From easy paths appropriate for people of all ages and skill levels to more difficult hikes through local greenbelts, there are numerous local parks and trails for South Austinites to walk and explore. This list is not comprehensive. 

Leisurely strolls

Destinations for those who just want to get outside to stretch their legs.
1. Convict Hill Quarry Neighborhood Park A very small nature park with a short unpaved nature trail accessed from Convict Hill Road. Trail information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Nature 6511 Convict Hill Road, Austin
2. Cougar Creek Greenbelt and Village Trail A pedestrian path that connects Sunset Valley City Hall, shopping centers, the Cougar Creek Greenbelt and Sunset Valley Nature Preserve. Access is available off Ernest Robles Way and Jones Road. Trail Information: Gravel, Easy Terrain, Urban  
3. Franklin Neighborhood Park A small neighborhood park with a looped pedestrian trail. Trail Information: Gravel, Easy Terrain, Urban 4800 Copperbend Blvd., Austin
4. Gaines Creek Neighborhood Park trail A small park and set of short trails accessed from the Travis Country neighborhood. Trail Information: Gravel, Moderate Terrain, Nature 4801 Republic of Texas Blvd., Austin
5. Garrison Park trails A neighborhood park with simple intertwining trails through trees. Trail Information: Gravel, Easy Moderate Terrain, Urban, Parking 6001 Manchaca Road, Austin
6. Goat Cave Karst Nature Preserve A short hike with views of small caves. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Nature 3900 Deer Lane, Austin
7. Kendra Page Neighborhood Park A neighborhood trail through a wooded area with access off Stoneleigh Place and Blue Meadow Drive. Trail Information: Paved, Easy Terrain, Urban 2203 Blue Meadow Drive, Austin
8. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The Wildflower Center offers patrons multiple designated paved and gravel paths through its grounds. Trail Information: Paved, Easy Terrain, Urban, Parking 4801 La Crosse Avenue, Austin
9. Mabel Davis District Park A city park with a looped trail near a pond and streams. Trail Information: Gravel, Easy Terrain, Urban, Parking 3427 Parker Lane, Austin
10. Shady Hollow West Nature Preserve A neighborhood park with a looped path through a field. Trail Information: Paved, Easy Terrain, Urban 2811 Aftonshire Way, Austin
11. Tanglewood Forest and Greenbriar Park trails Short pedestrian trails circle the neighborhood parks along West Slaughter Lane on both sides of Kocurek Elementary School. Park access is available from Cotulla Drive and Sabinal Mesa Drive. Trail Information: Gravel, Easy Terrain, Urban, Parking
12. Williamson Creek Central Greenbelt trail A short looped trail leading into a small greenbelt. Trail Information: Gravel, Easy Terrain, Urban 5120 S. First Street, Austin

Longer walks

Destinations for those who enjoy long walks or jogs as exercise.
13. Bauerle Ranch Park trails A nature park with many trails surrounded by neighborhoods. Access from pool area or other surrounding roads. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Nature 2715 Lynbrook Drive, Austin
14. Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park on Slaughter Creek A long trail loop surrounding a park that travels along Slaughter Creek and through some trees. Trail Information: Gravel, Moderate Terrain, Urban 6301 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin
15. Dick Nichols District Park An easy paved loop around the district park, with one section connecting to the under-construction Violet Crown Trail. Trail Information: Paved, Moderate Terrain, Urban, Parking, Violet Crown Trail Section 8011 Beckett Road, Austin
16. Dove Springs District Park A large neighborhood park with a designated running path and trails to a surrounding greenbelt. Trail Information: Unpaved, Easy Terrain, Urban, Parking 5801 Ainez Drive, Austin
17. Indian Grass Prairie Preserve A forest trail with access on Brodie Lane and near the Home Depot at 1200 Home Depot Blvd., Sunset Valley. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Nature, Parking, Violet Crown trial Section
18. Longview Neighborhood Park A neighborhood park with a few short trails surrounding it. The park offers access to the larger Stephenson Nature Preserve trails. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Urban, Parking 7609 Longview Road, Austin
19. Oak Park Estates trails Multiple public trails are located outside of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center grounds and near Oak Park Estates. Access is available from the Wildflower Center driveway and Salmon Drive. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Urban, Parking, Violet Crown Trail Section 4900 La Crosse Avenue, Austin
20. Sunset Valley Nature Area A set of trails along Williamson Creek and Lovegrass Lane in Sunset Valley. Access is available from the Cougar Creek Greenbelt pedestrian trail and parking is available at nearby shopping centers on Brodie Lane. Trail Information: Paved, Moderate Terrain, Nature
21. Westcreek Pocket Park trail A short trail system with access near 6001 Westcreek Drive and Monterey Oaks Boulevard. Across the street from the Archstone Greenbelt trail. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Nature
22. Western Oaks and Latta Branch Greenbelt trails A system of pedestrian trails through a neighborhood greenbelt and other green spaces, with parking at Dick Nichols Park. Similar trails are located around Davis Lane and Escarpment Boulevard. Trail Information: Paved, Moderate Terrain, Urban 8011 Beckett Road, Austin

Hikes

Destinations for those looking for more strenuous walks or hikes with changes in elevation and some undefined trails.
23. Barton Creek Greenbelt A greenbelt trail with varying elevations and multiple access points. Trail Information: Unpaved, Difficult Terrain, Nature, Parking, Violet Crown Trail Section 3755 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin
24. Blunn Creek Nature Preserve A hiking trail near Travis High School. Trail Information: Unpaved, Difficult Terrain, Nature 1200 St. Edwards Drive, Austin
25. Gaines Greenbelt trail A nature trail that connects to the south end of the Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail and is part of the Violet Crown Trail system. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Nature, Violet Crown Trail Section 4934 W. Hwy. 290, Sunset Valley
26. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park A large park with multiple trails and walking paths of varying difficulties, from paved pedestrian paths to greenbelt hikes. Sports fields and picnic areas are also on-site. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Nature, Parking 907 W. Slaughter Lane, Austin
27. McKinney Falls State Park A large greenbelt park along Onion Creek with multiple trails of varying difficulties and terrains. Payment at the park gate is required for entry, and parking is limited. Trail Information: Gravel, Moderate Terrain, Nature, Parking 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin
28. Onion Creek Metropolitan Park The Onion Creek Greenbelt trail system includes trails of varying lengths and difficulty, with access points on Nuckols Crossing Road and Pleasant Valley Road. Trail Information: Unpaved, Moderate Terrain, Nature 8652 Nuckols Crossing Road, Austin
29. Stephenson Nature Preserve and Outdoor Education Center An intricate trail system through a nature preserve, with trail access from various neighborhood roads and parking at Longview Neighborhood Park. Trail Information: Unpaved, Difficult Terrain, Nature 7501 Longview Road, Austin
Editor's note: The printed version of this guide on page 37 of Volume 11, Issue 1, included the Sycamore Creek Trail at Blue Valley Park listed as No. 30, which is a private trail open only to Travis Country residents and not the public. It has been removed from this online guide.