River Place Nature Trail image

River Place Nature Trail

Tourist attraction Hiking area

One of the Most Reviewed Hiking areas in Austin


Address

8820 Big View Dr, Austin, TX 78730

Website

friendsofriverplacetrail.com

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (1.3K reviews)

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Working Hours

  • Thursday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Friday: (Good Friday), 6 AM to 10 PM, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Sunday: (Easter), 6 AM to 10 PM, Hours might differ
  • Monday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Tuesday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Wednesday: 6 AM to 10 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: trail (29) hike (13) water (11) stairs (10) beautiful (9) trails (7) miles (7) great (7) shoes (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Awesome S. 2 years ago on Google
    Good footwear highly recommended! Trail is fairly shady. I did both the Canyon and Fern Trails, about 6.5 mi round trip. There are over 2,700 log stairs on the Canyon Trail, one way. Many of the log stairs must be stepped over, making going DOWN the trail a little more of a hazard. The stairs will slow you down a lot, so plan on this taking you a little longer than a normal “nature” trail. I’m an avid outdoor enthusiast. I wore my cushioned running shoes on the trail and did okay. I’d recommend a good light hiker with a stiff sole. Maybe even a 3/4 or boot since the terrain is fairly uneven. I should have worn my Solomon Ultra GTX. The arches of my feet will not be happy later today. Just over 1,000ft of vertical on both trails. You will cross the creek several times. There are rocks to step on and a chain to aid in stability. I came across some unavoidable muddy sections. I would think this trail would be a mess after particularly wet weather. There is nowhere to get clean water, so bring it along. It was mid 60’s for me today and perfect for this hike. I did bring water, as I always do, but did not need it today.
    17 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Krystina N. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is awesome if you are looking for a place to, in a sense hike, and get a workout! The trail is actually free to go to, and has a donation box if you want to support it's upkeep. Your trail will start out by the fountain and up your first set of stairs. There are a ton of stairs! Lots of em'! Thankfully most of the path is under a canopy of trees. It's pleasant and and beautiful. I would suggest anyone looking for an enjoyable outdoor experience to go to River Place Nature Trail.
    14 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kristie O. 4 months ago on Google
    Good gracious this is a hard trail! 3 miles of mostly stairs! Glad it was a cool day and I took a lot of water with me! Oh and I'm 50 yrs old and moderately fit. Hope this helps.
    14 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angela M. 1 year ago on Google
    This trail is not made for beginners, however, it was a great work out. The trails were marked perfectly! The elevation was amazing amd the tree stairs made me feel like it was something out of Lord of Rings! Highly recommended this park! Parking was easy. Trail is 3 miles up and 3miles down.
    12 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cameron C. 8 months ago on Google
    This is my favorite hike in the Austin area. Great scenery, challenging but not super difficult. Great mix of a semi desert landscape meeting streams and mountains. gorgeous. Bring plenty of water this time of year!
    12 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Norma W. 9 months ago on Google
    The River Place Nature Trail is an awesome hike!! It’s about 6 miles total! I went on a Women’s hike and it was an amazing experience! Beautiful scenery. A must try for a hike in Austin Texas!! I will say it was rough walking back up but still a great experience.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tommy T. 1 year ago on Google
    What a beautiful trail. If you decide to do the full hike, make sure you have enough water and are mindful of the heat during the summer. This is a moderate to difficult trail with over 3000 stairs. The trail is 6 miles out and back according to my Apple Watch so make sure you have enough time for the return hike if you decide to go in the evening. There are several benches along the way to relax and enjoy the scenery if needed.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nimai L. 2 years ago on Google
    WOW 🤩 Spectacular! First time here and we were able to find street parking and restrooms at the park across the street from the trailhead. Once we started walking it was like entering another world. Little rock stepping stones to hop across the creeks, fossils, beautifully crafted staircases, waterfalls (yes, plural!) and only a few other folks walking dogs. Many photo ops and trails that branch off the main one to explore. Not a looped path, so you’ve gotta remember the way you came or you’ll get lost! I suggest bringing water with you and wearing proper shoes because it’s not paved!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 April G. 2 years ago on Google
    Stunningly beautiful trail that I was pleasantly surprised by. This is not a beginner type trail and is a non ADA trail. I did the canyon trail, which was the longer of the two trails. I believe it was around 3.5 miles one way. First, make sure you take plenty of water in a small backpack and either hiking shoes or sports shoes. I took tennis shoes and did struggle a little bit as they didn't have a lot of traction, but otherwise , I did okay. This trail is filled with inclines and declines with built-in steps. There are also small flowing creeks that you must walk through to get through the trail. Once you're at the top of the trail, the view is beautiful and worth all the sweat.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 montgomery m. 1 year ago on Google
    What a wonderful trail, this is a great weekend hiking trail which is easily completable for the average healthy person. If you are bringing kids you may want to opt for the shorter trails. Bring water as there are no water fountains. Bring sturdy shoes and wear venty clothes. Most of the trail is shaded but you should wear sun screen.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jelica G. 1 year ago on Google
    Drove down from Houston and what a great way to spend the day! A lot of stairs, great for an outdoor exercise. Sat by the river for lunch and enjoyed the beautiful water and great weather. 2 miles up caught the sunset and WOW! Highly recommend and we would do it again.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maggie 6 months ago on Google
    This is one of my favorite hikes in Austin because it's shaded, challenging, and has a beautiful hill country view at the top of a long climb. When Austin isn't in a drought, it also has a beautiful stream along parts of the hike.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carms 7 months ago on Google
    The trails were moderate intensity if your looking to sweat and get a good workout. It being Texas it was wonderful to have shade. Maps and signs were a bonus. Plan to definitely go again!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 praveenpno 1 year ago on Google
    One of the beautiful trails I have ever been. People of all ages can enjoy this but this is not a beginner trail. Make sure to get a lot of water as it’s almost 5.5 mile hike. The trail has a lot of steps and narrow paths. There are some creeks in between. Once you reach the top of the trail, you will get a view of beautiful Austin!! Well maintained trail!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Van C. 7 months ago on Google
    Great trail with good shade. Popular place, so go early. Multiple dogs off leash, so be aware.

  • 5/5 America Terrazas- R. 4 months ago on Google
    2137 steps One Way! Be ready to work hard. It was a great trail. I drove there from DFW made a day trip out of it.

  • 5/5 Nishant P. 5 months ago on Google
    It's an awesome moderate trail. It's not a loop trail and one end of it has lots of elevations. So you gotta decide whether to do the difficult part first or while coming back. Overall well maintained and well marked spots. They do charge an entry fee but for some reason I got a shady vibe from the entry ticket place.

  • 5/5 Monica F. 2 years ago on Google
    This hike is a lot of stairs, going up and down. Challenging but fun hike! Not much of a view at the top, but quiet the environmental scenery walking around! I really enjoyed this hike.


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Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed outside
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible entrance

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