The Newbie’s Guide to Green Spaces in Austin (2024)

If you’re new to Austin and love spending time outdoors, you’re in the right spot. Boasting more than 500 parks, this city has plenty of must-see destinations.

Zilker Park is the biggest and most popular park in Austin. Over 1.5 million people visit Zilker Park each year for the Austin City Limits Music Festival, volleyball courts, Great Lawn, and gorgeous views of the Downtown skyline. Patrons can enjoy park amenities including an 18-hole disc golf course, Zilker Boat Rentals, and the Austin Nature and Science Center for hands-on nature exhibitions. Families with young children won’t want to miss a ride on the Zilker Eagle Mini Train. The riding tour stops at the Zilker Park playscape and passes under two tunnels in under 15 minutes.

If you’re in the mood for a dip, Barton Springs Pool – located within Zilker Park – is an absolute must-stop. A three-acre pool fed entirely from natural springs, Barton Springs attracts nearly 80,000 visitors each year. The pool has a year round temperature of 68-70 degrees and is recognized as a federally protected habitat due to the Barton Springs Salamanders that are native to the region. Located near the pool is Splash!, an educational exhibit for patrons to learn about the history and biology of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer. There’s even an annual tradition on New Year’s Day called the Polar Bear Plunge to jump into the springs, no matter the weather. After covering a $9 non-resident fee, visitors are welcome to enjoy the cool water, diving board, and grassy lounge area.

Also within Zilker Park, the Zilker Botanical Garden is a peaceful oasis that showcases thousands of plants, animals, and wildlife. The art of horticulture is on full display in each of the themed gardens: the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, The Riparian Streambed, The Hartman Prehistoric Garden, and the Mabel Davis Rose Garden. In the Taniguchi garden, look out for the ponds that are arranged to spell out “Austin.” Paved pathways, streams of koi fish, and grassy lawns connect the 28 acres of gardens across the site. An annual highlight is the summer art installation called The Woodland Faerie Trail. Along a collection of Heritage Live Oak trees, 75 tiny homes intended for fairies and other magical creatures are designed by community members. This cherished event is a tradition that engages Austin creatives and allows visitors to participate in a scavenger hunt and community competition to vote on the best house.

In the center of Austin, Lady Bird Lake (formerly known as Town Lake) bisects the north and south parts of the city and is close to multiple green spaces loved by locals – most especially the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, a 10-mile pathway around the lake that receives over 2.5 million visits each year. Named for a former Austin mayor and his wife, the trail is popular with serious athletes, weekend walk-and-talkers, and Downtown commuters alike. One memorable attraction adjacent to the trail is Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, home to a colony of Mexican Free-Tailed Bats. According to ecologist and conservationist Dr. Merlin Tuttle, these bats play a significant role in Austin’s ecosystem by consuming close to 200 tons of insects every night. Viewers are welcome to observe these fantastic flying creatures at the Statesman Bat Observation Center or rent kayaks to snap pictures from water level.

Another worthy destination along Lady Bird Lake is a commemorative statue of the late electric blues artist Stevie Ray Vaughan at Auditorium Shores, a well-loved park and concert venue with an off-leash area for dogs. If you’ve worked up an appetite along the trail, head to South Congress Ave,. or SoCo, for good eats and window shopping. In the mood for something more educational? Head north instead to explore the Texas State Capitol, which offers free tours, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Two blocks east of the Capitol building, Waterloo Park – part of the 1.5 mile Waterloo Greenbelt in Downtown Austin – is 11 acres in size and is best recognized for the Moody Amphitheater, which has hosted musical guests such as Vampire Weekend, Idles, and Young Thug. The recently redesigned park serves as an immersive nature experience, offering a native plant garden, trails for walking and biking along the Suzanne Deal Booth skywalk, and a designated area for food trucks. Waller Creek is an important ecosystem within Waterloo Park and is home to native species of herons, sunfish, and turtles. One unique attraction is the Waller Creek Tunnel, which stretches 5,600 feet across downtown and redirects water during flash floods to Lady Bird Lake. Public art installations are routinely displayed in the park for a visually pleasing and sensory experience.

The first public park in Austin, Pease Park, is a more casual green space known for its shaded trails and limestone bluffs. The northern region of Pease has walking trails adjacent to Shoal Creek, while the southern region has basketball and volleyball courts, playscapes, a splash pad, and food trucks. Art at Pease Park includes installations such as Malin’s Fountain, an 18 foot tall troll statue created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. As you enter the Kingsbury Commons, Malin holds an empty bowl reminding visitors the importance of sharing water with animals in the natural environment. The Treehouse designed by Clare van Montfrans and Mell Lawerence is a tree-covered canopy designed for play or a moment of self-reflection. Finally, the Mystic Raven statue created by David Deming is an eye-catching 22 foot sculpture that combines elements of man, bird, and machine. Pease Park also hosts many celebrations unique to Austin, including Eeyore’s Birthday Party, Squirrel Fest, and Pride Picnic.

The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a thousand acre stretch of land located in South Austin for visitors to enjoy a wide range of activities including rock-climbing, bouldering and swimming. The Greenbelt has seven entry points including the trail’s head near Barton Springs pool at Zilker Park (2201 Barton Springs Rd.) The Main Access Point to Greenbelt along the Capitol of Texas Highway (3755-B Capital of Texas Highway) Twin Falls access point (3918 D. Mopac Expy) Campbell’s Hole (1601 Spyglass Dr.) Gus Fruh Pool entrance (2642 Barton Hills Dr.) Hill of Life at Trail’s End (710 Camp Craft Rd.) and Violet Crown Trail (Zilker, 360 and 290 Trailheads). Several endangered species such as the Golden Cheeked Warbler, Austin Blind Salamander, Barton Springs Salamander and Bracted Twistflower make their home along the creek. Two swimming holes including Campbell’s Hole and Gus Fruh are a more private and rustic swimming experience than Barton Springs. Two waterfalls, Twin and Sculpture Falls, are located along the trail and both locations are a great rest stop for hikers hoping to cool off. Trails to the waterfalls are slightly uneven, so appropriate footwear for walkers, runners, and hikers is highly recommended. Towards the end of the Greenbelt, the Hill of Life is the steepest and most challenging part of the hike, but worth the scenic views of the Texas Hill Country.

Austin first-timers looking to escape city life and become one with nature will find endless opportunities to enjoy open-air spaces.