Hiking with Kids Open
Hiking Trail Walnut Creek Park
4.8(124)4.8 out of 5 stars, 124 reviews Austin, TX
About Hiking Trail Walnut Creek Park
Walnut Creek Park offers a unique escape within Austin, making you forget you're in the city. It boasts a variety of hiking paths including challenging options with amazing views from hilltops, a flowing creek where kids can play, and a playground featuring "very high slides" that children love. The park is well-maintained and provides extensive, clearly marked trails suitable for diverse activities.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking a varied outdoor experience including hiking, playground fun, and water play in a natural creek.Dog owners looking for designated off-leash areas for their pets.Hikers and runners desiring different challenge levels and scenic views.Families wanting an outdoor escape that doesn't feel like it's in the middle of a city.Parents with kids who specifically enjoy "high slides."
Why families love it
- Flowing creek with sections suitable for walking in and many spots to get close to the water.
- Playground featuring "very high slides" that kids absolutely loved.
- Numerous hiking paths offering different challenge levels, including opportunities for climbing hills for amazing views.
- Clearly marked areas where dogs are allowed to be off-leash.
- Extensive and clearly marked walking paths with maps and mile markers.
- Wide, solid concrete walking areas that easily accommodate both walkers and bikers.
Insider tips
- Arrive early in the morning (before noon) to secure parking easily and avoid the main crowds.
- Bring sun protection (hats, sunscreen) as many paths are largely exposed to direct sunlight.
- Exercise caution if you choose to venture off the main, marked paths due to reported homeless camps.
- Be aware of and cautious in the clearly marked off-leash dog areas if you or your children are uncomfortable around unleashed dogs.
- Consider bringing your own water bottles, especially given the reported difficulty in finding restrooms.
Good to know before you go
- Visiting at noon or later if easy parking is a priority or if you prefer to avoid significant crowds.
- If you are uncomfortable around unleashed dogs or prefer strictly leashed areas, exercise caution or choose alternative routes.
- If you require readily available and easily accessible restrooms.
- Exploring off the main, marked paths if you are uncomfortable with the potential presence of homeless camps.
- Parking becomes "packed" by noon, making it difficult to find a spot.
- Crowds
- Described as a "pretty busy place" overall.
- Value
- This is a free park experience. "Free parking" is specifically mentioned, indicating no direct costs for entry or parking, offering excellent value for diverse outdoor family activities.
- Accessibility
- "A solid concrete walking area that is wide enough for walkers and bikers to travel against each other with ease" suggests good general accessibility for strollers or mobility devices on main paved paths.
- Safety
- Unleashed dog areas are "clearly marked" for visitor awareness.
What parents say
"A great hiking trail at the heart of Austin. You won’t feel like you’re in the middle of the city. I visited early in the morning and had no issues with parking. However, when I left during noon, parking was packed. I also didn’t find any restrooms here, but I might have missed them. Some areas allow dogs to be unleashed, so for those who have issues with dogs, you need to be cautious while walking in those areas. Fortunately, they are clearly marked. There is a flowing creek, and in some sections, you can walk in the creek. There are also many spots to get close to the water. It’s a grea"
3 months ago
"This park is so good for kids, dogs and for any age. We went yesterday, hiked for an hour then stopped at playground. The kids loved very high slides. Park seems very clean. There were many different hiking paths and different level of challenging hike options. At some point we were all climbing up high and the view was amazing on top of the hill."
3 months ago
"The walking paths are clearly marked with maps along the way. There are mile markers as well. A solid concrete walking area that is wide enough for walkers and bikers to travel against each other with ease. There are benches along the way. You can choose to walk off the path but it looks like there are homeless camps in some areas of the trees so be careful. The trees cover some of the walkway but for the most part, you will be in the sun. Parking was free. This park is huge and has several walking paths that I haven't traveled on yet. I love the options!"
11 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
More hiking with kids in Austin
Hiking with Kids Mueller Lake Park
4.7(5,837)4.7 out of 5 stars, 5837 reviews4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin
Hiking with Kids Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
4.7(3,907)4.7 out of 5 stars, 3907 reviews12138 N Lamar Blvd, Austin
Hiking with Kids Bull Creek District Park
4.6(2,178)4.6 out of 5 stars, 2178 reviews6701 Lakewood Dr, Austin
Hiking with Kids River Place Nature Trail
4.6(1,514)4.6 out of 5 stars, 1514 reviews8820 Big View Dr, Austin