Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

You must have reservations. Luckily it's only $5 per car. We had a wonderful hike. Some challenging spots on the rocks along the trail, but there are plenty of sand and dirt trails that are gentler than the rocky outgrows. Very clean and very beautiful, especially the waterfalls.

The experience wends through three, progressively verdant zones— an elevated 'savannah', oak and juniper woods, and riparian hardwood woodland The overlook offers visual perspective; with placards concisely describing the food chain –and its key migrating [songbird] species - golden cheeked warbler ...et al How the birds (vireo) anchor numerous legal and conservation topics, fascinated me. - fire 🔥 philosophy meets land management Highly impressive; great for young and old. Views of ATX skyline peeking thru the hills. 360 bridge near; and more note-- locale lore: seven older women saved the 227 acres from rt 360, it in the '70s. The first preserve near Austin (?); monument to the city's roots.

I visited on a weekend and surprisingly had the entire place to myself, though that’s likely not typical. I didn’t purchase tickets in advance, but that might be a smart move during peak times, especially on pleasant-weather weekends. The trails offered a nice mix of elevation changes, included some nice lookout spots, and were reasonably well maintained. The preserve felt secluded, providing a nice escape from the city. I spent about 60-90 minutes exploring, which felt like the right amount of time. While the waterfall was barely flowing, it’s important to remember that a 200+ acre preserve has much more to offer than just a single feature. Having hiked many of Austin’s popular trails, I’m always on the lookout for new spots, and I’m glad I made the trip.

Well kept trails! Takes about two hours for finishing all loops. Might be good to reserve tickets in advance for weekend hikes in the summers.

What an experience! Great trail with options for an easy walk or a bit of a challenge. Saw the waterfall and lots of peaceful areas to sit in peace and reflect. Will definitely be back on my next trip to Austin.