 15 miles. There were a lot of hikers, bikers, runners, dog walkers on the trail however it was a Saturday morning with cool weather so congestion was expected. There are lots of things to see along the trail (creeks, waterfall, lakes, rock formations, trestle bridge) and it is well maintained. Plan to return to the trail soon!
I like to hike this trail but find that too many bike riders think they’re entitled to ride fast and own the trail two abreast. I’ve seen really disappointing behavior, especially now that more of us are at home and looking for ways to exercise outdoors. There are dedicated bike lanes and shoulders on Parmer. Let them use those if they have to ride fast.
I walk 5 miles on Brushy Creek Trail almost every Sunday. Although most bike riders ride safely, I see too many who do not. Today I witnessed an almost-tragic collision between an adult rider and a one year old child. Adding insult to potentially fatal injury, the rider yelled "Courtesy!" as he sped by. The child tottered at the very edge of the trail and the biker missed him by no more than a foot. The child's parents were also at the edge of the trail. The biker behaved as if the child and his parents should have thrown themselves out of the way, which I assure you could not have happened because the rider appeared suddenly and was riding too fast for them to react. I was walking in the opposite direction with my wife and a friend and the biker rode between us and the family as we passed one another.
The rider, an adult man who should know better, was gone in seconds and there is probably no hope of changing his attitude so he remains dangerous. The trail is posted with a few signs informing bikers to defer to pedestrians, but some riders act as though the Trail is primarily for bikers and everyone else is in their way.
What can be done? Larger and more explicit signs? Speed bumps? I wish I knew. Have there been serious collisions on the Trail?
I love walking Brushy Creek Trail, the creek, the trees, the meadows, the deer. It can be very relaxing, but incidents like this today make me furious.
This trail system is one of the FEW trails available in the area that's mostly paved for road bike riders! So, anyone walking on this trail should get used to bikers as well. Also, anyone riding a road bike on this trail without a doubt is mindful of pedestrians at all times, cyclists just want a safe place to ride without a 5,000 lb SUV next to them, this is one of the few trails that offer this security. Once they link the EAST and West sections its going to be the finest bicycle trail around.
I love the trail! I live nearby and would bike along the trail a couple of times each week. The wildlife we can see around the main trail- deer, grey heron, geese, ducks, et cetera, makes me miss them and want to see them often.
One special spot I‘d highly recommend you visit at dusk, where you can view dozens of grey heron perched on a couple of trees standing in the lake right to the east side of the Parmer bridge at Brushy Creek. The scene is quite spectacular. You can bike pretty close to the trees and heron by following the small path underneath the bridge from the sports complex, in the opposite direction from the railway.
I depend on this trail for much needed daily walks but am slowly beginning to avoid it as there's too many times I've been almost run over by cyclists. Avoid the off-the-path trail which runs along the creek on the weekends as there are too many cyclists and they'll expect you to get over and stand in thigh-high weeds for them. Also, some race down steep slopes so fast that it will be impossible for them to stop for a pedestrian. The path along the creek is better on the weekdays. Pedestrians really need to keep their wits about them and listen and watch for cyclists coming from behind or in front as many won't be watching for pedestrians.
I absolutely love this trail! I used to live directly on the trail-path, and I would ride my bike on the trail daily. I recently moved, so I cant ride it as often as I used to, but let me tell you, I do every chance I get!
The main trail has many trail paths (off the main path) that allow you to enjoy a rugged (mountain bike experience), but it also features a great concrete (Main Trail), with some areas being crushed stone; which allow you to speed ride comfortable.
The scenery is what originally got me! Some areas are wooded, with a creek running beside you, and some areas have a lake, parks, bridges; its quite the outdoor experience.
This trail is a must ride, if you haven't already!
not slippery at all, i like how they keep the trail neat and clean.
www.SportForAction.com
An average trail for hikers.
Part of the trail goes from pavement to gravel.
From Twin Lakes YMCA to Hairy Man terminus,it is a gentle rolling bike and hike path, with few blind corners, although excessive rainy spells water can cover and alter the surface particularly the lower crushed granite sections. It is overall generally well maintained and has water and restroom services along the path, several rest areas and play areas will require extra attention due to the "little ones" enjoying those areas. From the main pathway there are several sections that lead off for those looking to extend their ride or gain access from the surrounding developments. Even on the hot and sunny days the tree cover is sufficient to provide extensive protection from the heat. Access along the path to the road is reasonable in case of mechanical breakdown. Overall the path is a gem for those seeking an nice ride protected from traffic.
This is a really great trail with 2 small lakes, rock formations, marshes, great park areas, fishing, pretty trees, many neighborhood access points and really good bathroom facilities. Just needs access to cafés and restaurants.
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