Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Well worth the drive from Austin and surrounding areas. The Doeskin trails are some of the quietest I’ve ever been on. And the Sunset deck is amazing at sunset.

My family went on a lovely hike in the Balcones Nature Preserve. The pathway had many twists and turns and varying elevations. The brush bloomed many colors ranging from neutrals to spectacular reds. The grasslands looked and sounded very lovely, swaying in the gentle winds. Only one hitch - an entitled couple decided to bring their 2 large dogs even though it's very clear that pets are not allowed in the preserve and for a good reason. They knew no rangers would be present because of the holiday schedule. Entitled couple : please take your dogs to a pet friendly park. There are plenty of such places! Otherwise, we had a very lovely day at the Balcones.

Gorgeous spring morning hike! We did the trail system located at Doeskin Ranch. Lots of varied landscape and some pretty nice views. We started around 9 and the trail was pretty deserted so it was quite peaceful. Lots of birds too!

I wish more of the area was open to hikers. The section I visited was small, nice but ultimately dominated by the sound of the nearby ranch road.

Nice views and intermediate hiking trails. Scenery of Hill country and the colorado river was immaculate. Great for a quick family day trip or individual hiking stop.

We only did the creek walk, it was very pleasant, ample parking. There is also good information and path markings. I think it will be better when the drought is over and the creeks are flowing. We did get to see a Coral Snake. So be weary, and nature friendly. The reserve team at the office were also very helpful and friendly.

The Doeskin Ranch trails are a beautiful slice of Central Texas. Really nice trails with a short, easy creek trail up to the more challenging Rock Ridge trail series. Nothing too intense, but there is a fairly good climb to the top. Great way to spend the afternoon!

Doeskin is an extremely nice area for hiking. It has a good variety of trail lengths in a beautiful valley. Trails are well marked, and there's a basic bathroom facility.

This refuge is a bit spread out, we went to both the Doeskin Ranch and Warbler Vista portions and hiked a few miles. There wasn't any shocking moment of awe, but there's lots of birds around and a neat little creek, it's a good place to get some appreciation of the Hill County and get (mostly) away from development.

Really beautiful views. Worth the drive e.The sun sets from here are amazing. Blessed to Call this my backyard. Watch out for rattlesnakes though.

Great place to hike. Nice trails with plenty of parking at the trail heads. The only negative I would say is there are not enough trails to go hiking on.

Incredible views, really clean and easy to navigate!

These trails suck lemons don't come here you will be disappointed. Follow the crowds and go to Town Lake instead! I really want to keep these trails to myself as they are close by and the 5-star reviews by others are spot on. There are a couple of parking options and the main one by the Cactus Rocks trailhead includes access to clean restrooms. You can do a real easy 2-mile walk, on a dirt road, up and back from the main parking lot to the sunset deck. Or you can utilize all 3 trails (there are loopbacks) and extend your hike to about 4 miles plus. We went off trail a few times and was treated to some nice views off the back end of the park. There are some beautiful vistas of the lake and hill country if you (surprise!) hike on the Vista Knoll trail. A local Boy Scout troop as built seating and platforms so you can take your selfies without risking falling into the ravines. There are some areas that are kind of steep with stone stairs that will get your heart rate up. The only wildlife we saw was a couple of birds and a dog on the trail whose owner apparently can't comprehend the No Dogs on Trails sign. We did go during the heat of the day so most of the critters were most likely bed down. We did notice areas where wild pigs had been. Pro tip: You can easily hike these trails with your tennies but be warned the trails are rocky in some sections so watch your step. We had a great time and will return.

Such a hidden gem in an area loaded with beautiful state parks! It's open 365 and totally free although you can't camp here. We spent a wonderful half day hiking here at the Doeskin Ranch location. It was perfect for the kiddos (6 and 6 yrs old). There are parts of the trail that are quite rocky and climb upwards, and other parts that are just flat, dirt trails. There is also an interesting creek to cross with crystal clear water. Everything was well marked. Bring lots of water if it's a hot day. We went in early March when temps were just below 70 with overcast skies, it was great! Would definitely recommend.

I love visiting Marble Falls, Texas. We visit often and decided to go to Balcones Canyonlands during our most recent drive there. The views are breathtaking! There are trails and terrain that are easy to use and navigate. There are several areas where you can take fabulous photos - my phone needed charging so I couldn't take photos. Bummer. Frankly, I'm not sure if a camera could honestly capture the picturesque views. If you're looking for a peaceful and wonderful place to chill and take in Mother nature's beauty, this is the place.

Drove out with our dogs to go on a hike only to learn that pets are not allowed. WTF? A national park in the middle of nowhere and you can't bring your dog?

The address listed will take you to the headquarter which only opens M-F. The actual entrance to the park is about a mile to the east of the headquarter. It is free to enter and opens 7 days a week. The trails aren't that hard, there were some small up hills, but it wasn't bad at all. Kind humid though. There are bugs in the forest, so get you bug spray ready. I was here the day after the thunderstorm and it was cloudy, the trail can be a bit muddy and slippery, but it wasn't bad. Overall, a great place to get away from the city, get back in the nature with beautiful view of the Hill Country and get some exercise in.

Great place for hiking. Rimrock Trail was an amazing 2.2 mile loop that felt longer. Bring your hiking stick to help you up the rock stairs and with the elevation change. You can slip off your shoes at the end of the trail and dangle your feet in the creek which is clear and cool. I think some people might take a dip in the shallow creek too. The trails are well maintained. Can't wait to go back. Great time of year to go as the wildflowers are in bloom.

