Until recently, I have been running by myself/with Dewey at Town Lake Trail. Until a few days ago, I thought that Town Lake Trail was the nicest running trail in Austin. Well, boy was I wrong. I feel really idiotic about it too, because proximity wise, the Shoal Creek trail is so much closer to where I live versus Town Lake. AND there are less people, so it is normal to have the whole trail to yourself. There is also a large portion of the trail that makes dog leashes optional. SUCCESS. Basically, the solitude of Shoal Creek is what really attracts me more than anything. The scenic cliffs and small creek really make the trail one of the most aesthetically pleasing trails that I have been on in awhile.
I feel like I could take a book and just sit near the creek and read. I am in love.
Now, one thing that I think people should know about Shoal Creek is that the trail itself is a lot less groomed compared to Town Lake. There are long stretches of the trail that are rocky and rough, but then there are also parts of the trail that are concrete (something Town Lake does not have much of). The rockiness of the Shoal Creek trail may be a positive for the more adventurous soul (Like I)… But if you do have bad ankles or a fear of falling/tripping.. this trail may not be for you.
So, I will continue my quest for fun activities in Austin, but for now I will be sticking with Shoal Creek for my running and dog walkin’.
