All the tips and reasons you should visit Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge near Austin, Texas.
Located northwest of Austin, Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is the perfect place to unplug and reconnect with nature. It has over 10 miles of hiking trails along with observation decks where you can watch for wildlife. The best thing about visiting Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is that there are no fees to visit and no reservations needed unlike many of the state parks that surround Austin.
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge was originally established to protect the nesting ground for the black-capped vireo and the endangered golden-checked warbler. Therefore there are lots of birds to watch at the refuge.
If you are looking for more hiking destinations in the Austin area you may enjoy these posts: Pedernales Falls State Park, McKinney Falls State Park, or Inks Lake State Park.
Visiting Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is definitely a bucket list item and you can see more items on my Texas bucket list here.
What to do at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
Hiking
With over 10 miles of hiking trails, there is something for everyone. The Creek Trail at Doeskin Ranch is our favorite (especially after it’s rained) and an easy trail. There are several spots along the trail where you can dip your toes in the water along the half-mile trail – perfect for kids. Always watch for wildlife, particularly snakes, when hiking. We have seen snakes in and out of the water at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.
The Pond and Prairie Trail at Doeskin Ranch is another half-mile, easy trail to consider if you want something with kids. If you are looking for something moderate to difficult then consider Rimrock Trail (1.5 miles, difficult), Skin Oak Trail (0.5 miles, easy), and/or Indiangrass Trail (1.6 miles, moderate). The way these loop trails are laid out you have to hike some of the previous trails to get to the next.
There are five additional trails to hike at Warbler Vista, which is about a 20-minute drive from Doeskin Ranch. The trails at Warbler Vista vary in difficulty and length (0.4 to 1.25 miles) with several of the trails connecting to make longer hikes.
There are two short, easy trails at the Refuge Headquarters, however, they are only open when the headquarters are open (usually Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm, closed on federal holidays).
Bird/Wildlife Watching
The Shin Oak Observation Deck is the perfect spot to watch for birds. There are no hiking trails at the Shin Oak Observation Deck, however, the Doeskin Ranch area and its trails are just around the corner.
There are also bird blinds at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge headquarters.
Watch the Sunset
The Sunset Deck at Warbler Vista has views of Lake Travis and the surrounding Hill Country. Perfect spot to take in a sunset. The overlook is about 100 feet from the parking lot and also connects to some of the trails at Warbler Vista.
Tips for Visiting
- Bring plenty of water, snacks, hats/sunglasses, bug repellent, and sunscreen.
- Many of the hiking trails are rocky, so be sure to wear appropriate shoes.
- Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife, particularly snakes.
- Restrooms are available inside the headquarters/visitor information center (currently only open Mon-Fri). There are vault toilets at the Cactus Rocks trailhead parking lot at Warbler Vista and at the Doeskin Ranch trailhead.
- Central Texas is extremely hot during the summer, I highly recommend you hike early in the day or save your hiking for fall/winter/spring.
