Business Hours
OpenMonday
Open 24 hours
Tuesday
Open 24 hours
Wednesday
Open 24 hours
Thursday
Open 24 hours
Friday
Open 24 hours
Saturday
Open 24 hours
Sunday
Open 24 hours
Pennybacker Bridge Overlook
About
N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78730, USA Get directions
A short scramble up the rocky trail on the north side of Loop 360 brings you to a clifftop view of the burnt-orange steel arch of the Pennybacker Bridge spanning Lake Austin, with the surrounding Hill Country rolling off in every direction. Come toward sunset when the light warms the limestone and the water below, and expect company—it's a well-loved spot, so the small pullout parking fills quickly.
Scenic Spot
More like this
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Austin
Barton Creek Greenbelt is a 7-plus-mile ribbon of limestone canyon, spring-fed swimming holes, and shaded trail running right through south Austin, popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and climbers who scale its pocketed cliff faces. Whether the creek is flowing depends heavily on recent rain, so visitors will notice the water can range from deep wading pools at spots like Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls to a dry bed in the height of summer.
ParkHiking
Mount Bonnell
Austin
Mount Bonnell rises about 775 feet above the Colorado River, making it one of Austin's higher natural overlooks, reached by a short but steep stone staircase to the summit. From the top you'll get a wide view of Lake Austin, the surrounding limestone bluffs, and the hill country homes lining the water—best at sunset, though the early morning and evening hours mean it's a popular spot for both joggers and photographers.
Hippie Hollow Park
Austin
Tucked along the shore of Lake Travis, Hippie Hollow is Texas's only legally clothing-optional public park, so the first thing to know is that it's an adults-only spot (18 and over) where swimsuits are genuinely optional. The terrain is rocky rather than sandy — expect limestone ledges and steep, cliff-lined paths down to the water, so sturdy shoes and a little sure-footedness go a long way.
HikingPark
Get the inside scoop on Austin
Events, new openings, and seasonal guides — straight to your inbox, about once a month.