Zilker Metropolitan Park
4.8 (6,298)park
4.8 (6,298)Austin’s historic urban playground, where 350 acres of hillside trails and botanical gardens meet the cool, spring-fed waters.
Description
Spanning over 350 acres at the confluence of Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake, this site has served as Austin's oldest metropolitan park since its inception. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the grounds function as a sprawling communal hub that balances structured attractions—such as the Austin Nature and Science Center, the botanical gardens, and the Beverly S. Sheffield Hillside Theatre—with ample room for spontaneous recreation. The landscape integrates a disc golf course and volleyball courts with an extensive, well-maintained trail network that links directly into the longer Butler Hike-and-Bike route, providing continuous access to the waterfront.
Selected reviews
Also featured in
Zilker Metropolitan Park: Swim Barton Springs In Austin'sDine in · Walk-in · Counter service
See a Gutenberg Bible and the Earliest Surviving Photo for FreeTwo originals · 300 West 21st · Closed Mondays
A Highway Crew Drilled Into This Sealed Cave in 1963Underground cavern · 72°F all year · adults from $27.95
Electric Bike Rides Take Your Crew Past Austin MuralsGuided excursions · Covered rickshaws · 5 rating
Cavern Walks Through Chambers Sealed for Over 10,000 YearsCave tours · 4.7 rating · Georgetown Texas
Campus Workouts Meet an Indoor Climbing Wall in AustinStrength training · Court sports · UT recreation
Austin Expos, Indie Films, and Live SetsColumn-free halls · Reserved seating · Historic trails
Austin 10 Mile Lady Bird Lake Loop With Skyline ViewsTrail cycling · Overwater boardwalk · 4.7 ratingA Slow Austin Day With Campus Halls, Trails and PuzzlesEast 24th · East 10th · Red River
An Austin Holiday Week in Ten Stops Beyond Sixth StreetInner Campus Drive · Century Oaks Terrace · Zilker Park
Thanksgiving in Austin With Barbecue, Film and Zilker TrailsWest 2nd · Red River · Zilker ParkAustin Outside: 10 Lake Loops, Green Trails And Fresh-Air BreaksTen places to choose from, with room to make the day your own.
Austin New Year's Week Ideas For Coffee, Bars And Live RoomsPhone free cocktails · Garden trails · Tableside s'mores
Austin Valentine's Week Date Ideas For 10 Theater StopsCoffee counters · Barbecue plates · Theater nights
A glasshouse, a stage, a park, a library before dinnerDowntown grounds · Live music · Reading space
Boardwalk Views Lead to Barbecue and Live MusicPhone reservations · Generous seating · Shared paths
Barbecue, Theater, and Trails for an Austin DateFree park entry · Call ahead · Upper balconyAn Austin Lakeside Date with Barbecue and GospelDaytime format · Phone reservations · Generous seating
Where Austin FC's Green Supporters' End Roars At NightSoccer stadium · MLS matches · Verde section
The Red River Stage Where Touring Bands Break BigMusic venue · Cocktail bar · Tiered patio