Walking Date Ideas in Austin
Ten walking date ideas in Austin, from a lakeside trail and creek hikes to a hilltop climb and an evening with the bats.
Austin has plenty of places for a walking date that feels like more than simply getting your steps in. You can follow the water, climb the hills for a skyline view or wander through gardens. These ten routes range from easy, mostly flat paths to longer hikes and hilltop climbs, so you can choose how much of an outing you want to make of it.
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail
Follow the flat, easy paths of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake, with skyline views and a boardwalk stretch over the water. Hiking it is listed among Austin's outdoor date ideas.
The Stevie Ray Vaughan statue sits along the route if you want a photo stop together.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Start at the Zilker Trailhead and follow Barton Creek to Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls on a creek hike with swimming holes, listed among Austin's outdoor date ideas. The trails cover over 12 miles, with a 7.5-mile main trail.
Gus Fruh swimming hole has a climbing wall. The terrain is rough and uneven, with little lighting. The trailhead lot is free on weekdays and $7 on weekends and holidays from March through September.
Mount Bonnell
Climb 102 steps up Mount Bonnell to Covert Park, Austin's highest point, for 360-degree views of the skyline and Lake Austin. Sunset here is romantic.
It is also a popular engagement spot.
Mayfield Park
Wander cottage gardens and pathways at Mayfield Park, a romantic escape for two in West Austin. Walled gardens, water lily and lotus ponds, and roaming peacocks fill the grounds, and trails run through the preserve.
The gardens are free to explore, and the park is open daily from 5am to 10pm. Pets are not allowed.
Rainey Street Trailhead
Begin a walk on the Butler trail at Rainey Street Trailhead, near Lady Bird Lake in Downtown. Free Music on the Trail concerts play on the trailhead lawn on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7:30pm.
$
Congress Avenue Bridge bats
Walk to the Bat Observation Area on the southeast side of Congress Avenue, or line up along the east side of the bridge, to see roughly 1.5 million bats, the biggest urban colony anywhere. Watching them is a free date idea.
From late March to early fall, any evening around dusk brings the bats out over the lake. The observation area is open year-round, though the parking lot charges a fee.
Not needed for free viewing
Zilker Park
Walk the trails at Zilker Park, where Barton Creek meets Lady Bird Lake. The park also holds Zilker Botanical Garden, Barton Springs Pool, the Austin Nature and Science Center, and Umlauf Sculpture Gardens.
The park is free on any day without a private event. Garden tickets are reserved online in advance, and reservations are recommended for the pool.
Garden tickets and pool reservations recommended
Texas State Capitol grounds
Take the free tour of the Texas State Capitol in Downtown Austin, with walkthroughs every day and special themed tours listed on the website. Afterward, a walk across the grounds takes in notable monuments and their inscriptions.
McKinney Falls State Park
Follow creek and falls trails at McKinney Falls State Park in southeast Austin, 13 miles from the state capitol. The 2.8-mile Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail is hard-surfaced, while the Rock Shelter Trail is for hikers only. Upper and Lower Falls both sit on Onion Creek.
Cross the Lower Falls to reach the Homestead, Flint Rock, and Williamson Creek Overlook trails, though your feet may get wet. The gate is open 8am to 10pm daily. Reserving a day-use pass is recommended, since the park often reaches capacity.
Day-use passes recommended
$
Mueller Lake Park
Bring a picnic to Mueller Lake Park, a 30-acre lake park in the Mueller development, where a stage and amphitheater stand open to the air.
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