Pease Park & Shoal Creek Trail

It’s been a long time since I’ve added a park! I’ve been hiking the Greenbelt, which doesn’t count towards this blog, but I recently went to Pease Park to check out the Shoal Creek Trail. It’s a really great park, of course, especially for those looking for a lovely spot mid town to relax in the grass or to take your kids. There’s a splash pad, nice restrooms and water fountains, also with one of those rad bottle filling stations, with clean, delicious water. I found the Observation Pod and it’s amazing, and I’d love to return to climb up into the net some time! This park’s trail is mostly paved, so if you have a stroller or doggo, it’s a nice place to take a walk. As an avid rugid trail hiker, this trail up Lamar Blvd was not quite what I’m looking for, however, the Pease Conservation team has ensured there is a lot of gorgeous vegetation to look at and that was exciting since I’m currently learning about native plants along the trails I hike. If you didn’t know, Pease Park is also a historical site.

There is not a lot of shade for most of this trail that runs all the way to 31st street, but there are some lovely spots along the way.

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The Observation Pod at Pease Park

Shoal Creek along Lamar Blvd

Walnut Creek Park

12138 N Lamar Blvd

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Austin is a big place, and I’ve been feeling like expanding my park adventure in a big way! So I’m still hitting parks in south Austin, but I branched out early and hit Walnut Creek Park in way-north Austin, and I’m SO GLAD I did. Oh my gosh! What I mean is, Holy Trails, Batman! This place is HUGE and the trails zig zag all over. I could not believe what I was missing out on when I lived in the area a few years ago. This place is incredible. There is a paved path for those who want a large main walkway, with a lovely bridge to cross the creek, and there are little side paths all over the place for those who want something more out of the way! Lookit this map!

There are a lot of amenities at this park, I didn’t see half of them, I bet. There’s a plethora of open fields, ample parking, a playground, softball fields, picnic shelters and according to the map a BMX PUMP TRACK. I absolutely need to return to see what this looks like!

I got a full three miles out of this run, and ///obviously, could have gone for even more if I had wanted to, so I’m excited about my return trips to this park when I am able to come back. The trails can be quite rocky and in some areas there’s elevation changes that were honestly refreshing.The creek is lovely and running with water and there’s so much to look at, with so many different areas to explore. This is a well used park full of dog walkers, families, hikers and joggers, and cyclists as well. I felt perfectly safe with both headphones in, and had a good mix of being alone and seeing others.

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Bull Creek Greenbelt Upper

6958 Spicewood Springs Rd

I’ve finally decided to skip ahead while the weather is still fall-delicious and hit up some North Austin spots at long last! Bull Creek has been on my to-do list for so long and I see why it’s such a popular place! There are so many lovely parks in South Austin, but alas, it’s not much for running creeks. I hit the upper part of this greenbelt and will have to return for St Edwards Park at Bull Creek, and Bull Creek District Park another time. The upper greenbelt is a loop that turned out to be less than two miles (but you can continue south if that’s not enough) and is a fairly easy hike – you do cross the creek, and it’s fun if you can keep your feet dry! There is a part where you walk on a curvy winding road that is a little weird and hopefully drivers don’t speed there much. This place has a lot to look at, and I took way more photos then I normally do, so I’m gonna shut up and share them now.

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Slaughter Creek Trail

9901 Farm to Market Road 1826

This is a five mile loop trail that I was not at all prepared for! Located out by where Slaughter Lane ends in West Austin, this path is a wonderful place to ride a mountain bike, jog, hike or ride a horse – though I’m nervous to discover the evidence of horses while running there, ha! There are two Porto potties at the parking lot and a sign at the lot states that if it’s full, you should come back another time. It’s a popular place after work with the mountain bike crowd, so if you are on foot, I do not recommend this trail at that time of day. Not trying at all to dis on bikers, most are thoughtful, but one guy on this trail rang his bell and then flew past us on the narrow trail without slowing down at all and it was not cool. Do not listen to music on this trail! Anyway, in the spirit of the Parks Adventure, I didn’t realize this fixed circular trail was quite so long, so we did about a mile and then turned on around and head back same way we came in! I’ll be back when I’m ready for a 5 mile run! Do you have any thoughts about this trail to share?

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Onion Creek Metropolitan Park

8652 Nuckols Crossing Rd

It’s October everyone! That means it’s run-through-all-the-spider-webs-in-the-woods month!

