Discover Travis: Lake Travis, Nature and Water Activities

Travelers wishing to discover Travis will find a landscape where water activities, hiking trails, wildlife observation, and history are closely connected with various parks. At Lake Travis, activities range from swimming and fishing to boat access; elsewhere, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, or an astronomy program take center stage. This allows you to shape your trip around your preferred vacation focus and choose a vacation rental or holiday home as a base for suitable activities.

Lake Travis and Parks by the Water

Pace Bend Park is located at the westernmost point of Travis County in the Hill Country region of Central Texas. Its more than nine-mile shoreline along Lake Travis makes it a prominent destination for anyone who wants to include the lake in their travel plans. At Mansfield Dam Park, visitors can picnic, swim, and fish. The boat ramp has four lanes and an adjoining wheelchair-accessible dock. The underwater diving area also includes four underwater diving platforms.

Sandy Creek Park is located on one of the quieter coves of Lake Travis. The endangered golden-cheeked warbler lives there. Those who want to combine different ways of enjoying the lake will find a two-mile shoreline at Arkansas Bend Park, with opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping, picnicking, and accessing the lake. More than two boat ramps and a service dock support access to the water. Camping is available at 18 developed sites with water hookups and 20/30/50-amp electrical hookups.

Hiking, Cycling, and Special Discoveries

There are also various opportunities for active days away from Lake Travis. Reimers Ranch Park in western Travis County has nearly three miles of continuous shoreline along the Pedernales River and more than 18 miles of mountain biking trails. A special addition is the astronomy observatory program: Visitors can see a star-filled sky and learn about the universe. Reservations are required for this program.

At McKinney Falls State Park, you can fish and swim in Onion Creek. The 0.6-mile Rock Shelter Trail is reserved exclusively for hiking. The Prehistoric Rock Shelter is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, providing an additional point of interest for travelers who want to combine nature with history. The Homestead Trail is 3.1 miles long and designed for hiking and cycling. All-terrain wheelchairs are available for use on the Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail.

East Metropolitan Park offers further water-related activities, including fishing ponds, shoreline access, and a modern fishing pier. It also has a swimming pool maintained by Travis County Parks. Richard Moya Park is home to a historic, century-old bridge that once served as the Congress Avenue Bridge over the Colorado River in downtown Austin. The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve protects and offsets the loss of endangered species’ habitats in Travis County.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When choosing your accommodation, it is worth first determining the desired pace of your trip. Those who want to experience Lake Travis can focus on water access, fishing, swimming, or access to the lake. For active days, the mountain biking trails at Reimers Ranch Park and the trails of varying lengths at McKinney Falls State Park provide clear points of reference. Families with different interests can alternate between wildlife observation, physical activity, swimming, and historical discoveries without having to experience everything in the same way.

More local pages for your planning: Austin, Leander, Pflugerville, Lakeway, Sunset Valley, Manor, Wells Branch, Windemere, Hudson Bend, Bee Cave, Jonestown, Manchaca, San Leanna, Point Venture and Volente.

For the overarching travel overview: Texas.