Great Rides - Austin

Cycling in friendly Austin is big — and getting bigger every year.

Austin may not be tops if you’re measuring the number of daily commuters on bikes, but by any other measure — cool bike shops, gregarious attitude — it’s one of the best places to pedal. It’s a gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community and consistently lands in top-ten lists in national magazines.

The city’s All Ages and Abilities (AAA) network includes 215 miles of bike lanes, 100 of which have been built since 2018, and it’s on track to top 400 miles by 2025. A favorite? The two sections of the Walnut Creek Trail, which connect parks and shaded forests. Mountain bikers can zigzag beneath the limestone cliffs of the Barton Creek Greenbelt, tackle the IMBA Epic Goodwater Loop, or find flow in Texas Hill Country (Reimers Ranch Park, Revellie Peak Ranch).

Central Texas gravel throws everything at you — finely-crushed hardpack, loose rock, sand — but the area around Lockhart is some of the best, and you can finish your rides with classic barbecue from Black’s, Kreuz, or Smitty’s.

True to form, Austin has lively bike events all year round: The Armadillo Classic takes riders through Hill Country and the Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge. The 100-mile Great Austin to Shiner Pedal (GASP for short) finishes with plenty of namesake brews. And the Livestrong Classic — with options from 20 to 100 miles — is the only ride that starts and ends right in downtown.

North West Hills

Distance: 35.3 mi
Elevation: +/- 1438 ft

Austin, TX

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Walnut Creek Trail + Manor City Loop

Distance: 37.8 mi
Elevation: +/- 1489 ft

Austin, TX

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Walnut Creek + Decker Lake Loop

Distance: 26 mi
Elevation: +/- 782 ft

Austin, TX

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Arboretum Volente Loop (Short)

Distance: 30 mi
Elevation: +/- 1257 ft

Austin, TX

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Radio Short Loop

Distance: 20.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 822 ft

Austin, TX

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Barton Creek Loop

Distance: 16.4 mi
Elevation: +/- 1331 ft

Travis County, TX

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The Dam Loop

Distance: 34.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 2809 ft

Bee Cave, TX

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Parmer Scenic Loop

Distance: 66.3 mi
Elevation: +/- 413 ft

Austin, TX

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South Austin Trail Network (SATN)

Distance: 90 mi
Austin, TX

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Walnut Creek

Distance: 20 mi
12138 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753

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Pace Bend

Distance: 16 mi
2805 Pace Bend Rd N, Spicewood, TX 78669

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South Walnut Creek

Distance: 21 mi
Southern Walnut Creek Trailhead
Walnut Creek Trail
Austin, TX 78724

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Barton Creek Greenbelt

Distance: 31 mi
2131 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746

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Brushy Creek

Distance: 9.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 342 ft

Brushy Creek Lake Park
3300 Brushy Creek Rd
Cedar Park, TX 78613

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Spider Mountain Bike Park

Distance: 6 mi
200 Greenwood Hills Trail, Burnet, TX 78611

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Reveille Peak Ranch

Distance: 28 mi
105 Co Rd 114, Burnet, TX 78611

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McDade Gravel - Long

Distance: 57 mi
Elevation: +/- 1690 ft

Bastrop County, TX

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Lockhart Gravel

Distance: 32.8 mi
Elevation: +/- 854 ft

Lockhart, TX

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McDade Gravel

Distance: 37.3 mi
Elevation: +/- 1004 ft

Bastrop County, TX

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Smithville Gravel

Distance: 49 mi
Elevation: +/- 1887 ft

Bastrop County, TX

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Lexington Gravel Dirty Thirty

Distance: 31.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 995 ft

Lexington, TX

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Lexington Figure 8

Distance: 51.3 mi
Elevation: +/- 1576 ft

Lexington, TX

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Schwertner to Holland Gravel

Distance: 30.3 mi
Elevation: +/- 765 ft

Williamson County, TX

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Rosebud Gravel Century

Distance: 100.6 mi
Elevation: +/- 2871 ft

Rosebud, TX

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Walnut Creek Trail

Distance: 21 mi
Elevation: +/- 627 ft

Austin, TX

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Town Lake Trail Full

Distance: 10.1 mi
Elevation: +/- 337 ft

Austin, TX

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Shoal Creek Out and Back

Distance: 17.2 mi
Elevation: +/- 665 ft

Austin, TX

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Brushy Creek Full Loop

Distance: 17.6 mi
Elevation: +/- 534 ft

Cedar Park, TX

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Capital and Scenic Trails

Distance: 14.1 mi
Elevation: +/- 419 ft

Austin, TX

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Mozarts Coffee Ride

Distance: 7.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 256 ft

Austin, TX

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Brushy Creek

Distance: 9.5 mi
Elevation: +/- 342 ft

Brushy Creek Lake Park
3300 Brushy Creek Rd
Cedar Park, TX 78613

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Roy G Park Trails

Distance: 7.3 mi
Elevation: +/- 180 ft

Austin, TX

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