The signature run in Austin. Ten miles of trail on each side of Colorado River, right downtown. Very nice, winding trail with views of the river, combination paved and firm gravel, lovely green and shade in spots…and some 30,000 runners a day! It’s very festive, with pedestrian bridges, boathouses, and two public pools, including Barton Springs. A highlight is the 2+ mile boardwalk on the south side. Good crossing points are S. First St. bridge, Pfluger Pedestian Bridge, and near the Eddy Pool at Mopac, and Pleasant Valley (note new pedestrian bridge crossing at the western end at MOPAC, not shown on maps!). There are a couple of sections where the trail is a bit tougher to find, and not as interesting. For a unique experience, plan your run to see the hundreds of thousands of bats flying out from the Congress St. bridge at sunset in summer. Favorite sections:
North side: Congress St. bridge east to Edward Renton Park is a park-like 2 miles. West of Congress St., it’s also very nice but a little confusing past the rowing center.
South side: Congress St. east to Pleasant Valley is great along the water, including a boardwalk that juts out to the water in several sections. The area around the Long Center and the Zach theater is open and festive.
There are many options for loops, using one of the bridges, or to lengthen it at Ziker Memorial Park by running along the the more rugged Barton Creek Trail. Water and bathrooms.
The signature run in Austin. Ten miles of trail on each side of Colorado River, right downtown. Very nice, winding trail with views of the river, combination paved and firm gravel, lovely green and shade in spots…and some 30,000 runners a day! It’s very festive, with pedestrian bridges, boathouses, and two public pools, including Barton Springs. A highlight is the 2+ mile boardwalk on the south side. Good crossing points are S. First St. bridge, Pfluger Pedestian Bridge, and near the Eddy Pool at Mopac, and Pleasant Valley (note new pedestrian bridge crossing at the western end at MOPAC, not shown on maps!). There are a couple of sections where the trail is a bit tougher to find, and not as interesting. For a unique experience, plan your run to see the hundreds of thousands of bats flying out from the Congress St. bridge at sunset in summer. Favorite sections:
North side: Congress St. bridge east to Edward Renton Park is a park-like 2 miles. West of Congress St., it’s also very nice but a little confusing past the rowing center.
South side: Congress St. east to Pleasant Valley is great along the water, including a boardwalk that juts out to the water in several sections. The area around the Long Center and the Zach theater is open and festive.
There are many options for loops, using one of the bridges, or to lengthen it at Ziker Memorial Park by running along the the more rugged Barton Creek Trail. Water and bathrooms.
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 trail running opportunity accessible from central Austin. Starting at Ziker Park, extends for 7.4 miles one-way, with offshoot options. It's quite rocky, and gets progressively more challenging.
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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Essentials
Up to 10.4 miles RT. Many loop options
211 ft.
Numerous Options. See table. Congress St. or South First St. are good starting spots
The signature run in Austin. Ten miles of trail on each side of Colorado River, right downtown. Very nice, winding trail with views of the river, combination paved and firm gravel, lovely green and shade in spots…and some 30,000 runners a day! It’s very festive, with pedestrian bridges, boathouses, and two public pools, including Barton Springs. A highlight is the 2+ mile boardwalk on the south side. Good crossing points are S. First St. bridge, Pfluger Pedestian Bridge, and near the Eddy Pool at Mopac, and Pleasant Valley (note new pedestrian bridge crossing at the western end at MOPAC, not shown on maps!). There are a couple of sections where the trail is a bit tougher to find, and not as interesting. For a unique experience, plan your run to see the hundreds of thousands of bats flying out from the Congress St. bridge at sunset in summer. Favorite sections:
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