Mountainbike Epic Rides: Walnut Creek Austin Texas

We went to Austin to visit friends, enjoy the warm dry Texas spring time weather. Steve showed me around Walnut Creek. A nice park in a suburb just north of Austin. The main loop is well marked, but there are quite a few trails that are not. Most of the maps at intersections are of the vague variety, we did find one detailed map, with a "You Are Here" star. It has been a while since Steve has had time to Trail ride, between family and work. But we did find his favorite section of his favorite trail, the Log Loop, which is also well marked. It was very swoopy and begged to be railed. No berms here just natural trails with roots, rocks and trees to negotiate. Then a fireroad connector to the other single track part of the Log Loop, which had some bigger roots, change ups and a alternate log ramp. We did each a few times, alternating, depending on the traffic. We went on a Saturday and there were a lot of hikers and bikers out, not as much as you would think for the first really nice weekend in some time. It does get chilly down here and it can feel pretty cold to the locals that are used to the Texas summer heat!

On the way back to the cars, you just follow the "P" for parking on the trail markers, we only made one wrong turn trying to follow them. And am I glad we did, cause we came across Endo Alley. Steve thought better of of dropping in. It was right up my alley, pun intended. This was a very short but intense black diamond DH, with a nut buster climb back up. When Steve did not show up at the top, I did it again, before realizing that there was another trail that avoided the climb and let out onto the power lines. We went the wrong way into some berms before deciding to find those "P"s.

Some very nice scenery and cool trails, nestled in a metropolitan area. Steve has since picked up the fatbike that he has been wanting. I would like to think that I inspired him to rekindle his love of Trail riding.

Plenty of these generic signs