Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail

Ann and Roy Butler park is lie in the Colorado river side. It’s good to run, walk and spend time with family in the park.

A great trail in central austin

Wonderful walking trail by the Colorado river, a portion of it is a boardwalk over the river by the south bank. Great view of downtown. We only walked 3.5 miles of the long trail but will be back to explore more of it once we find free/city parking close to the trail. We parked in a very expensive parking lot by the Congress St bridge (bat bridge) - $25 for an hour!

Great trail for walking and biking along and along the Colorado River with great views of Austin. You can rent a boat and ride along the river or just sit and admire the turtles, which are abundant on the river. Highly recommend this beautiful trail. Thank you for such an equipped and created trail!🤝👏❤️

Popular running and walking trail along both sides of the Lady Bird Lake / Colorado River offering panoramic views of downtown Austin. Many trail options in various bridges to crossover. Street parking may be limited close to the trail - Zilker park is not too far away from the park but is far from Congress. I wouldn't recommend running here at night. The trail doesn't feature any lights along the trail. Even with a strong trail running light, there's a good chunk of people who make the trail resting areas their home at night.

Great Walking path/trail. Needs better signage for access and parking.

The Ann and Roy Butler Trail circles the Colorado River, parts of Barton Springs and Lady Bird Lake between MoPac (west) and Pleasant Valley Road (east), providing approximately 10 miles of shoreline trails for walkers, joggers and bikers. There are recreational grounds and parks on both sides, loads of seating, fishing spots. You'll see good birdlife, fish, turtles, a snake or two and even bats under Congress Ave. bridge on summer evenings. Lots of dog walkers use the trail. Unfortunately, not enough public toilets during the walk so this part you need to plan accordingly. There are very nice trees lining the waters, we really enjoyed the wildflowers that were in bloom during our recent May visit. On the south side there is a memorial to guitar and music legend Stevie Ray Vaughan which you can see with the new curved Google Tower in the background.

Beautiful hiking trail with stunning view of contemporary buildings on horizon and definitely the main point is Colorado river with passing by kayaks, boats and curious tourists.

These trails are fantastic! Right near the river and it passes through different parks and public areas! The trails are very clean, and everyone is very polite and nice!

A great path to stroll / bike ride through downtown Austin. It's situated along the Colorado river, so you get a scenic view of both the water and Austin skyline. Some parts are paved and other parts not, but I found it mostly stroller accessible when I took my 2 year old for a walk.

absolute must. beautiful scenery along the trail. great views and the path is many miles long.

There is so much to see on this trail that runs along the shores of Lady Bird Lake downtown. The entire trial is a 10.2 mile loop although the most popular sections are between the south Congress bridge and mopac. Easily accessible year-round, there is plenty of shade in the summer with frequent benches to take a rest and enjoy the view. People are always friendly and use it for hiking, biking, walking their dogs and even fishing. Today I saw plenty of turtles, birds, duck and fish. I often see musicians- today was a man on guitar. A number of public restrooms and places to fill your water bottle. Great views of downtown

Having borrowed and and driven to Austin from Dallas with our son & daughter-in-law's bicycles, we were glad to have this trail so near our hotel, as well as having great mobility all over Austin. We read that the trail is partly gravel, so I brought a helmet. It gave me peace of mind but was not necessary. You'll be sharing the trail with runners, dogs, walkers, & strollers. The trail is mostly densely packed sandy dirt with some areas which are concrete (boat launches, truck paths, & the like). It is fairly well maintained but does have some areas where the dirt has worn away from water run-off & there are a lot of tree nuts on the path as well. Scenery is great (be aware that some of that scenery will be of tarp-tents & belongings at the shoreline lived in by some of Austin's many, many homeless folks), diverse, views of the lake/reservoir, downtown buildings & across-the-lake low rises. There is good signage, info on the plantings & history of the trail, bridges, etc. Our only criticism was that, somehow, we did not see the sign for the Congress Avenue Bridge where we wanted to exit the trail & so, kept biking, & biking, & biking, such that we ended up doing nearly 20 miles, not the actual trail's 10 miles! But, we didn't mind because we came back the next day & rode it again, this time entering through Zilker Park!

This is a beautiful fun energetic showcase of Austin's best. I love seeing the diverse range of people - mother daughter on a hike, dad jogging with a baby, kids getting their morning exercise, senior citizens staying fit and moving, young couples running, people on a work call biking past... There's also diversity within the 10 mile loop trail - weaving through parks, crossing over and sometimes under bridges, paved and unpaved stretches, and the superb boardwalk. It's surprisingly not crowded in large segments (Zilker end is most popular) with the stretch from 1st St to AMLI and then again Longhorn Dam to Comal St being the least crowded, in my personal experience, at least on weekday mornings.