Gorgeous trails! Great place to go for a hike - and it's really not far from Austin! Great day trip!

We ventured out to Doeskin Ranch based on a fellow Yelper's review, and we are happy we did! It made for a great afternoon 5 mile hike. Bring plenty of water and beware of snakes. If you are unfamiliar with the area, it can be difficult to locate this section of hiking trails, so I thought I'd add the coordinates for anyone in my shoes. Latitude - Longitude: 30.620994,-98.074468

One of my favorite central TX hikes. It's a little off the beaten path, so there's never very many people here. The hike to the top of the ridge is enough of a climb that it will "wind" mist low-landers. Actual switchbacks. I did this hike 2-3 times before I discovered the Indian grass trail... My new favorite. Every time I hike it, I'm amazed I'm in Texas! It's a good 3-5 miles of hiking to get the blood flowing, beautiful in the spring when the flowers bloom!

Regarding hiking - the Balcones Canyonlands refuge for two endangered migratory birds contains two of the nicest trails in the Austin area: Doeskin Ranch and Warbler Vista. Warbler Vista (located along FM 1431) is a moderately easy hike through the cedar and oak canopy on the side of a ridge. The trail is shady and well-maintained, and they have interpretive markers along the way to illustrate plants or features that can be observed. Make sure you pick up a pamphlet at the trail head. The trail terminates at Sunset Deck, which is a very attractive structure at the top of the ridge with a nice view of the valley below. If you walk all the trails and do a loop it is approximately 3.65 miles. Doeskin Ranch (located along FM 1174) is the more challenging and scenic of the two trails in the refuge. There are five trails in the system - most of which are connecting loops. The most interesting portion is Rimrock Trail to Shin Oak Trail to Indiangrass Trail. Rimrock gets moderately challenging when you are climbing switchbacks up the ridge. It offers moderate views. The remote Indiangrass Trail loop is the best part of the hike (just make sure you follow the cairn rock pile markers). The trail passes through rolling hills of cactus and rocks and is quite beautiful. Beware rattlesnakes. If you walk all the trails in this system it is approximately 5 miles. Either trail is totally worthwhile for an afternoon hike! You could even do both trail systems in one day. Just check and make sure the refuge is not closed for hunting before you go.

Pretty nice for a mostly simple few hour hike. It's good to get away from the city for a bit and experience the stillness of the Hill Country. Not too many people out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Pretty easy to find and there is some good information here: http://www.austinexplorer.com/Locations/ShowLocation.aspx?LocationID=1808 Happy trails!

Beautiful area with nice trails. Super nice people working here as well. The girl and I just missed bird season which is a total bummer. This is a reserve for two different endangered bird species. Great for all ages.

Not a lot of trails, but they are out-of-the-way and thus sparsely used. You get some pretty great vistas all to yourself, and it's just a few miles from Austin, and even closer to Cedar Park. There are two trailheads, several miles apart. You can do all the trails on either one in a little more than an hour, depending on how fast you go. There are some fun uphill sections also. The HQ has a short trail also, but I haven't done that yet. Worth the trip.

This was a really nice little spot, okay, it's huge!! But it does have a lot of sml/beginer worthy areas that are just nice to see. Like the lookout! There are also some very long trails!! And trails on the hillsides. I think there's even a geocache here!! It's all around beautiful and I didn't use them but I did see some nice restrooms.

This place is awesome! I love hiking here. I've brought my kids and they loved it. The sunset deck is amazing.. Just wish you could bring dogs!

We took Rim Rock trail with our 10-year-old son, and we had a blast. The landscape is varied - flat at some points, steep at others. There is shade in some parts but not in others, so be sure to take some sunscreen. We went on a Saturday morning and ran into only a handful of other hikers... there were just enough people there to make me feel like we wouldn't be completely alone in case of emergency (since we lost cell service out there), but we were all so spread out that we just occasionally saw the other hikers from a distance. I think the shorter trails at Balcones would be great for little kids. Rim Rock was perfect for my 10-year-old, but I wouldn't take a younger kid on that one.

Today was a beautiful day, so I headed out to explore the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. Contrary to what is stated above (darn you, Yelp), while the refuge is quite large, you'll need to head out of Austin to Liberty Hill. On your way, be sure to venture down Cow Creek Road -- it's a challenging little drive which will reward you with wonderful vistas and many animals along the way. At the end of Cow Creek, turn right and head just a spell down the road to Doeskin Ranch. Doeskin Ranch is home to some great hiking trails, which vary greatly in difficulty and congestion. I started off with the creek trail, and then ventured on to the Rim Rock Trail. By far the most challenging trail in the park, you'll be treated to a bit of a workout, and peaceful solitude. As you venture up the hill, voices of schoolchildren below fade out, and the mooing cows below add to the overall appeal of the ascent. At the top of the hill, continue to follow the trail as it heads to the left and eventually meanders back down. The entire loop is about 3ish miles and provides some pretty views along the way. It's pretty open at times, so definitely bring some sunscreen and water. Also, the parking lot is pretty small, so you may need to get creative. It's free, so time your time to explore. I did and had a wonderful time!

Great place for a family hike. We have kids from 8 to 15. They all loved it. Not really a work out but a good hike, pretty views and a waterfall.