Wow, I’ve made it to Onion Creek! This park marks the farthest east I will explore in south Austin! I did not make my way into the greenbelt portion of Onion Creek, or to the west side of the park at all, (I may return!) but I did manage a 2.5 mile run through the open park and into the woods behind it. This adventure started out awkwardly due to construction on Nuckols Crossing Road, and Google Maps sent me to an entrance that was not accessible, but fear not! Just a tad more down the road there’s actually a parking lot and open field park. There’s some traps however, dear reader! Behold, the Path of Goes Nowhere, located west of the parking lot.

Well, maybe it does if you are wearing long pants and don’t mind running through long grass? (Not my personal fav.) This built trail ends real fast and all you’re left with is an overgrown trail the width of a bike tire, so only good for a bike. Some of the trails here need some up-keep if they are to keep existing. There was an interesting path on the east side of the park however, comprised of crushed gravel (or whatever that is) with a paved sidewalk next to it, which was pretty cool and I haven’t seen before. It’s not a very long path, however and that part of the park feels a little unfinished. Anyway, I explored the direction of the open field, east, along a different path and found it circled around the park’s huge open field and leads to the main trail into the woods, which is just what I was looking for. On my return I discovered a more direct path from the furthest corner of the parking lot as well. Next time, I might park on the road at Thaxton Rd and Nuckols Crossing, or see if I can enter by Grelle Lane.

I definitely feel like I need to return here for another run or a hike, as there’s plenty I didn’t get to! I made it to the creek and I feel like things were just starting to get interesting there. I will say that the entire time I was in the woods, I only saw three people, a young couple hiking, and a man on my way out, which is great, but perhaps it’s best enjoyed with a buddy, or with one ear budless if you have music with you. Enjoy and look out for the spider webs! The weather is cooling off, and I certainly walked through some webs that weren’t even on the path my first go. 🙂

Circle C Ranch Part II – Revisited and Magic Tree Sighting

Magic Tree Sighting Number 3

I made it back to Circle C for a quick run this weekend and I’m so glad, because I found this AWESOME tree. It was hard to photograph, but as you walk under it you feel distinctly as if entering some wicked forest straight out of Disney. It’s in a strange space in the park too, between the parking lots to the right of walking into the park. I managed a nice loop and got a much better feel for this park, and realized that it’s possible the trail that links the loop on the map might be grown over at this point which is why I haven’t found it after two tries, so that I can run the park in one easy loop. I followed my map behind a field trying to fund the trail and I found another that leads between the two lots, up onto the road there. Overall, this park is a well used space which is good for safety in the non-Covid times. I’ll run here more often later on I bet. It’s an easy trail that can (mostly) let the focus of the run be trimming your mile time down instead of minding where you step. See the blog right after this one for Part I!

One more shot of this great tree!

Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park on Slaughter Creek

6301 W Slaughter Lane

This park marks the outer edge of parks to visit in south west Austin! It’s all either west or north from this park for me. This place has disk golf, volleyball and basketball courts and a playground but it’s fenced off right now. I didn’t realize this park was even here for the three years I’ve lived less then 10 minutes away from it. I drove in, and saw this park has restrooms and ample parking! There is more then one lot if the first one is full. From the first lot, you can follow a wide soft path west or east. I went west, and had an adventure involving multiple disk golf courses. I have to admit, everyone – I have zero knowledge about this game. I was confused by the equipment I found until I read the label on one of them. I saw some young baseball hatted fellows playing a round and didn’t stop to watch to see what they did, but from the name I guess you throw the disk into the slots? We both know I can look this up on YouTube quite easily, but look. I’m not going to.

Anyway, there were several spaces for this which I stopped to gawk at, and I never made it to the east side of the park so I think one more run is warranted before I check the box on this space. The path is nice and wide, but this park is also a tad busier then what I’m looking for right now per my pandemic workout goals, though I did go on a Sunday. So while a big plus is that it’s a park I’d feel comfortable wearing both headphones in, I had to avoid quite a few people as well. I left after two miles because I timed my run late and the sun was directly overhead and the main path does not have shade. This will be a nice place to jog once it cools off a tad more though! You can totally tuck away into the woods for some shade as well. There’s some nice paths through the woods here too.

