Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve — Attraction in Austin

I really enjoyed this trail! First off, I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Elvis at the check in booth, but the lady that did check me in was really friendly and helpful. There is ample parking and assuming since this is by reservation only you will always have a spot to park. There are restrooms at the trail head, but I did not see any water stations throughout the entire hike. You may want to bring some because you will probably need it. I imagine this trail is brutal during the summer (there is a good bit of shade on the trails though). On a 80-degree day it was definitely perfect!

The trail was very clean and very well maintained. I did not see one piece of trash anywhere. You don’t see any dogs since they aren’t allowed and I only ran into others hiking a couple of times. It was as if I had the trail to myself! I prefer challenging trails and at first, I thought this was going to be too easy for my liking. When I got about halfway through, though, I saw the steep grades more and then knew it would be harder than I thought which was good. Still wasn’t terribly difficult but my legs do feel it now hours later. There are a good bit of steep grades so you will have to pick up those hammies. I kept on the outskirts of the trail and then I realized that there are off shoot trails which take you in the middle from one side to the other. I found these trails to be fun so don’t miss those. Everywhere along the trails made for great pictures. I didn’t see any wildlife or snakes (thank God) and only saw a handful of Texas Yellow Stars. There are several benches throughout so, if you do get too tired you can always stop and take a rest. The creek was nice and there was actually a good bit of stream water today. Of course, this also set up for a beautiful waterfall which I greatly enjoyed sitting and listening to for a while. Even though you can hear the cars on the highway it was still a serene hike. I tried to take a good pic of the waterfall but where you have to stand to view it or snap a pic there is a tree limb conveniently sagging which obstructs your view. Where’s my chainsaw when I need it! Lol. At the end of your hike, they have a Research Center however, they were not open for some reason. Overall, for the $5 I paid for just myself it was well worth it! Also, please donate which can be easily added to your cost of the ticket. It’s easy...

Nice place to experience nature. I guess it's called Wild Basin because nature is left to itself. However, it's difficult for me to consider it "wild" with the constant droning of very nearby traffic. I guess my idea of wild is isolation. I can only speculate that some of the runoff from the visible highway makes its way there. It may appear wild but the area is severely affected by noise, and likely vehicle, pollution during and after rains. In all honesty, I'm happy the area has been preserved. At least best as can be expected given its location. I'm an older guy with some physical limitations. Some areas are rocky and a bit steep, which was a bit of a challenge. But I managed to enjoy a two mile trek. There's a natural stream in the valley below that makes its way to a small pool. It's very pretty. But obvious we're still drought stricken. I had younger family with me which made me feel safer. There were other hikers, not many, so if I was alone and had a fall or injury I would likely have had some help. At least I hope so. I observed several younger hikers wearing headphones and I quickly understood their possible reasons. In all, I recommend a visit to this natural part...

Review for Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve:

Do not bring your dogs as this is a persevere.

I had an amazing experience during my recent hike at Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve! From the moment I arrived, the staff greeted me with warmth and enthusiasm. They generously showed me around the preserve and provided a helpful map of the trails, which was also available for virtual download.

The well-maintained trails were a delight to explore, surrounded by the beautiful wilderness. I appreciated the dedication and care put into keeping the preserve in top shape.

During operating hours, the creative research center is air conditioned, offering a pleasant retreat to cool off and take a break with clean bathrooms

Overall, I highly recommend Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve to everyone, whether you are a seasoned hiker or a newcomer to the outdoors. The preserve offers a perfect blend of friendly hospitality, well-maintained trails, and beautiful scenery. It’s truly a hidden gem that should be on every nature lover’s bucket list. I can’t wait to return for another...