used to have sidewalks for pedestrians, but several accidents caused the sidewalks to be closed and a new pedestrian bridge being built. See pictures and our review of Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake . The path is officially called the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, but the locals refer to it as the “hike-and-bike trail” or the “run-around-town lake.” Lady Bird was actually instrumental in getting the area around Town lake transformed from an unsightly flood zone into a recreational centerpiece for the city, so it seems a fitting tribute. Needless to say, this isn't a place to go for solitude, but I like it because it's fun to see everyone out enjoying the area differently (walking, running/jogging, biking, boating). This has become a b-day tradition - taking a day off from the office and going to explore the good old hike & bike trail. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail is one of the most natural, fitness friendly hike and bike paths in an urban area anywhere in the United States. A prized feature of the Austin landscape, this paved trail features phenomenal views of the lake and the downtown skyline. If you're looking for pleasant, mostly flat, walk with several excellent views of downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake, then Lady Bird Lake may fit the bill. ). I usually start at Deep Eddy or under MoPac bridge, cross to the south bank, cross again on Pleasant Valley bridge, and get back to Depp Eddy. But the trail is REALLY popular, to a degree that can be rather off-putting. You can get an ~4-mile walk between Guerrero Park and East Bouldin Creek, including some really nice lake and city views. We're showing you almost the complete trail here, including the lesser used portions of the trail to the east of Congress Avenue. SmartTripsAustin.org Turn-by-Turn Directions From Mexican American Cultural Center 1. It's Austin's most memorable tourist attraction and Central Texas' link between north and south and east and west. The trail becomes more tree-covered from this point through the waypoint marked, "Lou Neff Point". That trail heads north for 3 miles and will be highlighted in a separate page later. Getting there: We're describing a way to get to the parking under the MoPac bridge here because at the time of the hike all of the parking around Auditorium Shores were taken up by construction. Save. Is the Hike and Bike Trail open? On November 3, 2011, the Austin City Council, in recognition of Roy Butler's civil service and contributions to the community and City of Austin, including the revitalization and improvement of Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake), approved a resolution naming the "hike and bike trail" surrounding Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin as the "Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail." We did not walk the complete loop. 7. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail has been nominated as Best Recreational Trail in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice travel awards! History of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. The Ann and Roy Butler Pedestrian Bridge crosses Lady Bird … The trail on the other side of Congress is less used and will eventually run into an apartment complex at the point marked, "Trail End". Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail - Austin. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, formerly the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail, creates a complete circuit around Lady Bird Lake. Only showing last 10 log entries. Lady Bird Lake Trail is a 10 mile loop trail if you go through the entire length. This tower was used as part of an effort to quarry clay from the Zilker Park area. 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