Bauerle Ranch Park (with bonus Lindshire Park)

2715 Lynnbrook Dr

Entered at Percy Springs Trail

I wasn’t so sure about this place at first. Usually, I just go to the address Google gives me when I zoom in on a green space on the map. So I drive over to the center of this park and discover Bauerle Ranch Park is nestled around a private community center with a very nice looking private pool. The trails though have signage for the City of Austin, so they must be fair game. I went to these trails right at the beginning of September and it was a cooled off, but drizzly day so there was no one out there. The trails from the street to the main trails of this park need a little bit of upkeep to maintain the trail, so I was uncertain of what I would find, and a little afraid of snakes because of walking through high growth, but it wasn’t as bad as I just made it sound. I found a wonderful space with super rocky trails and quaint signage to help you get back to the street you came in from. I managed just over two miles in this park, but more could be had certainly.

New favorite Live Oak!

Most notable here, is the absolutely epic live oak I found entering from the parking lot, down a ways. It’s the kind of tree you want to spend the better part of an afternoon under. I’ll be back to this park for sure, it’s a great place for a chill nature walk, and there are some areas I have not explored yet. I tried to follow a circular path but missed a couple of the loops available to traverse. Nature sightings; I saw a road runner and a deer while running here. I don’t recommend running here if you prefer smooth surfaces, the trails are very rocky. I use trail shoes with those tiny cleats, so they were no issue for me, but for most people I’d say this is a place to take a walk instead. Also of note about this space – it was pretty quiet, and that was really nice. The parks I visit most often are by Mopac or another main road.

BONUS PARK, Duck Pond Edition! Driving back out of the area towards Slaughter Lane, I happened past this surprise duck pond, Lindshire Park, and my jaw dropped fantasizing about this being behind my house. Look at those ducks! It’s a really chill space to go feed some ducks and watch the fountain at the center of the pond as if it were a lava lamp. It’s just a beautiful, relaxing place to go stare at some ducks, if you are into that sort of thing .

Mueller Lake Park / Butterfly Garden

4550 Mueller Blvd, Walking, Picnic, Stroller, Dog Walk, Duck watching 🙂

It’s fairly likely I’m the last person living in Austin to visit Mueller Lake Park. I’ve been aware of the “mixed use urban-development” that’s been happening in this area for a long time, but never managed to make it there to explore it before! (Well, I work two jobs most of the time, and that’s kind of an excuse?? I’ve really only been to the HEB/Home Depot part!) There’s a bunch of stuff in this area that I have still not seen yet! My visit to this park was due to running an errand in the area and deciding to stop and take a look around, to remedy my totally ignoring it for nearly ten years, despite hearing about so much going in there! I’m so glad I did and I’ll be back to see more of it! Notably, I did not get to see Patterson Neighborhood Park across Airport Blvd, and I did not see the Southwest Greenway that leads into Morris Williams Golf Course. You can read more about this park, the surrounding parks and what the plans for it are at http://www.muelleraustin.com/thinking-green/parks/ Look at that American Bumble Bee bottom! ❤

What I did get to see though, is the beautiful lake with lots of people and whole families lounging happily around with a gorgeously designed amphitheater, a bunch of ducks and ducklings and some lovely spaces to grill and picnic and hang out. There’s a fire pit that I’m curious about come winter, though it’s currently filled with trash. It’s a well used park and although it needs some litter signage and clean up, I’m looking forward to the day I can come back to this area and read a book on the grass, and take more pics of the cutie baby ducks.

My study of the map for the area lead us to a really thoughtful butterfly garden full of butterflies, labeled native plants, a couple of large outdoor sculptures by Chris Levack and LOTS of bumble bees! We explored down by the south pond as well and were lucky enough to slowly approach a great blue heron! (Pretty sure! If you know better, please comment and let me know!)

Dick Nichols District Park/ Latta Branch Greenbelt

8011 Beckett Rd, 78749, Walking, Running

I’ve lived all over Austin – my first many years were spent in a 1 bedroom apartment off Wickersham Lane. I’ve lived in a duplex in North Austin, a little house in East Austin and now South West. The entire time I’ve lived in Austin, I’ve mostly gone to Zilker, the attached greenbelt and Town Lake. I didn’t discover this park for the first two years that I lived near it! I know, right? My husband is the one who discovered it, walking a found neighborhood dog (who was reunited quickly with her owner thanks to NextDoor). He found our neighborhood trail and we went exploring and discovered a whole park, playground, a neighborhood swimming pool, a sports field and basketball court and eventually, the greenbelt across the street! Dick Nichols has a parking lot and a paved path that circles at about a mile total, with workout equipment along the way if you want to get some sit ups or hip stretches in. It’s great for walking, strollers and dogs. But for goodness sake -some of us like to run on the grass next to the cement. Please clean up after your dogs! There are little side paths all over the place and you can even run around the outside of this park entirely, and there’s a path that connects to a library branch. We were able to explore this whole area over quite some time!

