Discover Lakeway: Water, Trails, and History

Lakeway combines water experiences, extensive trails, and insights into local history. Anyone planning a trip with a variety of daily itineraries will find options here for active hours, cultural discoveries, and time outdoors. When choosing a vacation apartment or vacation home, it is therefore worthwhile to consider the planned focus of the trip.

Waterfront at Lake Travis

City Park is located at 502 Hurst Creek Road and is a waterfront parkland. The park can be reached by water via Hurst Creek Cove on Lake Travis. Swimming, fishing, and kayaking are popular water activities there. This gives you a clear choice for your vacation day: you can experience Lakeway from the water or combine the town's other offerings with walks and cultural activities.

Canyonlands is also located in a distinctive waterside setting: the 20-acre area is situated on Rough Hollow Cove, a large inlet of Lake Travis. Hiking and mountain biking are permitted there. The access point is on the west side of Trophy Drive opposite Swim Center Park; parking is available along Trophy Drive and in Swim Center Park. This difference may be important when planning your accommodation if you would rather begin the day with a trail route than a water activity.

Hiking, Cycling, and Trails in Nature

The Hamilton Greenbelt offers several miles of hiking trails along Hurst Creek and Yaupon Creek. Two main entrances with parking are located on Lohmans Crossing Road and Palos Verdes Drive. Anyone wishing to include a longer trail route in their daily itinerary can mark this greenbelt as a separate excursion destination.

Shorter options with a different character round out the offerings. The Smith Greenbelt provides a short hiking trail along Hurst Creek. The Lakeway Boulevard Hike and Bike Trail is accessible at the intersection of Lakeway Boulevard and Lakeway Drive. Its surface changes from a sidewalk to a decomposed granite path. Motorized vehicles are not allowed there; the trail is suitable for cycling, jogging, and walking the dog. This allows you to tailor your daily itinerary more closely to the activity and the type of trail you prefer, without equating the different routes.

Local History and Events

The Heritage Center in Heritage Park archives documents, photographs, and small mementos collected since the founding of Lakeway. Visitors can view records of eyewitness accounts, special events, and other recorded local activities that have been archived since Lakeway's early years. Heritage Center events also include free bus tours held annually.

The Lakeway Activity Center offers workshops and classes for adults and is used for community theater and concerts. Another notable feature is five swirling dolphin bronze sculptures at the entrance to Porpoise Park. They were installed in 2025 as part of the city's permanent art collection. Porpoise Park also has a playground and a decomposed granite path. For families, this can be an interesting addition to a day by the water or on the trails, without requiring all travelers to follow the same daily rhythm.

Natural Areas and Different Trip Ideas

Schramm Ranch Preserve is permanently managed as a habitat for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. Visitors should note an important restriction: only city employees and biologists conducting studies of the Golden-cheeked Warbler are permitted there. The preserve is therefore not a typical excursion destination with general public access. Those who want to experience nature can instead include the publicly described trails, parks, and waterfront areas in their trip planning.

For a stay in Lakeway, it therefore makes sense to choose accommodation from which you can organize your excursions according to the experiences you want: water activities at City Park, trails along Hurst Creek or Yaupon Creek, cycling on the Lakeway Boulevard Hike and Bike Trail, or culture at the Heritage Center. Nearby points of reference include San Leanna, Volente, Wells Branch, Sunset Valley, Austin, Manchaca, Manor, and Bee Cave.

For the broader trip overview: Travis.