Copperfield Nature Trail

Trail
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3point5stars (3.55)10
2stars (2.35)
2point5stars (2.95)
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Austin
Travis
More Info
Photos
Tradescantia
There were purple tradescantia in bloom during my hike (Photo by plectrudis)
Bluffs
The trail follows a creek and some nice bluffs (Photo by plectrudis)
Turtle in a ferny grotto
A turtle statue (Photo by plectrudis)
lake
reflections (Photo by jimmy peace)
along the trail
new bridge (Photo by jimmy peace)
more fall colors
more fall colors (Photo by jimmy peace)
part of walnut creek
part of walnut creek (Photo by jimmy peace)
more fall colors
more fall colors (Photo by jimmy peace)
fall colors
fall colors (Photo by jimmy peace)
Happy Dog
scoop the poop! (Photo by DeanaD)
Halloween 2010
late in evening at dusk, this area of junipers gets foggy so you get good exercise hurrying along. plants are more varied after you cross Shropshire going towards Trotwood entrance or in meadow areas nearer Yager. (Photo by DeanaD)
other end of trail for now
no real parking available off Trotwood, but view is nice. future plans to link trail to continue on by Walnut Creek and under I-35 and to nearby Walnut Creek Park. stay tuned. (Photo by DeanaD)

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Log Entries
A park that gets a lot of use, but still has some nice natural elements
By plectrudis on 3/22/2021
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2point5stars
Distance: 3.60 Miles Duration: N/A

This park was surprising in a number of ways.  It's surrounded by the city and by subdivisions, and it has obviously received pretty hard use, so you never have the illusion of being in some sort of pristine area--the trails are wide and the ground is hard packed and there is a bit of trash. But even though the landscape had been pretty extensively trampled, it still has some surprisingly pleasant bluffs, a nice long stretch of waterfall where a little runnel trips down a hill, and a largish pond.  So even though it's highly modified, the bones of the natural world show through.  It was somewhat busy on the March evening when I visited, and you have to cross a significant road (Braker) at one point, but it's also pretty shady and green.  Also, someone with a whimsical sense of humor has installed a turtle sculpture on the ferny walls of a little bluff.

busy trail today
By jimmy peace on 9/15/2019
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3point5stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 20 minutes

lots of people on the trail,  and they have built a new bridge over the creek

 

Solitude in the middle of a neighborhood
By heatharcadia on 12/28/2017
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3point5stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 6.63 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 27 minutes

I just discovered this place. I started at Copperfield Park off of Yager near Parmer and hiked the whole length back to Yager, where I turned around and hiked the whole thing in reverse (I could have continued along Yager back to the park, but I where's the fun in that?). I was out for two and a half hours and only saw nine other people (four groups of two and other solo hiker), so I had a lot of solitude. Even though you never really forget you're close to homes and businesses (sometimes, you are practically in someone's backyard), there is still plenty of solitude.

Most of the trail follows creeks (Walnut Creek and a smaller creek that feeds into Walnut Creek), which had plenty of water in them today. There are several small waterfalls as well, which is nice. It is mostly wooded, so this would provide shade on a sunny day. Around where the smaller creek joins Walnut Creek, there is an interesting limestone wall with vegetation growing out of it and (today, at least) small springs that drip water down it.

The terrain isn't too tough, but it also isn't super easy. There are a few steep portions that would give people with knee problems trouble and one part that is on par of the creek bed which could get slippery in wetter weather.

There are two segments of this trail: The longer segment that runs from Copperfield Park to the Trotwood entrance of the trail and a shorter segment that runs from an entrance on Peggotty Place back to Yager. In between, you have to walk on a street through a neighborhood. The shorter segment of the trail was a lot less interesting to me than the longer segment, especially the last 0.3 miles approaching Yager: This part is just a path between two fence lines.

My phone died ten minutes into my hike, so I only got a couple of not-that-interesting pictures. I will return to take more pictures in the future.

first time ever to visit this trail,
By jimmy peace on 11/3/2017
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 3.70 Miles Duration: N/A

i highly recommend this trail 

Good Hike in NE Austin
By penecow290 on 2/2/2016
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 2point5stars
Distance: 1.00 Mile Duration: N/A

This was a fun hike, we did just 1 mile with my son in the evening. We only saw one other person on the trail. Will come back later and do the complete trail.

Surprisingly varied terrain
By Falchion on 7/21/2014
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A

Much better hike than I expected.  There is a pond, flowing stream (does it always flow?) and lots of different kinds of terrain and plants.  Definitely great for the neighborhood and will be on my repeat list for near by hikes.

Only complaint is the property line for some houses is not clearly marked (i.e. no fence) and I don't want to end up in someone's backyard.  Especially after dark.

Very nice I'll be going back often
By cwlatapie on 5/25/2012
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: 2 hours

This trail is clean and well marked.

good creek trail
By DeanaD on 12/31/2010
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A

beautiful little trail through greenbelt area including some creekside in Austin's first Green Neighborhood. look for agarita, turks cap, twisted yucca, fossil shells, goldenrod, purple gayfeather, black willow, many oak varieties, and other native plants. small park planned in next couple of years along Yager that will connect to trail. nearby small frisbee golf. possibility for geocaching in the area.

Hidden gem
By sjs on 5/16/2010
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 3.40 Miles Duration: 2 hours

Nice hike for me and my dog this afternoon, with almost nobody else on the trail.  Good opportunities for photography along the western leg on Walnut Creek, too.

There's a small lot to park in at Blakeney and Rotherham Drive.

Awesome hike!
By texaskdog on 4/24/2010
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 1star Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 20 minutes

This hike was a lot of fun.  It's a V-shape around this neighborhood.  Lots of trees and are near a creek most of the way.  The apts & houses are close in a few places but considering where it is, has a bit of isolation.  You wont need hiking boots but the grass is a bit hight in places.  One of the better hikes in NE Austin!  BTW NE side goes as far north as Yager, and NW end goes up to the bend in Trotwood.  Very well signed in all places.

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