Where’s your favorite tree?

Dirt path through the center of Dick Nichols Park

I’ve been here a lot, so I’ve crafted my perfect routine to hit about 3 miles with as little cement as possible that includes the Latta greenbelt, but there’s still room for variation. The greenbelt path doesn’t loop around, but there are a bunch of wonderful trails off the main path to walk in the woods and get some quiet nature time. There’s a hidden treasure in the woods here that I won’t tell you about, just that you should go find it. My hint – it’s blue. Oh! I almost forgot. My favorite tree is in those woods too! You’ll know it when you see it, really.

New gifted art on The Violet Crown Trail marker! Found in August 2020

Plenty of softer trails to run

The woods of the Latta Greenbelt have wonderful trails to walk and a hidden surprise.

Blunn Creek Nature Preserve

1200 St Edwards – Street parking – No Dogs

Climb uphill for a visual treat

Forgive me for not having a bunch of photos of this lovely nature preserve! I went with my husband to this one, so there was more chatting then photo taking. Maybe that will encourage you to go see it for yourself. This is a lovely tucked away place that I had no idea about until Northern-Southern art gallery published a map of site specific art to go find during the pandemic in May. I chose the first piece on the map and ran out to look for it! Check this project out at https://northern-southern.com/2020/left-in-leaves/ It’s a delightful scavenger hunt and I’m grateful to the gallery and all the artists who participated, especially Megan Shogan for her piece, Real Estate.

Blunn Creek does in fact have a creek, and you can cross it while exploring this space! There’s an amphitheater type area and an overlook and we found the scrappiest tree ever that was still doing its thing, even after an obvious lightening strike. This is the little(ish) big tree that could, even split from the base. This is also where we found a couple of the largest trees I’ve seen in Austin so far. Here’s a shot up one of them. Definitely make sure to visit this place at least once! It’s good hiking, with some elevation changes. The space is not large but it’s certainly large enough to have an adventure in.

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Husband for scale of the epic trees we found here !

Violet Crown Trail south of Slaughter

This trail head leads up behind Veloway Park and even to the Wildflower Center!

This portion of the official VCT is less then a mile long before it branches out into narrow trails that are favored heavily by bicyclists. The “official” area is a great place for wildflowers when they are in season! It’s beautiful! The entrance is right behind the Walgreens on Slaughter Lane. There’s plenty of people on foot as well, but my advice is to keep one ear open and don’t wear headphones in both ears, even if you keep your music low to stay more alert (which is good practice anyway). The trails here are AMAZING but again, if you are on foot, use caution. The trail is narrow for passing but if you enjoy challenging trail running, it’s the best I’ve found so far (not counting Hill of Life, though I haven’t made it there quite yet!) with plenty of elevation changes and scenery changes as well. Check out that fuzzy bee butt! ❤

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My only complaint is that most people are not being considerate about using even a bandana to cover their faces when they pass you, and on the narrow trails this is problematic if you are dedicated to being cautious. I know it’s outside and all, but still. I wear a bandana around my neck and pull it up when I come across someone else, and very few others do this as well. Anyhoo’s if you disagree with this, please skip the flame comment war about it, and let’s move on to more pretty photos instead of getting all into that.

These paths go really far south and east, I still have not made it to the end or seen how far it goes – you get to some really rad trails that edge up some elevation and things start to feel a bit wacky. I’ve hit three miles and could have gone more, but I’m not sure how much more as I tend to quit at the same place, probably right behind Bowie High School.

Bonus paragraph for Veloway Park – I don’t use this paved track because it’s for wheels only, but if you bike or roller blade, this is definitely something to check out some time! I just sort of stumbled upon it my first time checking out this area. I started to check it out, but my anguished need to follow rules and Virgo disposition (I’m really annoyed I match my sign, honest) kept me from exploring it much. There’s a sign that says “Wheels Only” so I only managed to ignore that for about 3 minutes before turning around!