Walk in the Park Wednesday

This is where the series started, because the trailhead is about a five-minute walk from my front door. The trail follows a wooded canyon through the Spicewood Springs neighborhoods, with stonework steps, shade most of the way, and a rocky stretch near the back.

It isn't the easiest trailhead to find. One entrance is at Spicewood Springs Road and Scotland Well Drive, where parking is a small pull-off. The other is tucked inside the neighborhood off Callanish Park Drive. The City lists the trail at about 1.3 miles, and it connects into longer walks, which is how Cooper and I ended up with about four miles that day.

This is one of the toughest hikes in Austin, and the locals know it for its stairs: roughly 2,700 wooden steps. Think of it as Austin's own StairMaster. You get creek crossings, steep climbs, and views once you're up top.

Put it together with the Panther Hollow Trail and the round trip comes to around five and a half to six miles. River Place charges people who don't live in the district a trail fee at busy weekend times, so check the district's current rules before you go. Bring water, and wear real hiking shoes.

A hidden trail system behind the Dominion at Great Hills, with switchbacks and enough climbing to give hikers and mountain bikers a moderate workout. There are several marked trails and extra loops, and even with the signs, Cooper and I still got a little turned around.

When we went, right after a good rain, the wildflowers stole the show. I forgot to get our closing shot, so the video ends with Cooper cooling off instead.

Right off Capital of Texas Highway between Old Spicewood Springs Road and Lakewood Drive, this local favorite takes you through thick woods, over rocky ground and along Bull Creek. Cooper and I logged about three and a quarter miles.

The creek has a few natural swimming holes. We didn't bring swimsuits, but that didn't stop us from lying down in the water to cool off. Keep an eye out for turtles sunning on the rocks.

This is the classic view of the Pennybacker Bridge, from the rocky hill just north of it on Capital of Texas Highway. The bridge opened in 1982 and is named for Percy V. Pennybacker Jr., a Texas Highway Department bridge engineer. It's the same bridge in the photo at the top of my homepage.

The climb to the top is short and steep, and there are sheer drop-offs, so watch your step and keep dogs close. Cooper and I kept going past the main viewpoint and logged about 1.7 miles. Parking on the highway shoulder isn't allowed and gets ticketed, so check the current signs and plan where you'll park.

After twenty years, I finally walked the canyon right behind my house. The trail starts at Northwest Balcones Neighborhood Park, which most of us just call Talleyran Park, and my sister came along with Cooper and me.

The official trail is short. With all the side trails we found, we ended up past two miles. It isn't well marked and gets overgrown after a rainy year, so download a map first. It's shady, good for a summer walk, with wildflowers and a couple of stone benches that are worth stopping at.

Mount Bonnell is about as Austin as it gets: a short climb of about a hundred steps to one of the best views of Lake Austin and the city. The top sits about 775 feet above sea level, and people have been picnicking up here since the 1850s.

The name is generally believed to come from George W. Bonnell, an early Texas newspaper publisher. It's a quick walk, so it's easy to fit in for a picnic or at sunset.