Austin is filled with parks and hike and bike trails along greenbelts and creeks located throughout the city.  As an avid nature walker/hiker, I was pleasantly surprised with the Turkey Creek Trail located in Emma Long Park.  I’m told that it’s best to go during the week, so I’m glad that I did.

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, my boyfriend and I took the drive down 2222 to the park.  The drive itself is quite beautiful and peaceful, especially once you get inside the park.   The trail is a moderate hike, so most people can walk it.  There are some steep spots, so it’s probably not good for very young children or the elderly, unless they walk only a portion of it.

The roundtrip trail is about 2.5 miles and it’s covered with trees, making it cool and shady.  It had rained a few days before, so there was water in the creek and the wildflowers were blooming.  The landscape is varied and there are scenic cliffs and winding trails.  Along the way, there were a few dogs running about.  This is one of the few trails in Austin that allow unleashed dogs.

From my perspective, it’s probably one of the most pleasant places to hike in Austin.  It’s quite pretty and the shade makes it nice on a hot afternoon.  For a peaceful afternoon in the outdoors, Turkey Creek Trail is a great place to hike and enjoy nature.