Discover! — New Paths in Bee Caves

There’s a new 6-mile trail system available just west of Austin for walking, running, hiking, and mountain biking. Opened to the public in June 2013, the Greenway Primitive Trails at Bee Cave is an unimproved, 160-acre park in the Texas Hill Country. Nestled along Highway 71, the park offers four different trails that intersect one another for a variety of route options. The trails are color-coded (blue, red, yellow, orange) with directional arrows and “you are here” maps posted at trail intersections, making navigation easy.  Because this is a primitive facility, there are no restrooms or water sources on site, and the area does not fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act rules, so plan your trek accordingly. 

Terrain

The Greenway offers rolling, single-track trails, a few short, steep “down and up” dry creek crossings (rain can, however, fill these 

areas), and some long stretches of false flats that follow a fence line along the back of the property. The footing, which consists of packed dirt and occasional rocky sections, is not too technical or tricky. Trees are interspersed, allowing for partial shade in someareas. A large blue water tank towers overhead on the northwest edge of the property, providing a visual landmark throughout the park.

How to Get There

The trailhead is located in a residential area in Falconhead West off Highway 71 just north of Hamilton Pool Road. At the intersection of Rockies Run and Patagonia Pass, take Patagonia Pass west until it dead-ends into a small parking lot (parking is limited to ten vehicles). Enter the trail at the north end of parking lot. The park is only open during daylight hours (gate is locked at night), and camping is not allowed.

Thanks to Trailhead Running’s Susan Farago for providing this month’s route. Got a route to share? Email editors@austinfitmagazine.com with a description and your contact information (name, email, phone number).