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St. Edward’s Park

St. Edward’s Park is a hidden park ideal for trail runners, hikers as well as dog lovers. It has many trails and wide open spaces to take pleasure in the hill country views. It also takes account of a river flowing in the middle and cacti spreading all over the place.

This park offers great hikers to both locals and international guests. This is a family and kid Friendly Park. The cold creek is perfect for swimming during the summer season. The park also has two main trails which take you along the river uphill with stunning views from atop, through exposed meadows filled with cactus and prairie grasses, and to a small swimming hole with a rope swing.

Part park, part reserve, St. Edward’s Park isn’t very popular, even among those who have been residents of Austin for a very long time. It is hidden on Spicewood Springs Road from the Loop 360 border, beyond which many people don’t venture. The park comprises two parts, one preserve and one park. The part of the park on the north portion of Bull Creek resides in Austin City’s parks system. South of the river, the parks operated under stringent regulations of the Balcones Canyonland Preserve system, which mandates that pets be on leashes.

The different regulations for different parts of the park pale in comparison to the disparities in terrain on one part of the park from the other. The north portion takes account of river bottom habitat and pocket prairies. The southern portion rises above the northern part and takes account of rocky slopes enclosed in Oak and Cedar.

The park has two hikes.  The Creek Trail corresponds to the Bull Creek upstream for a mile, often in the Spicewood Springs earshot, offering some unique spots from which to see or wade into the river. On the other hand, the Hill Trail takes the high road by crossing Bull Creek and climbing to the highest point in the part at the southern tip. Creek Trail is the easiest to climb, while The Hill Trail offers solitude and is very challenging for hikers who like to climb. Check The Next Post

Pets in the Park

 Staff or workers at this park remind visitors that dogs or any kinds of pet are welcome in St. Edward’s Park. This is a pet-friendly park; however, ensure they are always leashed and under control. The management provides safety, enjoyment, and comfort for all guests and ensures the protection of the natural resources, area, and wildlife inside the park. It is advisable to keep the dog on a leash all the time and pick it up after your pet.

Picnic and Day Use of Facilities

This park is also very popular for special occasions, weddings as well as family picnics. Reservations are recommended to make sure your loved ones and friends can have the event or picnic on the date you choose. In spite of the size of the group, a permit is needed. You can call the customer hotline number for reservations. Even if this park provides first come, first serve picnic tables, once it reaches its capacity with reservations, first come, first served will not be accessible. Also, guests are strongly encouraged to carpool due to the limited parking and to assist save resources. More

Additional Information

  • A big playground is ideal for kids. It was built by the community for the people and totally funded by donations from the Austin community.
  • Hiking, picnicking, soccer, fishing, mountain biking, swimming, bicycling, bird watching, softball as well as horse trails are provided in the area as well.
  • Access to the river is by trail only. Car access to the river is unguarded and undeveloped.
  • There are a lot of trails open to the biker, an extremely popular activity in St. Edward’s Park. Always remember that many of the trails here are open to hiking only, and bikes are prohibited on these trails. Make sure to check with the kiosk or park office for trail maps as well as information.
  • A recreational permit is needed for fishing at this park. For regulations, information about the fishing season, or to buy a recreational license.

Is St. Edward’s Park Ideal for Everyone?

All said and done, who is this park best for? Being that this verdant bit of nature is centrally situated right off Spicewood Springs Road and Highway 360, it has the air of a well-kept secret, even if the word is out. Usually, it is packed with a decent number of dogs and people. This hike is so easy; therefore, it is likely to cover it all in just two hours, which makes it perfect for those under a time constraint.

Important Information to Remember