Healthy Living in Austin, Texas

It’s no secret that Austinites have an affinity for fitness. Forbes ranked Austin as the 7th best city for runner’s and in 2012 Austin was ranked the 10th fittest city by the Huffington Post. It stands to reason that Austin has some of the best trails and tracks for any runner in any category. Here I have compiled a list of some of the most popular trails in Austin. Take some time this weekend to check some of them out! I promise there’s a trail for everybody!

Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail

Whether you’re training for the Austin Livestrong Marathon or you’re a weekend huffer, there are plenty of places to hit the road and put in a couple miles before work. For beginners, you can try the friendly trails around Auditorium Shores. The 3.2-mile loop from the South First Bridge down to the Mopac Bridge is the best place for newbie runs or quick tune-ups. The trail also offers 7 and 10 miles loops for the more experienced and eager, but you’ll be safe keeping it to 3.2 miles with two water stops along the way and a RunTex nearby. You’ll also gain inspiration from all the other runners along the trail.

Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail

The Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail offers a stunning 3 miles of terrain in Central Austin (6 for a round trip). It’s a little bit less groomed than the Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike so be prepared to do some root and rock dodging along the way. You park at the trailhead at 2600 N. Lamar Blvd or pick up the trail from Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike between Caesar Chavez and Lamar Blvd

Barton Creek Greenbelt

The Barton Creek Greenbelt is Austin’s largest green space right in the heart of the city. Beginning at Zilker Park, the trail leads southwest through 7.25 miles of dense foliage, limestone cliffs and various waterfalls through the greenbelt. This trail is usually heavily populated by mountain bikers and contains some rough terrain by the Mopac/360 trailhead. But once you get down alongside Barton Creek, it’s easy going. During the summer months, the Barton Creek Greenbelt offers shade but is usually very humid due to the canopy overhead. It is considered the 7^th best trail in the state of Texas.

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