Great trail by the river in Austin. I've run on it several times when I've visited the city and I like how clean, spacious and well maintained the sections I have been on are kept. I usually only run on it between Congress Ave and the Pfluger Bridge but that section is very nice. I will say that when you're on the part near the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue which is gravel and dirt, sometimes that gets a little muddy/floody after a big rain. Maybe it could drain slightly better. But that's just a tiny nit to pick. This is a great trail and Austin-ites (and visitors) are fortunate to have such a nice amenity.

It's hike and bike, but you can also just walk this trail and it's perfectly fine. Usually people start this trail around the downtown area because that is the best views and most known for tourists, but if you don't want to deal with parking and make the most out of this experience... here's a tip. Start this trail on the eastside! Theres tons of free parking at Edward Rendon park and in the surrounding area, where you can use the park as your starting point of the trail and head in the direction of downtown. On the way you'll walk/hike/bike along the lake, under the 35 bridge, in-between beautiful trees and peaceful resting points, and then the skyline. You can also easily get in and out of the trail if you want to stop at Rainey or Congress, etc.

In the heart of Austin is the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, a lush, urban path that meanders along the water's edge and passes by skyscrapers, neighborhoods, ball fields and other attractions. In June 2014, a lakefront boardwalk, including a series of bridges directly over the water, was completed, closing a short gap on the trail's south side and uniting its east and west halves. The 10-mile trail is Austin's most recognized and popular recreational area. But the trail is more than a great pathway--it is a place where Austin comes out to play. It really represents the best Austin: outdoor recreation; a scenic, natural environment; and a mix of locals and visitors alike.

Hey, I love this place, y'all know I do! I love it so much, I spend almost every Saturday morning, rain or shine, hot or cold, running around in circles over here, with all the other outdoor-loving fitness fanatics. There's a perfect loop distance for every fitness level or time limit, from 3 to 10 miles with crossings at Mopac, Lamar, the Pfluger Bridge, South 1st, Congress, IH35, and Pleasant Valley (Longhorn Dam). FYI, the Trail and Town Lake (as we still call them if we've been here longer than 5 years) go by many names, and each of those already has a biz listing & tons of reviews on Yelp over on these links: Town Lake Running Trail - The Rock https://www.yelp.com/biz/town-lake-running-trail-the-rock-austin Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/pfluger-bridge-austin The Zero Mile Marker (located on Vic Mathias Shores, near Stevie's statue) https://www.yelp.com/biz/zero-mile-marker-austin Lou Neff Point https://www.yelp.com/biz/lou-neff-point-austin Town Lake Metropolitan Parks https://www.yelp.com/biz/town-lake-metropolitan-parks-austin The Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-boardwalk-trail-at-lady-bird-lake-austin Lady Bird Lake https://www.yelp.com/biz/lady-bird-lake-austin Zilker Park https://www.yelp.com/biz/zilker-park-austin-2 If you need an interactive map of the trail, or want to find out where certain amenities (like restrooms & fountains) can be found, visit The Trail Foundation (TTF) here: https://thetrailfoundation.org/explore/butler-trail-maps/

I enjoyed a lovely walk along the trail for an hour on a Saturday afternoon while visiting. Not sure which part I was on since it's 10 miles long, but I started from a parking lot near a park. My entire path was alongside the river, I think. It was some waterway with lots and lots of people. I was tickled at the people making out and gathered in large groups blasting music. Party on the water! Plenty of people of all ages were out, but it never felt crowded. It was very clean. I'd definitely go back and would like to explore other parts of the trail too.

This trail runs along the entire perimeter of the lake. It is great for walking, running, or biking. I walked the entire 10 miles. The dirt paths are ideal for walking and running since it takes pressure off your knees. Of course, biking is the most efficient way to complete the loop. There are various rental options along the path. In my opinion, the parts of the path that provide the best views of the city skyline are between Zilker Park and the beginning of the metal boardwalk on the southeast section of the trail. My favorite points to take pictures of the skyline are: 1) Lou Neff Point - Northeast corner of Zilker Park. There is a bench to sit if you want to relax or read. You will also see plenty of people enjoying water sports right in front of you. 2) Doug Sahm Hill Summit at the Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park - East of Zilker Park. The summit has the map of Texas etched on the stone floor with the skyline in the background. It would be perfect if the map was rotated 45 degrees so it lines up with the buildings behind it. 3) Austin Boardwalk - Southeast of Town Lake Metropolitan Park. It provides a great shot of the east side of the skyline. In addition, it served as a mirror lake when I was there and reflected the city skyline. Depending on the time of day and how the light reflects, you will get that mirror lake effect from various parts of the trail. After the boardwalk, it is still a nice trail but there is not much to see. The dam is ok and you will walk through a small section of a neighborhood at the northeast corner of the trail. Not surprisingly, there is a lot less people as you go further away from Zilker Park and walk on the boardwalk. Consequently, most of the 10 mile trail is for exercise and not predominantly for the views. If you are visiting and planning a trip to Austin and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me for my itinerary. You can also find the electronic copy through the link my profile.

