The Barton Creek Greenbelt extends 7.5 miles one way from Ziker Memorial Park, near the southeastern terminus of the Lady Bird Lake Trail. At the start, it’s more parkland along the creek. But along the way there are numerous offshoots for running/hiking, including some more rugged trails that lead to cliffs, rock climbing, and some swimming holes. The last section is the famous “Hill of Life”, which is a 300m climb in 0.3 miles. This is fairly technical, challenging trail running in parts. We’ve mapped out the entire 7.5 mile trail one-way. A good place to turn around is at the 4-mile mark at Rt. 360, where the trail gets more rugged. Apparently the Taco Deli on Spyglass is the place to fuel up.
The Barton Creek Greenbelt extends 7.5 miles one way from Ziker Memorial Park, near the southeastern terminus of the Lady Bird Lake Trail. At the start, it’s more parkland along the creek. But along the way there are numerous offshoots for running/hiking, including some more rugged trails that lead to cliffs, rock climbing, and some swimming holes. The last section is the famous “Hill of Life”, which is a 300m climb in 0.3 miles. This is fairly technical, challenging trail running in parts. We’ve mapped out the entire 7.5 mile trail one-way. A good place to turn around is at the 4-mile mark at Rt. 360, where the trail gets more rugged. Apparently the Taco Deli on Spyglass is the place to fuel up.
The signature trail in Austin, with 10 miles of trail on each side of the Colorado River. Combination of paved and gravel. Some sections more shaded and park-like. Highlights are the boardwalk section on the south side, and the 'bat bridge'!
A favorite 6-mile route of an Austin local, incorporating a great section of the Lady Bird Lake Trail and some fun Austin sites: an old stone windmill, Graffiti Park at Castle Hill, the original Whole Foods, and Austin Central Library
A great 4+ mile route combining downtown, the Capitol, and the UT Austin campus. A straight shot up Congress St., and then the main pedestrian path through campus called the Speedway. Good add-on options.
A 'hipster' run along the fun and eclectic sections of South Congress St. Won't qualify as the most scenic run ever, but it's entertaining, with lots of fun shops and restaurants, and a wide sidewalk. Good residential side street options.
A pleasant trail that is basically a linear park. Southern end is downtown, northern end is near the UT campus. Paved and unpaved surfaces. Note some sections of trail have been re-routed due to storm damage.
A nice, 7.7 mile out and back run that provides an idea of some of the hills in the northwest part of Austin. Some sections of Lake Austin Blvd. are nicer than others for running. Scenic Dr. to Mt. Bonnell is another good option
20 miles north of downtown, Round Rock is the home of Dell’s corporate HQ and many other tech companies. Our guide to some of the best running spots in the area.
20 miles northwest of downtown Austin, the Lakeway area provides some great opportunities for running. There are pretty and very hilly residential roads.
Some of the nicest residential neighborhoods for running in Austin are: Mueller, just east of downtown; Old West Austin and Tarrywown, just west of UT and the Capitol; and Terravista and Forest Creek in Round Rock
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