You *Have* to Do One of These Gorgeous Hikes on Your Next Trip to Austin, Texas

Austin may be best known for its live music scene and buzzy festivals, but it’s also a great spot for low-key nature lovers. The Texas capital—plus the surrounding Texas Hill Country right outside town—is filled with gorgeous and accessible trails, city parks, greenbelts, and swimming holes that make it an easy spot to get your daily green fix without going full-on Reese Witherspoon in Wild.

With that in mind, we rounded up some of the best day hikes for all fitness levels, from those who want to get a serious workout on the trails (respect) to those who are mostly in it for the post-hike wine (also respect). (Btw, if you want to explore even more of Austin, may we suggest booking an ATX trip with CosmoTrips, our new travel-booking biz where we do all of the booking for you, and you do absolutely zero work?)

A few words of advice before you hit the trails: Be sure to hike early in the morning during the summer months when temps soar, and always pack a swimsuit, as many trails ~magically~ end up around lakes, rushing rivers, or natural spring-fed swimming pools (aka perfect spots for a refreshing dip). Also, while Austin does sit in the hills, its trails tend to be mostly flat, without much elevation gain—so if you’re a pretty serious hiker, you may want to choose some of the longer routes on this list. Finally, no matter which level you pick, be sure to hit up one of the area’s incredible wineries or restaurants once you’re finished—because did you even hike if you didn’t après hike?

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