Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

Yes, you are in the middle of a major city. No, it doesn’t feel, look or sound like it.
Great place to experience the uniqueness of the Texas Hill Country.
Many trails and varying terrain, worth the visit.

A short distance from downtown Austin is this beautiful little hill country oasis. As it is a Wilderness preserve pets, bikes, and food are not allowed. There are several looping trails you can wander along. The longest loop only took us about 45 minutes to complete. I love that it is mostly tree shaded, and the trails even have a nice incline. There is a small «waterfall» in the preserve, but today it was just a trickle. St. Edwards has a research center on site. There is a small parking area with a portable toilet. A nice place to get out for a break and stretch your legs.

Pros:
Private (only saw 4 other people there on a weekday afternoon)
Waterfall
Mostly tree-​covered

A gem of a place very close to downtown.
Very accessible with a small parking lot right at the trailhead.
Trails are extremely well marked and blazed and trail maps are easily accessible on your smartphone. A wonderful overlook and beautiful waterfall into a pool give you a nice contrast of the different parts of nature that are so readily available in Austin.
Some other reviewers remarked on how easy the trail was. I would agree that it is not overly physically challenging, but there is lots of uneven ground, stepping on rocks as stairs, and some elevation change. Definitely wear sturdy shoes and make sure that you have good balance. There are plenty of places to rest and catch your breath so you can make it even if you are out of shape as long as you are steady on your feet.
Only 2.5 miles of total trails (and I think even those distances are a little exaggerated) so it won’t take you much time to see all there is to see and worth it to check out one time. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is nearby so you could check this out at the same time. If I lived nearby, it would probably also be fun as a place to trail run and see how the seasons change.
I got here right after dawn and had the place to myself. However, I would recommend bringing a pole or something with you if you are an early bird as I got lots of spider webs in my face on my walk.

Wild basin preserve provides pleasant, easy hiking trails, with a few picturesque views. Recommendable to Southwest Austin residents living nearby, but not sure it’s worth a trek out to get there, as there are more scenic and/​or more challenging trails in the area.
The trails are mostly shaded with trees. The paths are smoother than those at the barton springs greenbelt, and not very difficult (manageable for children and the less than fit). There is a small waterfall, and a little bubbling brook, which provide a peaceful spot for rest and reflection when there is not too much traffic on the trail.
The free parking lot has ample space during random weekday hours, but fills up quickly on good weather weekends.
There is a suggested donation of $ 3, which you can drop into a box at the trail head.

If you’re looking for a short hike with a bit of an incline to work the legs, you’ve got it here. Super convenient location for me, this is perfect for a quick pick-​me-​up in the morning. I wish they allowed dogs, but the signs blatantly forbid them. *Le sigh* Otherwise, for a short path nestled alongside 360, it’s pretty nice!

Wild Basin Preserve is as gorgeous as ever. And on a cool winter’s day, there is no better way to beat the post-​holiday blahs than to surround yourself with nature. There is something very peaceful about walking in and among the trees, listening to the wind and, when you’re near the stream and waterfall, the gentle trickle of water. At the end of the hike, I feel tired but also calm and refreshed.
If you’re looking for a place to hike in Austin, give this place a try!

My favorite hiking spot in Austin.
Pro
–Gorgeous view of West Austin, the hills, the Lake
–Beautiful, serene trail
–The waterfall is relaxing. It only happens when it rains.
Love this place.

I’m always looking for a great hike in Austin. I visited about 5 years ago and totally forgot how great this place is. I brought the wife and kids and it was the perfect outdoor excursion for a family with littles.
My 3 year old and 7 year old hiked the entire look (almost). The 3 year old is a little slow and we were hungry… so I put her on my shoulder for the final stretch.
Being that there are no bikers and no dogs, it makes it the perfect hike for the little kids. Yes, my kids don’t know their right from their left, so they’re almost always getting run over from bikers on the busier trails.
There’s some beautiful scenery from a few spots at the start, but most of the trail is a peaceful journey through the woods, several creek crossing and a little grotto with a waterfall.
It’s short, there’s some decent elevation change and it makes for a great hike just about year round!

