FREE Parks, Trails & Nature in Austin

Austin's parks, trails, and natural spaces are some of the best FREE things the city has to offer. From the Barton Creek Greenbelt and Zilker Park to Lady Bird Lake and the Veloway, there are hundreds of acres of FREE outdoor space to explore year round. This section covers FREE parks, nature trails, swimming holes, overlooks, and outdoor destinations across Austin and the surrounding area.

Blunn Creek Nature Preserve
FREE 38-acre preserve near downtown with a 1-mile loop trail and hilltop overlooks. Open daily, dawn to dusk. No dogs allowed.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
FREE viewing of North America's largest urban bat colony, emerging at sunset roughly mid-March through early November. Watch FREE from the bridge or the lawn on the southeast bank.
Emma Long Metropolitan Park
FREE Mon–Thu; $5/vehicle Fri–Sun and holidays. The Turkey Creek Trail is FREE every day. Open 7am–10pm.
Austin's FREE Disc Golf Courses
Six FREE city-run courses: Bartholomew Park, Zilker Park, Mary Moore Searight, Circle C Ranch, Roy G. Guerrero, and Davis Spring.
Barrow Preserve
Small 10-acre spring-fed nature preserve on upper Bull Creek with quiet, columbine-lined canyon trails — a hidden gem.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Seven miles of limestone canyon trails, swimming holes, and cliff jumps winding through the heart of South Austin.
Bull Creek District Park
NW Austin creek-side park with hiking trails, picnic areas, and natural wading spots along Bull Creek.
Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park
215-acre Lake Austin park with hiking trails, prairie restoration, fishing access, and good birding.
FREE Public Boat Ramps — Lady Bird Lake & Lake Austin
Unimproved FREE launches on Lady Bird Lake plus concrete ramps on Lake Austin, open year-round, no fee.
FREE Pools & Splash Pads
City-run outdoor pools and splash pads open FREE to the public in summer, including the iconic Barton Springs Pool (small fee) and several FREE neighborhood pools.
Great Hills Park
FREE 80+ acre NW Austin park with wooded hiking trails and a playscape. Open daily, dawn to dusk. No restrooms; street parking only.
Govalle Neighborhood Park
FREE East Austin park with a no-cost drop-in Summer Playgrounds program for kids 5–12, weekdays 9am–5pm.
Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
FREE birding hotspot open sunrise to sunset, with FREE guided bird walks on the second and third Saturdays each month. 2210 S FM 973.
Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail
10-mile paved loop around Lady Bird Lake through the heart of Austin — flat, scenic, and FREE to use any time.
Mayfield Park & Nature Preserve
Historic garden cottage with free-roaming peacocks and koi ponds, adjoining a nature preserve overlooking Lake Austin. No pets.
McKinney Falls State Park
Low-cost day-use state park just 13 miles from downtown with two waterfall swimming holes, hiking trails, and camping. Kids 12 and under FREE.
More FREE Off-Leash Dog Parks
No-fee off-leash areas beyond Red Bud Isle: Auditorium Shores, Mary Moore Searight, Norwood Estate, West Austin Park, and the Shoal Creek dog area.
Mount Bonnell
Austin's highest point at 775 ft — a short staircase climb rewards you with sweeping views of Lake Austin and the Hill Country. FREE, open daily.
Mueller Lake Park
FREE 30-acre park with a 6.5-acre lake, 2.6-mile loop trail, amphitheater, and FREE parking garage. 4550 Mueller Blvd.
Onion Creek Metropolitan Park
517-acre South Austin park with groomed trails, pavilions, and an adjacent greenbelt with an off-leash area.
Pennybacker Bridge (360) Overlook
FREE half-mile hike to one of Austin's most photographed views — Lake Austin and the 360 Bridge. Limited roadside parking.
Red Bud Isle
Austin's only fully off-leash, fenced dog park — a 13-acre island on Lake Austin popular for dog swimming and birdwatching.
Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park
~400-acre riverside park with a FREE disc golf course, wooded trails, and Colorado River access.
Southeast Metropolitan Park
FREE Travis County park in Del Valle with a 2-mile ADA trail, 3-mile primitive trail, bouldering wall, and ballfields. Open daily 8am–dark. 4511 Hwy 71 E.
Shoal Creek Trail
~4–5 mile creekside trail through central Austin from Lady Bird Lake north to 38th St, with an off-leash dog stretch.
St. Edward's Park
FREE hill-country park along Bull Creek with shaded creek trails and swimming holes. Open daily. Off Spicewood Springs Rd, past Loop 360.
TPWD Neighborhood Fishin' Program
FREE catfish-stocked ponds around Austin, restocked every two weeks May–Sept — a low-barrier way for families to fish close to home.
Violet Crown Trail
FREE year-round hiking on Austin's flagship long-distance trail, with a new Mile Zero trailhead at Zilker Park. Dawn to dusk.
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
293-acre NE Austin park with 15 miles of hiking/mountain-biking trails, a large off-leash dog area, and picnic grounds.
Waterloo Greenway
FREE downtown park and 1.5 miles of trails along Waller Creek, linking Waterloo Park to Lady Bird Lake. (Moody Amphitheater concerts are ticketed separately.)
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
227-acre Hill Country preserve — FREE weekdays (walk-in); small fee on weekends/federal holidays.
Zilker Metropolitan Park
Austin's beloved 351-acre urban park on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake — home to Barton Springs Pool, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, and Zilker Botanical Garden.

Hours and programs change often. Call ahead before you go. Know something that belongs here? Email freeinaustin@gmail.com.