Along with their love for music and top-quality barbecue fare, Austinites are rightly famous for their commitment to outdoor living. The city takes pride in its many (by some counts, up to 300) days of sunshine per year, and active residents regularly flock to Austin’s parks, greenspaces, and waterfronts for picnics, concerts, and recreational activities.

The running and hiking community in ATX is sizable and enthusiastic, and the area’s numerous dedicated running paths and trails reflect this fact. Every region of town (and many of Austin’s surrounding suburbs) can claim its own routes for runners, but these five tend to count among the most highly regarded and frequently-trafficked trails in Austin.

Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail

Arguably the most well-known running trail in the metropolitan Austin area, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail (also referred to as the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail) covers over 10 miles of terrain, with the path tracing both the north side and the south side of Lady Bird Lake and making use of a bridge on Pleasant Valley Road to connect the two parts. The trail provides runners with scenic views of the lake and easy access to two major Austin parks: Zilker Park to the west and Guerrero Park to the east.

In terms of neighborhood coverage, this path passes through Downtown Austin, East Austin, Zilker, and East Riverside, giving runners plenty of opportunities to stop off in one of these busy areas to grab a post-workout juice (or meal or cocktail). Outdoor adventurers running the Ann and Roy Butler Trail from late spring through early fall can also position themselves for prime views of the bats that congregate beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge and swoop into the skies right before sundown.

Walnut Creek Trail System

If you like a little variety from your running landscape, then a park with an extensive trail system that allows you to explore different routes and create your own ideal path might be a perfect fit. Luckily for North Austinites, they have a park perfectly designed for this activity: Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park in North Lamar. The greenspace encompasses 293 acres, and the available trails range from challenging routes on hiking terrain to more straightforward paved paths. The unpaved hiking trails can be found throughout the park, and their distance count adds up to 15 miles.

Those who prefer to run on concrete but don’t want to sacrifice beautiful nature views will appreciate the Northern Walnut Creek Trail, a 6.6-mile path that provides creek views and the opportunity to dash across attractive pedestrian bridges. Also, it’s a dog-friendly route, so you’re welcome to bring your four-legged friends with you on your run. 

Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail

Zilker Park is widely considered Austin’s most famous public greenspace, thanks to its host status for outdoor events like Austin City Limits and the ABC Kite Fest. It’s also the starting point for the Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail, a roughly 13-mile running, hiking, and cycling route with seven distinct legs. 

The trail takes runners past numerous swimming holes and wooded areas, and the terrain varies from flat and paved at the starting point to dirt-based and hilly in the deeper sections. It’s an excellent path for groups of runners at different skill levels, since each separate stretch features its own entry and exit spots, giving runners the opportunity to join and depart based on their fitness interests and needs. 

River Place Nature Trail

A trail intended for runners in search of a challenge, the River Place Nature Trail isn’t suited for first-timers. At only 5.5 miles, it’s a shorter route than many others in Austin, but its brevity doesn’t undercut its difficulty. This path includes serious inclines and multiple stair flights, but its intensity is the payoff for stunning vistas of trees, flowers, woodland creatures, a clear and cool serenity pool, and a waterfall. It’s a dog-friendly trail if you’d like some canine encouragement as you scale those vertiginous hills. 

The River Place Nature Trail can be found a few miles east of the acclaimed Steiner Ranch master-planned community in far west Austin. Unlike most Austin running trails, River Place does require an admission fee ($10), but hardcore terrain runners consider the path well worth the effort and the money.

Brushy Creek Regional Trail

Nature lovers from all over Central Texas frequently head to this Cedar Park trail for picturesque runs complete with sights of local flora and fauna. History buffs also appreciate the Brushy Creek Regional Trail for its educational signage indicating areas where early Texan settlers put down roots, along with antique structures like a railroad trestle that dates back to the late 19th century. 

The path stretches for almost 10.5 miles and is almost completely paved, making it a great pick for those who prefer to run on very solid ground. Aficionados of local plant life point out this trail system as an excellent scoping ground for bluebonnets; you’ll find plenty of the Texas state flower beside these paths throughout the spring.