Berry Springs Park

Getting there: Heading north on I-35 from Austin, take the Williams Drive (2338) exit in Georgetown and head east. Turn left on N Austin (418) and then right onto FM 971. Turn left onto CR-152 and continue on the path even after the hard right turn in the road. After crossing Berry Creek, look for the park entrance on the left. A stonework sign (in the shape of a lime kiln no less) marks the entrance.

The Hike: One of Williamson County's newest parks, Berry Springs Park and Preserve was opened on October 15, 2005. In a short period of time the park has added over two miles of trails suitable for beginners and families.

The hike begins at the parking lot near the waypoint "Trailhead". From this point a paved path leads to the east and west. Both will end in a small loop, turning back to the trailhead. But at each of these turnaround points unpaved trails continue. The trail system makes a loop around much of the park's acreage with side trails bisecting it at various points along the way.

The paved segments of trail are trivially easy and the non-paved portions of the trail are almost the same. The crushed granite or packed dirt surfaces are flat and well maintained. Much of the park is open grassland with numerous Pecan trees sprinkled about. This hike might take on an additional dimension when the pecans are falling.

The park is named for John Berry, a veteran of the War of 1812, who settled on this land in 1846. He built a spring-driven grist mill, blacksmith and gun shop. Some of the buildings of the Berry farm are preserved on the park grounds. Berry died in 1866 and is buried in the small family cemetery also located within the park. One of Berry's great-grandchildren was none other than Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in the entire history of the United States was Berry's great-grandson.

During our visit we were rarely out of sight of other park visitors, but it was in no way crowded. Away from the playground near the trailhead people were mostly off in the distance.