Fall has officially arrived in Austin, and with it the weather has cooled down, making it the perfect temperature for some of Austin’s best nature trails. Whether you’re looking for a short walk with a good view or a more challenging hike, Austin has lots of great options for being outdoors. I’ve partnered with HI-TEC to show you some of my favorite spots for hiking around Austin, taking my HI-TEC V-Lite WildFire Low hiking boots and their new outdoor crossover apparel out with me. Here are five of my favorite trails in the Austin area.
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Barton Creek Greenbelt
You can’t have a list of hikes in Austin without including the beloved Barton Creek Greenbelt. In the summer, Sculpture Falls at the Barton Creek Greenbelt is one of my favorite swimming holes in Austin. But all year around, it has lots to offer. The trails are perfect for dog walking or family hikes, and there’s really something for everyone here. You can even find outdoor rock climbing here at the Seismic Wall.
For this hike, it was a chilly day and I bundled up in HI-TEC’s Florence Bonded Jacket, which retains heat, and Antler 4 Pocket Skinny Stretch Pant, which are perfect for hiking and are made with HI-TEC Flex, so they are super comfortable. For extra warmth, I layered with the Shelter Tech Waffle Henley.
Walnut Creek
Walnut Creek offers 15 miles of trails to wander, so there is plenty of exploring to be had. It’s also a popular spot for local mountain bikers, and offers off-leash areas for dogs to play. Make sure to bring your swimsuit with you too on a warmer day!
McKinney Falls State Park
This is the ultimate spot if you’re looking for waterfalls in Austin. McKinney Falls does charge an admission fee to the park, but it’s well worth it. Take the trail down to the lower falls for the biggest payoff, or enjoy one of the smaller loops for a short and sweet hike. You can also camp here, so bring your tent and make a weekend adventure of it!
St. Edwards Park
While the trails here are not as long or challenging as others within Austin, St. Edwards Park along Bull Creek is still a great option to get outdoors, especially for those who live in North Austin. You’ll find St. Edwards Park on Spicewood Springs Road off of Loop 360. Once you’re there, there are a few trail options, such as an easy walk that leads down to a nice swimming hole and a rope swing, or you can hike up a harder hill trail and take in the views.
Turkey Creek
You can find Turkey Creek Trail adjacent to Emma Long Metropolitan Park. Heads up – the trail is free, but if you want to go to Emma Long they do charge an admission fee. The trail is a 2.5 mile loop that crosses the creek several times, so waterproof shoes are recommended. Luckily, my HI-TEC V-Lite WildFire Low hiking boots are made with Dri-Tec, so they are waterproof and I had no issues!
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This post is sponsored by HI-TEC. As always, all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Ready Set Jet Set!
