Outdoor Adventures in Austin, TX

Austin is ideal for free spirits who get bored easily. If you love live music and outdoor pubs but also need a quiet trail run, Austin has you covered. If you’re into fly fishing alone on a creek or prefer joining hundreds at one of the state’s best swimming spots, this city can give you that. If you want a hard day hike or a good rock climb, Central Texas is where it’s at. Even if you want to get naked in a public lakeshore park, you can do that here. Basically, Austin makes a perfect home for ADHD outdoor junkies.

Although Austin isn’t on the sea or high in the mountains, Central Texas offers hill country made up of tree-covered limestone ridges, descending to creek-filled valleys, and underground springs that feed a multitude of watering holes. Such topography offers spots for everything from premier mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing, to SUPing and other paddling; and it's actually not far from some nice surf spots on the Gulf coast. 

Then you’ve got the cityscape of Austin proper. The world-famous live music and film festival scene, including SXSW and lots of other events, almost goes without saying. The streets of the metropolis host marathons, cycling events, and plenty of pub-crawls too. With internationally acclaimed institutions like The University of Texas and some of the world’s leading tech companies, as well as indie film and music labels calling Austin home, it’s no wonder why this town is one of the most popular in the nation. But all those university academics, tech gurus, film producers, actors, and musicians need space, and places to roam free outside to detox and get inspired. Without such outdoor spots, Austin would be just another crowded, stressed-out city. But the various outdoor offerings available make Austin different. 

Make no mistake, whether you’re into solitary trail outings, yoga in the park, waterway pursuits, or a funky outdoor social scene, Austin is one of the best places in the country to spend lots of time outside.

While it has four seasons, they’re sometimes hard to tell apart. Winter is pretty much limited to late December through early February—with temperatures that usually won’t drop below 40. Spring often starts in late February, and wonderful mild weather continues into May, with average temps between 70 and 85. June brings hot and dry summer weather, with temps in the 90s, that doesn’t start cooling down until late October, when gorgeous fall weather usually lasts mostly through December. Most of the annual rainfall happens from December through April, and some in fall, but it’s not a lot. There are only the occasional downpours, and snow is uncommon. So pretty much, chances are that on any given visit to Austin, you’ll have weather that makes you want to get outside and play.

With great weather, a vibrant culture, and varied Hill Country, it’s no wonder the world keeps coming to Austin.