This park operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority is a nice little surprise tucked off Hwy 71 in Central Texas, just east of Austin. We spent four hours there in February 2016, hiking about 7 miles. Starting at the headquarters building and hiking in a counter-clockwise loop, we hit the Pine Ridge, Cypress, Riverside, Deep Sandy, Buckeye, Roadrunner, Bluff Trail, and Woodland trails.

There are a number of intersecting hiking and equestrian trails that could become confusing (about 18 trail miles in total in this 1,100 acre park) but the trail map and trail markings make way finding pretty straightforward if you pay attention. The map directs you to a nice mix of interesting features and lookouts – we saw the Pine Ridge Overlook, Riverside Rapids, the Giant Pecan Tree, and the Overlook at Meditation Point and all were worthwhile.

The trails would be great for an energetic dog and families with kids, but some parts can get rocky/steep so bear that in mind. If you have a horse, it seems like an awesome place for some trail rides, though check before you go because some of the equestrian trails were closed for repair due to the recent floods. Elevation changes are within a couple of hundred feet though some trail segments have pretty good inclines/declines and switchbacks. There are also nice areas for picnicking and benches scattered along the trails.

We enjoyed a mild, overcast day in the 60s/70s – I wouldn’t want to spend much time on the exposed portions of these trails in the heat of the Texas summer though! Also, it seems they do quite a lot of summer camps and group activities there, so I imagine it might get crowded when school is out. Except for special camps and group events, there is no regular primitive camping or RV spots available. Overall, definitely recommended as a nice weekend day hike if you are in the area, especially in cooler seasons.