I love trials and I just wasn’t impressed with this one unfortunately. The waterfall is all dried up and the scenic view lacks scenery in general. Shame.

Pros: its a nice peaceful moderately easy walk.
Cons: Lots of alarming signs about car theft at the start of trails.
Pros: There is a guestbook too sign after about a minute into the walk.(for forest fire safety)
Cons: You fill out what time you set off on your walk in the guestbook giving the car thieves head start to how long you been gone from your now exposed to vulcers vehicle.
Pros:No dogs allowed
Cons: No dogs allowed.
It is a really pretty walk with many different trails to choose from and it is marked out with signs really well so you wont get lost. However not many people go here (maybe cause of no dogs policy) but its worth a trip. I was here with the Old ball and chain and we enjoyed it. I love my wife cause she likes too go on walks with me, and she is amazing I leave her go ahead so i can stare at her ass in those hot pants ohhhh yeah.
Final CON: Passed 2 individual people on the walk and although they were out walking in the back of my head I suspected them as car thieves, because of all the sign posts saying bring all valuable with you. I mean what does a car thief look like these day.
Pro: Really enjoyable place, ill defineatly go back

Good hike with decent views and privacy within city limits. Level: easy to moderate.

Bring water, comfortable hiking shoes, light snack, don’t litter, don’t smoke, be friendly. Tucked away on 360 with lots of trails. great way to spend the day in the great outdoors.

Wild Basin is pretty much the greenbelt for people who want to go on trails but don’t want dogs, swimming, drinking, bikes, etc. The trails are pretty short, but include a cool waterfall, nice view of Austin, and a creek.
The trails are clearly marked, but there aren’t any maps inside. I took a picture of the map at the front with my phone and used that to navigate. You’re not going to get lost, but it’s nice to know the fastest path out if you are getting tired.

This place is one of the reasons I love Austin so much. Just a short drive from Austin and you’re recharging in nature!
I frequently have lunch on the deck and enjoy the beautiful view. The downfall of the deck is the highway noise, but if you are looking for a more tranquil lunch spot go down to the waterfall.
Parking is always free and there is a suggests donation of $ 3. Maps are available also.

I love this place. As someone who needs consistent contact with nature, I was so happy to find Wild Basin shortly upon moving to Austin from Colorado. It’s close to town, yet once you hike in (and away from 360), you feel far away. This probably isn’t the place to go if you are looking for a longer hike, but with all the trails you can make whatever kind of loop (s) you want.
Thank you to the «Now or Never» women’s environmental group for having the foresight to preserve this land in the 1970’s!
There are no fees, but they have a donation box.

Came here for a morning hike with the boyfriend, we hiked for about an hour. This is not a strenuous hike, mostly flat, there are some steps. The creek and waterfall was pretty dry since it had not rain. We manage to snap a few pics of the view facing the main road. Overall, we enjoyed the hike, there was not very much scenic spots as I was expecting though.

City escape without the drive. Nestled in the shady hilly area off 360 is the preserve. There are multiple trails that are all connected. They’re all shorter than I had expected. Remember to grab a map from the donation box before you start, and throw in your $ 3 donation while you’re at it. There’s a waterfall on one of the paths that wasn’t much of a fall when I went… but I can see the potential. None of the trails are difficult, so if you’re looking for something more intense, look elsewhere. Parking is free.

The trail is relaxing and the waterfall nice. I do wish it was further from the road but that’s not too big of a deal. The employees at the office are friendly as well and will offer any advice if you ask. The trails are also well kept and easy to follow.

Holy moly at the trails! And trails. And more trails. I love how Wild Basin has a network of trails instead of just a loop or a path. The view from atop the hill is pretty sweet, too. There’s an awesome waterfall and creek a bit of the way in, too. It’s a lovely bunch of trails, and for a bit of a couch potato like me, a dang fine workout.
They don’t allow pets, but eh – I’m a bit timid around other peoples’ animals, anyway, so perhaps this is a good thing.