The Best Trails for Kids in Austin
Enjoy the great outdoors with your family! These kid-friendly trails will get everyone outside and having fun.
There is plenty of hiking to be done in Austin, but it can be intimidating to venture out onto a trail without knowing how deep into the woods it goes. Good trails for kids usually range from 1 to 3 miles, so you don’t tire them out too much, and should be accessible by walking, running, and biking. Give the kids something to do this weekend and get them outside for some healthy exercise. These good trails for kids can be found throughout Austin!
One of the easiest and prettiest trails in the whole city is the Boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake, a modernized structure that weaves along the riverbank with amazing views of Austin. You and the kids can easily bike, rollerblade, walk, or run along Lady Bird Lake by way of the Boardwalk for some healthy outdoor exercise. Fishing and slacklining are also allowed along some parts of the 10-mile Lady Bird Lake trail, and you’ll often find people renting kayaks and paddleboards for some quality time on the water. This trail is dog-friendly, as long as they’re kept on a leash.
Another one of many good trails for kids is the hike to Twin Falls, or the even more adventurous Sculpture Falls, by way of the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Depending on how far you’re willing to go, you can find Twin Falls in just under a mile along an easy dirt path, or you can brave the trail a little longer and make it to Sculpture Falls in about a mile and a half. Either way, the kids will love a refreshing swim in the river after getting a little sweaty. There are rope swings and little crevices in the waterfalls to explore at Twin Falls. But if you make it to Sculpture Falls, there is an exhilarating 10-foot jump into the river for brave older kids and plenty of spaces to scout among the waterfalls.
Find the entrance to the 32-mile, multi-use Violet Crown Trail near Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool. Instead of trekking through the whole park, take the kids and the dogs through the easy 3.7-mile trail. Just remember to turn around halfway if you don’t want to end up on the other side of the park. Follow the river for a fun adventure in the great outdoors on this path ideally used for walking and running.
Not to be confused with the Southern Walnut Creek Trail, which is also a great loop for kids in the East Boggy Creek Greenbelt, check out Walnut Creek Trail in North Austin. A roundup of good trails for kids must include a walk along Walnut Creek, an easy 1.3-mile loop that’s perfect for dogs who love to run off-leash. This is a great trail for biking, walking, and running, so if your kids need to expend some energy, get them outside and on the move here!
The Quarries Park has a great, 2.3-mile loop that is perfect for all skill levels. Dubbed Great Hills Park Trail, this scenic path features lots of flowers and wildlife that will surely spark curiosity in your kids and pets. Part of the trail runs along and over a babbling brook, so you can safely say that Great Hills Park Trail is a thrilling slice of adventure in the middle of suburbia. Dogs should be kept on a leash, but your kids can run free along the manageable dirt paths.
There are so many good trails for kids, but the South to North (or vice versa) trail through Upper Bull Creek Park is not to be missed. The 3.8-mile out-and-back trail is very popular among locals because it features a beautiful waterfall and lots of natural swimming holes. Older kids will love mountain biking through here, but you can also take to the trail by foot with young kids and dogs for some good old-fashioned hiking through the Greenbelt. The middle section of this trail is slightly elevated, so keep in mind that it could be a challenging, but rewarding hike.
This off-leash dog park makes for a great hiking trail from downtown to North Austin. Enjoy peaks at the Austin skyline as you march through the very easy 1.4-mile first portion of the Shoal Creek Greenbelt. This is a great trail for pushing strollers and taking the kids for a bike ride. Shoal Creek is easily accessible from multiple parts of the city and passes by a lot of landmarks downtown.
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