First time on this trail
Johnson Creek Greenbelt
- 2/10/2013
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 3.00 Miles
Duration: N/A
Quite liked it. Not a lot of "nature" per se, but some interesting scenery and plenty of branching off trails for further exploration. Saw a parking lot by Austin High School for those who drive. Some problems with erosion and rickety bridges that proved unpleasant due to my screaming fear of heights. But if you're not the sort who gets dizzy on a step stool, like me, you'll probably be fine. Will definitely visit again.
Trailhead at 38th to Pease Park
Shoal Creek
- 2/5/2013
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 3.00 Miles
Duration: N/A
Have walked this section before and enjoyed it. Decided to do a leisurely night hike and sit and read along the way (Kindle for iPhone--can now read in the dark! Hurrah!) Started right at sunset after eating a delicious cheeseburger at Top Notch burgers, spent a few hours strolling and reading. Used iPhone as a flashlight two or three times for creek crossings or uneven descents, just to be safe, but could have done without as terrain is all pretty easy. Very dark under bridges but I hummed a little tune as I approached so as to warn homeless people camping under them that I was coming. I did not want to shine a flashlight in their eyes so did not use it. Had to keep an eye out behind me for cyclists since I was not very visible and they were not expecting me, but all went quite smoothly and was very pleasant.
Shoal Creek
- 2/4/2013
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 2.50 Miles
Duration: N/A
Started at Pease Park near my condo and hiked South to Lady Bird Lake with my Mom. She recently broke her foot, and cannot handle difficult terrain--only problem was one water crossing where we had to step from boulder to boulder, but she was fine in the end. The water in Shoal Creek was kind of stagnant and gross. Frankly I prefer the north end of the trail, but there were neat sections and it got less crowded as we went South (starting at Pease it runs close to Lamar and is quite noisy). Sharing the trail with cyclists was occasionally harrowing (narrow, blind corners) but would have no problem if hiking solo--walking and talking side by side made us a hindrance! Trail closed near the lake, diverted to Butler Trail. Pleasant overall, will hike again.
I have no idea if it was really 2.5 miles; I'm totally guessing.