I'm training for a half marathon, and was on a girls weekend with my friend in Austin. We used to run together back when I lived in NYC, so I told her to get ready, she had to run 8 miles with me on Sunday morning of our trip. I scouted out the cool running spots, and then found this pathway around the river. It was really reminiscent of our days running down the east side and back up the Hudson in NYC. The path was finished the whole way we took it, depending on where we were it was either dirt, grass or a boardwalk style. I was pretty easily able to map out ahead of time what our route would need to be in order to hit 8 miles. And basically once you're on the trail, you don't have to do a lot of checking of your phone, either you're still on a trail, or you're back on the street and you went the wrong way. We headed out west from our hotel and hit the east side of the water at Lavaca street. There's a few paths over there (some wheelchair accessible that are very windy, and others that are stairs or steeper), all lead down to the path by the water. From there we headed south all the way to Metz Neighborhood Park where we looped back around and headed back north, then crossed over the N Lamar Blvd bridge and headed back the short way back south along the river and then back east to our hotel. All the bridges have walking paths, so whatever distance you're looking to do is totally doable. There were ever a few scattered water fountains around. Lots of people walking, walking dogs, biking, running etc. There was lots to see, local rowing clubs, doggies swimming in the water, kayakers around the water, and then views of downtown. It was a really great way to see and feel the city, and made 8 miles go by pretty quickly!

There is a boardwalk and a lake it's nice there is a small play area and a basket ball court near the park. They ask that you tip $1 every-time you come to the park. For me I haven't been bothered by mosquitoes as much but I was a little itchy when leaving so packing mosquitoes repellent and sun screen is key. It's gravel trail So be mindful those may make your shoes dusty and rocks get stuck in them but the rocks on this trail wasn't that large so maybe not depending on how your shoes was made. I love nature so Stuff like this will always get a 5. You can swim exercise ride your bikes or canoeing or kayaking is also popular in bathing suits. Most people that come are extremely in shape I mean little body fat. A great place to come get your workout on even if your on vacation don't recommend dressing up unless it's your second time coming and you targets a spot for photos my pants are a little long they got dusty. I read it's big and have nice restrooms however we couldn't find the restrooms and the trail broke off and we didn't know how to get Back on we lacked a map. In consequence to not having a map we only covered 2.3 miles and I hear it's a 10 mile trail........oh one more thing there is a high level of algae in the water and there is a warning to not have dogs swim due to that.

Lovely place for a walk/run! If you stop for a bit, can see some wildlife too (turtles, birds). I had a great run and met lots of other runners enjoying the great trail along this path.

Downtown hike and bike trail! This hiking and biking path circumnavigates the Town Lake/Colorado River area right by downtown. It takes you along from Zilker Park, along the riverfront down to the Congress Street Bridge, where it sorta dumps out into another park, and returns on the other side of the river. There are several bridges that cross the river if you wanna make your journey shorter. The trail offers constant beautiful views of the downtown Austin skyline. I really enjoy how wide and well marked these trails are. They're wide enough for someone to walk with a dog and a leash, while someone can pass on a bike safely. The trail itself is comprised of crushed granite, so you get a satisfying 'crunch' sound when you walk or roll over it. The gravel allows for the trail to drain quickly if there's recently been one of those famous Texas downpours. Along the trail, be sure to check out the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue. Texas is the Live Music Capitol of the World, and this memorial to one of Texas' greatest musicians is worth the visit. Also along the trail, you'll find the famous Austin bats! They come flying out over the trail at the South Congress Street Bridge. Just don't hang out on that part of the trail at sunset, because that's when those bats like to poop a lot. There are some restrooms along the way, but mostly you're outta luck. There's plenty of parking along here, with large lots for all the parks that this trail traverses. There's both parking and restrooms at the 0 mile marker, on the south side of the river. It's a nice, safe way to get into the downtown area quickly on bicycle. There are limited places that the trail crosses the street, and you can ride or run without worrying about traffic.

Nice trail that is dog friendly (leashed with no leashed park within the area). Fun for a run, walk, bike, picnic, or just relax and enjoy the sun and read a book.

I'm from Oklahoma. Visiting on a 3 day vacation and was looking for something active to do after all the food I've ate and stumble across this park. There's many along the river. This one had an interesting attraction. A sphere glass figure. We walked around for 30 min trying to find it but gave up. Wish I would of had a bike to get around faster, but the walk was nice. View and wild life scenery was great. Great for walk with your dog, kids, family and friends. I recommend having a water bottle. Kayaking would've been nice., until next time I visit again. I recommend going here if you're up for an adventure. Dog friendly too. That's a plus.